if the space shuttle can travel at4 miles per second, how long would it take TO CIRCLE THE WORLD?

Answer 1

Two missing params:
a) at what altitude? (think 'radius')
b) what direction in relation to earths rotation (earth is moving too)

Answer 2

Right now, the shuttle is docked with the ISS, which orbits once every 92 minutes, so the shuttle is orbiting at the same speed. In a lower orbit, it might circle a bit faster, but it will also be going slower in a lower orbit, so it will probably cancel out the reduction in circumference.

Answer 3

There is no air resistance to speak of at the preselected height it travels in its orbit. No fuel is needed to keep it moving, for it is literally "falling" toward the earth, yet, it is just high enough to stop it from plunging downward and crashing to the earth. Small thrusters are used sometimes to make slight adjustments, though. If you have seen the shuttle in space from a height above it, taken by a satellite camera, you might have noticed that it often "flies" upside down and backwards!

Answer 4

About 90 minutes.
Orbiting spaceships travel at 17,500 mph. Circumference of Earth is about 24,000 miles. Do the math.

Answer 5

90 minutes

Answer 6

it is 6 miles per second and it circles the earth every hour and a half

Answer 7

i think when the first man orbited the earth he made a full orbit every 15 minutes- but that was way back in the early space-age.

Answer 8

90 minutes.

Answer 9

well, it depends on its altitude. if it is farther away from earth, it will have to travel a longer distance to orbit the planet each time. i have heard it is something like 45 minutes.

Answer 10

104 minutes