certainly it can't be compressed as air resistance will be too much or am i wrong! please help me sir i reallly am in the need of help
2007-10-12 03:41:45 · 6 answers · asked by hey 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The air is pressurized in the cabin, just as the air is pressurized in an airplane.
2007-10-12 03:49:08 · answer #1 · answered by Marvinator 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure why compressed oxygen would have anything to do with air resistance of the vessel. The two concepts are unrelated.
The oxygen to burn the fuel is present in the external tanks for liftoff and orbital insertion, and in internal tanks for maneuvering and leaving orbit. (Remember, once the shuttle leaves orbit, it flies without thrust -- on landing it is a giant glider.) This oxygen is stored in liquid form for maximum efficiency.
The air for breathing is stored in internal compressed tanks. They don't use pure oxygen, as this is both harmful to people and hazardous around electronic equipment. The shuttle also uses scrubbers -- basically catalytic converts that convert the CO2 exhaled by the crew back to oxygen, meaning that the compressed air doesn't have to be used as quickly.
2007-10-12 10:57:14 · answer #2 · answered by dansinger61 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They probabl;y use what is called a "rebreather" system. It removes carbon dioxide from the air using sodium hydroxide:
CO2 + NaOH -> NaHCO3
As the CO2 is removed the air pressure decreases and is probably brought back up with compressed oxygen. Another means of generating oxygen is the electrolysis of water. Solar cells could generate electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The hydrogen could be used as a fuel, and it would not create any CO2, just more water. Green plants of course can use solar radiation to split carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen. However, there would not be enough room on a space station for this to be the only means of oxygen production. On the moon, it will probably be the main means of oxygen production, or at least one of the major ones.
2007-10-12 10:56:44 · answer #3 · answered by Roger S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Air resistance to what? If the oxygen supply is located inside the craft, then what harm can come to it from air resistance?
I'm going to go with "you're wrong." =)
2007-10-12 10:52:20 · answer #4 · answered by Fuji 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the craft is pressurized, just think a container of oxygen in a scubadiver alike as a space craft, so you can breath inside the tank coz full of oxygen is in it?
2007-10-16 04:26:02 · answer #5 · answered by bongards 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are really interested then check out all the details at the following website:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/
2007-10-12 10:55:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋