2006-12-23 14:57:51 · 12 answers · asked by garythegood 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
By the pilot with the help of a computer.
2006-12-23 14:59:13 · answer #1 · answered by Haven17 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By a pilot. If it were possible to land it by computer, they would not need a pilot. If you have just watched "Space Camp," they put that in because there is no way those kids could have landed it themselves and they had to have a happy ending to the movie.
An added note; when I first saw that years ago, and I called my uncle who was a Boeing engineer and who worked on the space program, I asked him if they couldn't land a shuttle in the ocean?
He replied they could, but it was unwise, first because the landing angle needed by the shuttle was higher than for a jumbo jet, and the shuttle was more likely to break up on impact.
Also, because of it's design not being very bouyant, the shuttle would sink faster, which meant that there would be risk to the astronauts lives since they might not get out in time, to say nothing of how exactly the government would thn get billions of dollars of hardware of the ocean floor.
He also said that it is not strictly necessary for the shuttle to land within the United States. Appearently we have agreements with other countries in case of an emergency, which establish TAS (Trans Atlantic Sites) where the shuttle can land. The only problem after that is getting any other nation that might have it to give it back to us, so there are several such sites that they fervently hope they nevr have to use.
2006-12-24 00:36:10 · answer #2 · answered by Lioness 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pilot
2006-12-23 23:02:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both. The shuttle has a microwave landing system to put it on the proper course heading and pitch, but the pilot has a HUD (Heads up display), like a fighter pilot, to tell him/her speed, distance and altitude to the runway.
2006-12-24 01:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by mvsopen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shuttle landed by wheels.....pilot and computer are the application for landing activity.
2006-12-24 01:02:47 · answer #5 · answered by M.R.Palaniappa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the path and the other navigational things are determined by computers and pilot with the help of these lands the shuttle
2006-12-23 23:02:50 · answer #6 · answered by raven 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know some of the landings were flown manually by the pilot, but I don't know it they have to. I have heard that the only thing the pilot really has to do manually is lower the wheels.
2006-12-23 23:04:52 · answer #7 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
both, but unlike a airplane the shuttle can not land it self it has to be landed by a pilot.
2006-12-23 23:04:30 · answer #8 · answered by matt v 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both. The pilot brings it into the atmosphere, then NASA takes over and guides it in after flaps are engaged and the nose is pulled to the proper pitch.
Merry Christmas!!!
2006-12-23 23:01:58 · answer #9 · answered by thundergnome 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It CAN be landed by computer, but it is generally a point of pride for the astronauts to bring her down themselves manually.
2006-12-24 00:47:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋