Space Shuttle?

Question

How many Space Shuttles have NASA built and what are their names?

The Space Shuttle has been around for as long as I can remember. When are they likely to be replaced by something more advanced?

Answer 1

5 shuttles have been launched into space. Here is a list of the name and the date of maiden voyage for each:

Columbia -- 1981
Challenger -- 1983
Discovery -- 1984
Atlantis -- 1985
Endeavor -- 1992

Challenger was destroyed shortly after launch in 1986, and Columbia broke up upon re-entry in 2003.

The next launch vehicle, which replaces the space shuttle, is scheduled to come online in 2014. The shuttles are getting old, although that is not necessarily important: the B-52 Stratofortress provides a good example of aerospace technology which has been around for a long period (the most recent was built in 1962) but is still in use by the military.

What is more important is the issue of launch safety. The shuttles are side-mounted onto the fuel tank. This makes them susceptible to damage from falling debris (such as the falling foam which ultimately led to the break-up of Columbia). The shuttles' replacement vehicle is slated to have a top-mount design, so that falling debris will become irrelevant. It is also unlikely that this new orbiter will land, as do the current shuttles, like a (very fast and searing hot) glider.

Answer 2

there is 5 space shuttles in Nasa's fleet.. they are: Columbia (lost during re-entry in 2003), Challenger (lost during launch in 1986) Endevour, (which was primarily used for test flights that did not leave the atmosphere completely [I think]) Atlantis (which just landed from a mission on the 21st of September), and last but not least, Discovery

Answer 3

The return and forth is located into orbit by using propelling itself from liftoff to 17,500 MPH at which element it no longer needs any thrust to maintain orbit because there is not any friction of an environment to sluggish it down (however actual there is an extremely tiny bit on the altitude the return and forth orbits) ... the thrust of the engines push against back of the engine because of the fact the thrust exits the engine nozzle, and that ends up in moving the spacecraft in the opposing direction because of the fact the thrust. In area, the comparable consequence happens ... it has no longer something to do with the ambience. The thrust is greater efficient than the entire weight of the craft, so it strikes in the direction opposite the thrust.

Answer 4

Was 4 that I can remember,Columbia,Challenger, Discovery,and Atlantis.-Columbia and Challenger were lost..2008-2012 will be replaced.

Answer 5

Challenger, Columbia, Enterprise and maybe one more. They are working on the next generation in the planning stages but they are years, possibly decades, from being built and used.