2006-07-09 02:56:14 · 6 answers · asked by soapmagic 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Roughly zero - the shuttle doesn't push the air out of the atmosphere - like any other aircraft, it just displaces it to the side a little, where it returns to its original location after the shuttle has passed.
2006-07-09 03:02:16 · answer #1 · answered by Pascal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other two answers are correct - the shuttle merely pushes air aside, and while some small amount could "stick" to the surface or travel along in the cargo area, it will either fall off [back to Earth] while the shuttle orbits, or gets returned with the shuttle when it comes down. However, when the Apollo craft went to the moon, some air WAS lost, because there is a "balance point" between any two objects in space, where the gravity of one is overcome by the gravity of the other. Any air "released" before they get to that point [from any craft] will fall back to Earth. Though the orbiter and lander were sealed for the astronauts, when they dumped waste, or opened the lander for excursions, a small amount of air was released - and will stay at the moon until forced off [by, perhaps, an asteroid collision].
All matter, without "escape velocity" speed of about 25,000 miles an hour, will fall back to Earth.
2006-07-09 10:27:46 · answer #2 · answered by singbloger1953a 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People keep thinking that holes are punched in the ozone layer by rockets as well. I'm not saying that you're stupid, that's a very analytical question. It simply displace the air and at that altitude there hardly is any oxygen anyway. The design of the space shuttle allows it to almost cut through the air.
2006-07-09 10:22:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shuttle doesn't push air out of the atmoshpere. It just compresses it around it sides. Afterwards, the air reteruns to it's natural position. Air is gravitationally bound to our planet to the lower layers of the atmosphere. Even if the shuttle pushed air out, it wouldn't matter because it would still be within the atmosphere (and hence the immediate gravitatonal field of the Earth) and will return unscathed.
Rest assured. Your precious air isn't being stolen.
2006-07-09 10:06:22 · answer #4 · answered by Lestat de Lioncourt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None, any air molecules that are pushed out to space just fall right back down to earth due to gravity.
2006-07-09 10:34:05 · answer #5 · answered by Christopher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uhh.. none by piercing the atmosphere, but the rocket boosters need air for ignition. I don't believe it's enough to worry about though! :)
2006-07-09 10:18:20 · answer #6 · answered by Sarah Michelle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋