How does a space shuttle get out of orbit??

Question

So how does a space shuttle get out of orbit with density and air resistance and that kind of stuff?

Answer 1

thrusters, gravity and insulation

Answer 2

First it has to slow down. Since it is traveling at orbital velocity, it will stay in orbit until it slows down. So it fires its maneuvering engines to orient the shuttle face down and backwards. They then fire the aft maneuvering thrusters for about 3 minutes to slow the spacecraft by about 2500 mph. At this point, it is below orbital speed and gravity makes it fall back toward the earth. It then spins around and assumes a nose forward / nose up attitude for re-entry. As it descends, it starts to hit the upper levels of the atmosphere. This part of the flight converts a lot of kinetic energy into heat energy from friction with the air, thereby slowing the orbiter further. The crew is protected from the heat by the lower surface of the orbiter, which is coated with carbon-carbon tiles. Finally, the spacecraft reaches a speed and altitude where the air is sufficiently dense and the speed is sufficiently low so that it can function as a glider. It then performs a series of S-turns to slow down further and line up for approach and landing.

Answer 3

The shuttle fires its rockets to slow down slightly and drop into the atmosphere, and then orients itself so that the heat-resistant tiles on the bottom are in front. Drag from the ever-thickening atmosphere slows down the shuttle and creates lots of heat, which is why the heat-resistant tiles are necessary. Drag does virtually all of the work in slowing the shuttle down to subsonic speeds, after which it simply glides in to the runway like an airplane.

Answer 4

When it's in orbit it flips upside down in relation to the earth, now going 'backwards' it fires it's main engines for about 5 minutes, this slows it down so it doesn't have enough speed to stay in orbit, then it flips back over and within 45 minutes it starts entering the atmosphere.

Answer 5

http://stars5.netfirms.com/shuttle.htm