I'm writing a short story right now about a space shuttle mission gone awry, and while I was writing, I suddenly wondered about the scientific validity of what I was writing. Or whatever.
My question is, when the space shuttle is in orbit around Earth, with as much fuel as it would have two hours into a mission, would it be able to break orbit and fly into space?
2007-06-26 14:51:17 · 5 answers · asked by doompenguin180 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The shuttle uses up ALL the main engine fuel in the first 10 minutes just reaching low Earth orbit. It has a small amount of fuel in the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS, the 2 small nozzles above the 3 big main engines) that can raise the orbit a couple hundred more miles, and be used to lower the orbit into the upper atmosphere to start reentry. But 99+% of the time the shutlle is just coasting, with no power at all. It does not have any capability to leave low Earth orbit at all, except to return to the ground, and it can only do that because friction from the atmosphere does most of the work, almost no rocket power needed.
2007-06-26 15:14:31 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
The fuel for the space shuttle's main engines (SSMEs) is spent during its ascent and is only enough to carry it to low earth orbit.
Aside from that, it has a separate fuel supply for its reaction control system (RCS) which is used to steer the shuttle in space. RCS is also as a brake (i.e. retro rocket) when its ready to leave orbit and descend.
The RCS might provide enough thrust to move the shuttle to a slightly higher orbit or steer it off course, but nowhere near enough reach escape velocity. It would either be stuck in orbit around the Earth or eventually fall back to the surface.
2007-06-26 15:10:29 · answer #2 · answered by stork5100 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the Space Shuttle only carries enough fuel to get into low earth orbit (LEO or less than 400 km above earth) and maneuver within LEO, it is not possible for the shuttle to escape earths gravity and travel onto other destinations.
2007-06-26 15:02:55 · answer #3 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If by "break orbit and fly into space", you mean breaking free from Earth's gravitation, the answer is "no".
This should help your write up.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-shuttle.htm/printable
2007-06-26 15:07:51 · answer #4 · answered by Epicurux 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You would just have enough fuel to break into outer space. I plugged the numbers into the formula and you should be okay. I would refuel soon though!
2007-06-26 15:00:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋