Could the space shuttle be used in future moon landings?

Question

Could the space shuttle go to the moon and carry a servicable LEM in its cargo bay ? How far could it go ?? Mars???

Answer 1

I'm not sure where you want to go with this. It won't happen anyways, but if you want to talk in terms of theoretical, like there is a dire emergency and we absolutely had to go to the moon, I'm sure the shuttle could. Just getting on a trajectory to lunar orbit wouldn't burn too much fuel, coast there, go into lunar orbit, kick out a LEM, retrieve the LEM, and coast back to earth. I bet it could be done...NASA would have to design additional fuel holding tanks for the directional burns, but that isn't impossible.

Answer 2

Possibly yes, if it carried a landing vehicle in the cargo bay. Fuel for the trip would be a concern, but it could conceivably be shuttled up to the ISS in multiple trips. I don't think that this will happen though, because the space shuttle is so near the end of it's useful life, and this is not what it was designed for. The way I think it will happen is that an interplanetary vessel will be constructed in orbit, and a newer version of the shuttle would be used as the shuttle is today, to transport necessary materials(fuel, food, etc...) from earth to orbit.

Answer 3

The space shuttle may be able to move to the moon because after leaving the earth's gravitational force, very little energy is required to manuvure the huge ship like that.

But, the space shuttle used in present day space technology is not capable of shuttling between the earth and the moon. It requires a strip to land on and a pad to launch itself from an object with gravity. thus one would require to build a launch pasd and an landing strip on the moon before taking the shuttle.

Answer 4

The shuttle was designed as a stop-gap solution, and was intended to be upgraded many years ago.

When (if?) we decide to return to the moon or go to mars, I sure hope we come up with some better design.

Personally, I think we need to focus on a cheap and reliable way to leave Earth's gravity well - this seems the necessary first step toward any future space exploration. There are lots of nice ideas out there, but none are being funded adequately.

Answer 5

If there was a runway built on the moon then probably yes it would be possible to land them on the moon, otherwise no. Unless some sort of jets was fitted underneath like in the Harrier Jump Jets so they could land vertically. I would imagine the dust would go everywhere though and would last as a cloud for ages.
By the way, whats an LEM?

Light Emitting Melon ;o)

Answer 6

A space shuttle could not land on the moon because it relies on air pressure to land just like an aircraft. It could theoretically reach Mars but again could not land or return.

Answer 7

It could, but why would NASA want to. The shuttle program is all but extinct. The next generation of spacecraft will soon replace the shuttle. They will be able to land and take off from the moon, if that is their mission.

Answer 8

No. The present space shuttles are designed for orbital flight only. They were not designed for interplanetary travel. That is why NASA is busy planning to replace them in the next ten years.

Answer 9

I guess you are watching Airplane II too...

Its highly doubtfull, the shuttle doesnt and cant carry enough fuel, also its a dinosaur (the design is over 30 years old)

Answer 10

How do they get the shuttle into orbit? Is it that big rockety thing that its strapped to? Do they have an abundance of them rockety thingys on the moon? Do they have any of them rockety things on Mars?

Hello!!!! Is there anybody home? I can see the light on but theres nobody there.

ROFL