It cant be the same system as airplanes use because there is no oxygen in space or is it the same?
2007-09-26 22:33:00 · 5 answers · asked by kris 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Hi
No...you are right. Space is mostly nothing so there is very little oxygen to be found anywhere. Space shuttles carry liquid oxygen tanks. This works in place of earths atmosphere and allows rockets to fire in space. The space shuttle actually has rockets on either side of the fuselage which aid it in turning. It doesn't use it's rudder in space because that would be absolutely useless. But for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction so when a rocket fires one way it pushes the shuttle the other way. Simple as that buddy. Hope I helped. Have fun!
2007-09-27 02:24:46 · answer #1 · answered by justask23 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shuttle has a series of small rocket nozzles located in various places around the body. The most obvious once are on the nose of the shuttle, seen clearly in the image of a model of the shuttle here:
http://www.launchpadspacecraft.com/images/shuttle_nose_left.jpg
These fire in short bursts and turn the shuttle. If you fire one of these manoeuvring rockets on the left side of the shuttle nose, the shuttle will start to turn to the right until you fire a quick blast from the corresponding rocket on the right hand side of the nose to stop it. The location of these various little rocket motors on the shuttle body essentially provides it with total control over its orientation.
2007-09-26 23:44:01 · answer #2 · answered by Jason T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
opposite to inexplicably uncomplicated concept, rockets do not artwork by using pushing against the encompassing air. interior the combustion chamber the gas and oxidiser ignite, at recent freeing an increasing cloud of exhaust gases which exert super tension on the partitions of the engine (truly that could be a controlled explosion). the form of the engine forces those increasing gases out the lower back, and, in a neat demonstration of Newton's thrid regulation of action, the equivalent and opposite reaction is that the increasing gases tension the engine (and for this reason regardless of it is hooked as much as) forward.
2016-12-17 11:27:35 · answer #3 · answered by eisenhauer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oxygen has nothing to do with it. If a jet is fired in one direction, the rest of the craft will move in an equal and opposite direction.
2007-09-27 00:33:42 · answer #4 · answered by tsr21 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is done by the thrust of the rocket. A torque is created by angling the rocket exhaust. Study conservation of momentum to learn more about this.
2007-09-26 22:40:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋