Would it be possible for the space shuttle to make the trip to the moon?

Question

I wondered if it could be refueled in orbit then use its engines to leave earth travel around the moon and then return.

Answer 1

The shuttle's navigation computers and life support systems could support a mission to the moon easily. With the Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO) pad in the cargo bay, there would be enough supplies for a 16-day mission.

However, as you point out, the ET (external tank) is discarded on the way to orbit. If you could some how dock with a fuel tank, the shuttle could easily travel to the moon and back. 4.5 million pounds of thrust is plenty for TLI and to reenter Earth orbit on the way back.

(The shuttle would have to reenter Earth orbit before landing. The thermal protection systems are designed for a reentry from LEO at 17,500 mph -- not a direct return from the moon at 25,000 mph.)

Another problem you'd have is landing on the moon. The shuttle is not equipped for that sort of landing. So, you'd have to carry a small lander in the cargo bay.

It's a fun idea, but it isn't really practical. It would be a lot easier to launch a proper moon mission using 3 or 4 shuttle missions to carry the pieces of the spacecraft to orbit and then dock them together.

By the way, if you would like to read about a shuttle mission to the moon, read Homer Hickham's book "Back to the Moon". He is a former shuttle mission planner and trainer. He wrote "Back to the Moon" about just such a mission. It's a fun read. Don't take it seriously. Hickham also wrote "Rocket Boys" an autobiographical story about his life and how he became a NASA engineer. It was turned into the movie "October Sky". (Note that "October Sky" is an anagram of "Rocket Boys".)

Answer 2

I understand that the space station already in orbit will eventally be one of many. It would be possible to build a space shuttle on one of these or to dock one at each space station. Becasue space has no friction it is relativley easy and economical to travel once you are there > I believe the proposed idea would be to travel from one space station to another farther out into space with the space station being a refuelling centre and a supply centre throughout the travel by building as shuttle in space travel and propulsion theories relative to the space environment can be tested. The fact that man is smart enough to get there in the first place and also come back by slingshot effect pretty much says to me that anything is possible. I would bet going to the moon would be easier to figure out than cloning a human

Answer 3

It would take an enormous amount of fuel and since the it takes over 50 times the weight of the shuttle in fuel to get it into orbit, I don't think it would be a very efficient way to go. Even if they refuel it, the shuttle may not have enough thrust and fuel to make it out or earth orbit. Except for propulsion, there's no reason why it couldn't make the trip.

Answer 4

Although a shuttle landing would be impossible, a mission to orbit the moon would be entirely possible. We know Shuttles can support life for the time needed so the only question is what fuel payload would be needed for translunar injection (the burn to kick the spacecraft towards the moon), and the burns to enter and exit lunar orbit.

The shuttle's strength is it's adaptability. It was designed to be versatile. Could the cargo bay carry an extra fuel tank? Probably. Would it hold enough fuel? My guess based on the size of the Apollo service module is yes. Do NASA have the skill to design and make the modifications? Definitely.

The only questions are why would they want to send one, and would they be able to get funding for it...?

Answer 5

no
the shuttle wasn't designed to reach earth's escape velocity.
The shuttle system is a complex machine and changing something, like the fuel tank or the boosters for example would result in a complete redesign.
simply refuelling it in orbit is also no option, cause the main engines are just designed to run once and can't be restarted again. Its a critical design and they are kind of 'worn out' once they reached orbit, making it necessary to do a complete overhaul of them before each flight. This is also, so i think, one of the reasons the shuttle turned out to be too expensive to operate.

Answer 6

quantumc... It replaced into never made to leave Earth's orbit. in certainty, it may no longer *exchange* orbits the two - all it had upon achieving area replaced into that's OMS engines and thrusters for maneuvering. Apollo used that's third point of the Saturn V rocket - it executed boosting the craft into orbit, then close down. whilst they have been waiting for Trans-lunar-injection, it fired back, boosting the craft's velocity to twenty-5,000 mph for the holiday to the moon. The holiday could want something comparable - only lots extra useful. The 13-ton Apollo stack is a lot smaller than the holiday - in certainty, the Command/provider modules and Lunar module could slot interior the area holiday's bay. The holiday (at 88 much empty) - could want 6 situations the boosting potential to develop velocity from orbital to flee speed. truly approximately 3/4 the gas in a *2d* exterior tank.

Answer 7

Space Shuttles need a launch pad big tubes of fuel to breach the atmosphere and it needs a landing strip.So no a Space Shuttle couldn't go to The Moon.

Answer 8

they could possibly use the space station as a docking facility and refuelling point, space travellers could then be taxied to the moon after they have proved they are fit enough, space sickness etc

Answer 9

i don't see why not
but it will be a bit tough

Answer 10

I think so.