Physics of Space Travel
2006-08-10 09:21:18 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Shuttles arc because they are trying enter into orbit around the earth, not simple sail away int outer space. If they went straight up, they would either continue straight away from the earth (if going fast enough, which they can actually do) or fall back to earth due to gravity.
By arching, the shuttle gains angular momentum (the angle determining the ultimate height of the orbit). Also, shuttles go into different orbits based on how which part of the earth we wan them to cover. If we want them to stay pretty much over the equator, the arc is more east/west. If we want them to go near the poles, the arc is more north south.
2006-08-10 09:29:35 · answer #1 · answered by soulrider 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The goal of the shuttle is to circle round and round the Earth, not move directly away from it. In order to circle the Earth the shuttle needs some way to offset the force of gravity that's constantly trying to pull it back down and does this by moving fast enough perpendicular to the force of gravity.
2006-08-10 12:35:02 · answer #2 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1 - the earth is still rotating
2 - to stop from falling back to the ground due to gravity
3 - they can not go straight into the atmosphere the have no enter at an angle to prevent the rocket burning up - its the same for re-entry
4 - they have to prepare to be able to get in to orbit if they went straight up they wud keep going till they cud not go back.
5 - look at some physics
2006-08-13 09:53:24 · answer #3 · answered by chloe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at the same time as drawing close the Earth there's a required perspective of frame of mind to get by ability of the ambience. alongside with this perspective is an linked speed. in the adventure that they arrive in too quickly, they bypass off the ambience like a stone skipping for the length of a lake. in the adventure that they arrive in to sluggish, they are going to decelerate too quickly and spoil aside and burn like maximum meteors. so that they have an particularly small window the position the attitude is such that they don't bypass away and they don't rip themselves aside. yet another substantial requirement are the quantity of g-forces a human can get up to. So in the adventure that they sluggish all the way down to rapidly they are going to snap their neck or lose bloodflow of their bodies.
2016-11-23 19:50:31 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By heading a rocket in the same direction as the Earth spins you pick up an extra 1040mph.
2006-08-12 00:58:01 · answer #5 · answered by greebo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the world is still turning and the shuttle goes up in a straight line.So its angle in relation to us is bending as it travels
2006-08-10 09:26:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
to begin orbiting around the earth. and easier to decend back if needed.
2006-08-13 11:14:29 · answer #7 · answered by Jase Mighty Pirate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they go around the earth not straight away from it
2006-08-10 09:27:49 · answer #8 · answered by Mickenoss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they have to get orbital velocity... they have to go up sure but they have to go round too or they will fall down again... about 17000 MPH to stay up there
2006-08-10 09:24:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Uses a lot less fuel that way.
2006-08-10 09:26:39 · answer #10 · answered by spiegy2000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋