Can you change directions in outer space?

Question

Can a space shuttle change course when it is in outer space? How could it when there is no oxygen for an engine to generate fire for thrust, and no air or water pressure to push off of? Do not include explanations for changing directions after the space shuttle has landed. I am asking if you could change directions while still in transit.

Answer 1

Yes you can change direction. It uses compressed air directed thru jets to turn the craft in different angles, but to accelerate in the new direction it has to use it's motors which are supplied with liquid oxygen which allows it to burn in the vacum of space. Remember also that once an object accelerates in a direction in space, since it is vacum, it will continue in that direction and at that speed until it either hits something, or it enters the gravity of another planet. This is why our early space ships that went to the moon, followed a straight course to the moon, then let the gravity of the moon "pull" them as they went around behind it and let that new speed gained, return them to earth.
Great question.

Answer 2

Yes.
Oxygen already in the fuel (for fuel that burns). Shooting any kind of mass in one direction (including gas from a rocket engine) forces the remainder of the shuttle to move the other way. In fact, this is more efficient where there is no 'air to push off of" (air would slow down the shuttle's response: friction).

The difference between aerodynamics and 'rocket science' is that when the shuttle changes its heading in air, the air resistance against the vertical surfaces completes the change in direction (the shuttle loses any velocity that is not in line with vertical surfaces), while in space the alteration of course stops as soon as the thruster is turned off (regardless of the shuttle's orientation).

Answer 3

Yes. It absolutely can. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The space shuttle carries fuel on board for this purpose. The "rockets" include both liquid oxygen and a combustible for ignition. this allows thrust and moves the shuttle around. Further I think that it has maneuvering thrusters that consist of compressed gas. just releasing a little of the gas will "push" the shuttle around in a small way or rotate it.

Further, theory states that one could use "solar winds" and sail where you need to go. Although to my knowledge this has not been tested on a large scale.

Answer 4

Changing direction is just an example of Newton's Third Law of Motion. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As the shuttle's thrusters expel gas, there is a force in the opposite direction applied on the shuttle causing it to change direction.

Answer 5

The space shuttle has a number of small thrusters that release a compressed monopropellant called hydrazine. As the propellant moves away from the shuttle, momentum must be conserved. So, the shuttle experiences a force in the opposite direction.

Interestingly, hydrazine is a component of tobacco products. Just a thought.

Answer 6

There are many propulsion systems which work with no atmosphere. The shuttle, and all other spacecraft, are lunched on rockets precisely because a rocket does not need atmosphere to work. Any expulsion of gas in space will cause a spacecraft to move in reaction to the gas being expelled - precisely because there is no friction nor gravity. Hence gold gas is often used for thrusters on spacecraft for fine movements.

Answer 7

It does all the time. It uses self contained thrusters that don't need external oxygen. It changes direction by means of Newton's third law. When it expells propellent out from the ship, the ship has an equal and opposite reaction to th propellent leaving the sip.. It doesn't need anything to push off of.

Answer 8

Of course. Spacecraft use Reaction Control System engines to change alignment. The RCS consists of several small thrusters mounted in a cluster that allow three-dimensional changes in position (roll, pitch, and yaw). The craft carries its own oxidizer to ignite the engines, since as you pointed out, there is no oxygen to burn.

Answer 9

They spew out combusted rocket fuel, usually a combination of hydrogen and oxygen (with the thrust being steam) or by combusting solid rocket fuel (similar to that in firecrackers) with onboard oxygen. The thrust (change in momentum) is caused a combination of the mass and velocity of the expanded gas. To stop, turn, etc., rockets have to use "attitude thrusters" (small rocket nozzles that face forward and sideways), or use other means to eliminate mass. Rockets don't HAVE to get their momentum from losing mass. Momentum can come from pushing against a field, such as a magnetic field. Electric motors are a good example. But usually magnetic fields are only present around planets with molten cores, such as earth. The moon doesn't have one, and neither does Mars.

Answer 10

You need a class in basic physics. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. There is no need for air to create thrust. Also the fuel can burn, because it is liquid oxygen.