2007-10-12 03:33:52 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The shuttle orbits the earth under the influence of the earth's gravitational field. However, due to the forward motion of the shuttle, the pull of gravity is counteracted by the centrifugal acceleration, resulting in 0 net force. Thus the shuttle (and its inhabitants) experience a microgravity condition.
2007-10-12 03:40:29 · answer #1 · answered by dansinger61 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Techncally, both the shuttle and the astronauts are within the earth's gravitational field. They are actually not far from the earth (only about 200 miles), so the pull of gravity on them is reduced by only about 10% compared to when they're on the ground.
The astronauts don't "feel" this gravity, because the earth's gravity pulls both the shuttle and the astronauts around the earth at exactly the same rate. Because of this, an astronaut can "let go" of the shuttle and will not fall away from it. So it seems to the astronaut as though there is no gravity.
But I think your question is really asking: Can the astronauts "feel" a gravitational force--that is, one that allows them to walk around on the shuttle floor as if they were walking around on earth?
The answer is "no." However, there is an easy way to artificially create something that feels like gravity, and that is to spin the spacecraft. When that happens, everything "falls" toward the outside of the spin, away from the spin axis. This would be awkward to do in the space shuttle because of the shape of its living area; but in the future we will probably build spacecraft that are designed to spin in just this way.
2007-10-12 04:41:36 · answer #2 · answered by RickB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is. A gravitational field is a result of something having mass, therefore the space shuttle has its very own gravitational field. But, the most powerful gravitational field for the space shuttle is the earth itself. The mass is "creating" the field. The space shuttle is falling "around" the earth, which is why the astronauts appear to be floating, because they're falling with it.
2007-10-12 04:27:08 · answer #3 · answered by Mercury 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth's gravitational field exists within the space shuttle.
2007-10-12 05:37:25 · answer #4 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A. Maybe its spun, that would do it
B. ALL things creat gravity. even between you and your comoputer screen. evrythng with mass has gravity
2007-10-12 03:43:07 · answer #5 · answered by Crazygirl ♥ aka GT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity is an innate property of mass.
2007-10-12 03:40:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There can be, if it accelarates or spins!
Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_gravity
2007-10-12 03:37:41 · answer #7 · answered by Fuji 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋