Why is it that a space shuttle leaves from the Kennedy space center and returns at Houston?

Answer 1

Don't know where you got your information from. It does not land at Houston, it lands at KSC, same place it took off from.

When the weather's not good at KSC, it may land at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Edwards makes a good secondary landing site because it's got a very large, flat, dry lake bed to land on, in case for some reason they fail to line up with the runway just right.

Answer 2

The shuttle doesn't return to Houston. There are three locations it has landed: Edwards Air Force Base, the Kennedy Space Center, and White Sands Proving Ground. There are several other places both inside and outside the US where the shuttle can land, if need be.

Answer 3

The shuttle launches from Kennedy because Florida is closer to the equator than most other points in the USA. Launching near the equator puts to use the approximately 1,000 mph rotation of the Earth there which means the shuttle is already traveling at a good rate of speed even before lift off.

The shuttle, to my knowledge, has never landed at Houston. Landings at Kennedy Space Center are much preferred because that's where all the facilities for refurbishing each shuttle are. Landing anywhere else means more cost getting the shuttle back to Kennedy.

Answer 4

The space shuttle NEVER returns to Houston. There is no place for the shuttle to land in Houston. If the weather permits the shuttle will return to Kennedy Space Center. It the Florida weather is not good the shuttle will normally land in California. It there is an emergency on blast off, there are several locations around the globe where the shuttle can land.

Answer 5

The Space Shuttle has never landed at Houston. Houston is only the location of mission control. Normally it lands at The Kennedy Space Center in Florida where it is launched from. At times it lands at Edwards AFB in Cal. if the weather is bad in Fla. Once during the early days of testing it landed at White Sands in New Mexico. There are two emergency landing sites that have never been used. The are there in case the shuttle has a problem during lift off and the craft makes a transatlantic abort. One is in Spain, and the other is in France.

Answer 6

actually the shuttle ALWAYS returns to Kennedy Space Center.
It may land in Edwards or White Sands, but it'll always return to KSC.

The relation between Houston and Kennedy Space Center is that Houston has the so called 'Mission Control' where every aspect of the flight is being handled. KSC just has the 'Launch Control' which does the countdown and gives over control to houston the very moment the shuttle leaves the pad.

Answer 7

The trip does not return to Houston. There are 3 places it has landed: Edwards Air rigidity Base, the Kennedy area center, and White Sands Proving floor. There are various different places the two interior and out of doors the U. S. the place the trip can land, if want be.

Answer 8

Actually most shuttler are not supposed to return at Houston (however is the second best choice after the kennedy center at Fl). This usually happens when the weather get nasty and the condition are dangerous for the crew and shuttle to land. We usually get nasty storm and lightning strikes all the time. So yes i can actually interfere with the mission. However cause Houston is the best alternative schuttle are redirected there. And yes once they land it cost to NASA like 5M to move the aircraft bact to Fl

Answer 9

Again I have to point out that since the earth and rocket are traveling at the same speed at the launchsite, this does not add to the speed of the rocket for orbital flights. It does add to the speed of rockets destined for deep space. Orbital flight is always in relation to the earth. KSC, Edwards, New Mexico are the three main return points for the shuttle. Pease AFB, NH was modified with a 2 mile runway to accomidate the shuttle if needed.
Upon its return, the shuttle is a flying brick. A one shot deal. Itr has full manuvering ability as long as it is in the air. To slow down it can spiral expending its speed for a safe touch down. These manuvers are calculated in landing. The runway at KSC is one direction, while the dry lake beds out west the shuttle can come in almost any direction.

Answer 10

It doesn't! It may land at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and has also landed at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It's primary landing strip is in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center. Mission Control is in Houston, because LBJ was from Texas when NASA got started up.

Answer 11

Houston is where mission control is located. They control every space mission that has humans in them.
Wher the space shuttle lands is usually Kenedy Space Center. The other two places they can land in emergencies such as weather they can land at Edwards AFB in Caliornia and White Sands in New mexico.