2007-09-22 16:40:21 · 9 answers · asked by jasmine41262430 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The space shuttle, as it is, could never reach the moon. After the space shuttle reaches space it has used up all the fuel that it has in its large tanks. It only has a smaller amount of onboard fuel used in making small manuevers like docking with the ISS or to move to higher orbits for satelite launch and retrieval.
They would have to modify the shuttle somehow so that it could have extra fuel for a burn to put it on its way to the moon, plus some left for a burn to get it back.
Remember, it takes ENORMOUS amounts of fuel to get it up there.
2007-09-22 16:48:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Space shuttle is not designed for leaving the Earth orbit.
If you are asking how long it takes to get to the Moon in a spacecraft designed for this, well, with today's technology about 3 days.
2007-09-22 23:45:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
3 days i would guess, i often wondered about that as well maybe if 80% of the shuttles cargo bay was converted into a extra fuel tank and there was 6 boosters instead of just 2 then maybe it could go to the moon but you have to remember that the shuttle has to land like a plane and there aren't many good landing strips on the moon.
2007-09-23 00:09:21 · answer #3 · answered by Funny Shy Guy :) 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The shuttle speed is 27,875 km/hour, and the moon is about 400,000 km away. So going at that speed the whole time would take about 14.4 hours to get there.
However, the shuttle is not designed for that kind of space flight, it is designed with an operational altitude of up to 1,000 km. Its really more of an orbiter than a rocket ship.
The Apollo missions took about 3 days to get to the moon.
2007-09-22 23:53:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The space shuttle is too heavy for its launch system to get it to the moon. Columbia was even too heavy to reach ISS.
2007-09-22 23:47:09 · answer #5 · answered by Troy 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It can't nor will it ever. It is way too big to make it too the moon without spending trillions of dollars. And even if it could make it to the moon there is no way for it to land there as it requires air to slow down to land like a plane.
2007-09-22 23:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jake in Indiana 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It won't be done with the space shuttle. It'll be done with a whole new spacecraft.
2007-09-22 23:49:08 · answer #7 · answered by Resident Heretic 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Forever. It does not have enough power to ever leave low Earth orbit.
2007-09-22 23:51:58 · answer #8 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NOBODY LANDED ON THE MOON!
TOO MANY SHADOWS GOING EVERYWHERE!
NO STARS!
THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAPED BY THE IONOSPHERE AND THE VAN ALLEN RADIATION BELT
so no, only the shuttles that I make can make it to the moon.
2007-09-22 23:59:46 · answer #9 · answered by Sasuke 1 · 1⤊ 4⤋