What's with the space shuttle?

The space shuttle combines the technical features of rockets, satellites and airplanes. It can be launched vertically into space orbit like a rocket, fly in space orbit like a satellite, and glide into the atmosphere like an airplane. It is a new type of multifunctional spacecraft. Its structure mainly consists of three parts. (1) Orbiter, including three rocket engines, cab, passenger compartment and cargo compartment. ② Used as an external fuel tank to provide propulsion. (3) There are two rocket boosters, which use solid fuel. The main uses of the space shuttle are space transportation and satellite service. It can transport goods and carry out maintenance close to other spacecraft. You can also carry out interstellar observation, military geographical observation and take photos. Because of its large volume (more than 20 meters high and 50 meters long), it can also be used as a large space building. After the space shuttle takes off, it can be launched vertically like a rocket. In order to reduce the burden of operation, the solid fuel rocket booster and propulsion outer tank can be thrown away after the work is completed. The main machinery of the space shuttle can continue to be used after being renovated after returning to the ground.

The United States began to develop and implement the space shuttle program in 1972. The first space shuttle, Enterprise 1977, began to test in various complicated ground and atmosphere. 198 1 year, the space shuttle Columbia flew in space for the first time and successfully returned to the ground after three days of flight. From then on, the manned space shuttle began to enter space.

The space shuttle sends people into space, where scientific experiments can be carried out, such as space breeding, drug synthesis, crystal purification, metal smelting, cosmic observation and so on, because the objects on the space shuttle are in weightlessness, which is not found on the earth. So you can do many experiments that you can't do on earth because of gravity. The advantage of the space shuttle is that it can be reused and save money. When it returns to the earth, it glides to the ground like an eagle without fuel. The space shuttle looks like an ordinary plane. But its surface must have a heat insulation layer, otherwise it will be burned by the heat generated by intense friction with the air when it flies back to earth! A country's space technology marks its comprehensive national strength. If you look at the United States and Russia, there are space shuttles, but we don't. However, our Shenzhou series spacecraft are also developing rapidly, so be confident!

Space shuttle.-Space shuttle

1969 in April, NASA put forward a plan to build a reusable spacecraft. 1972 65438+ 10, the United States formally put the development of the space transportation system of the space shuttle into the plan, and determined the design scheme of the space shuttle, which consists of three parts: a recoverable solid rocket booster, two non-recoverable external fuel tanks and a reusable orbiter. Five years later, in February of 1977, the space shuttle orbiter was developed and carried by Boeing 747 aircraft for aerial test. 1977 June 18, the first manned flight test was carried out on the back of an airplane in the sky. Astronaut Hayes (C? f？ Heather) and fullerton (G? Fullerton) two people. On August 12, the manned flight test on board was successfully completed. Four years later, the first manned space shuttle finally boarded the space stage, which is another milestone in the history of space technology development.

On April 2, millions of people gathered at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to watch the launch of the first space shuttle Columbia. Astronaut John young (John W? Young) and Crippen (Robert l? Crippen turned a new page in the history of space. The space shuttle has a total length of about 56 meters, a wingspan of about 24 meters, a takeoff weight of about 2,040 tons, a takeoff thrust of 2,800 tons and a maximum payload of 29.5 tons. Its core orbiter is 37.2 meters long, which is roughly equivalent to the size of a DC-9 passenger plane. Each flight can carry up to 8 astronauts for 7 to 30 days, and the orbiter can be reused 100 times. The space shuttle combines the technical features of rockets, satellites and airplanes. It can be launched vertically into space orbit like a rocket, fly in space orbit like a satellite, and glide into the atmosphere like an airplane. It is a new type of multifunctional spacecraft.

From 198 1 to 1993, five American space shuttles made 59 flights, including Columbia 15, Challenger 10, Discovery 17 and Atlantis/kloc-0. It carries 2 to 8 astronauts at a time, and the flight time ranges from 2 days to 14 days. 12 years, 30 1 people took part in the space shuttle flight, including 18 female astronauts. During the 59 flights of the Space Shuttle, more than 50 satellites were sent into space, 2 space stations were put into orbit, 3 space probes, 1 space telescope and 1 gamma ray detector were launched, satellite space recovery and space repair were carried out, and a series of scientific experiments were carried out, which achieved fruitful results.

The American space shuttle has set many new space records. John, the commander of the space shuttle's first flight? Yang flew into space six times, making him the most astronaut in the world. 1June 1983 18 female astronaut Sally? Ryder (Sally K? Ride) flew into space on Challenger, ranking first among American women in space flight. 1On August 30th, 983, Challenger took the first black American astronaut, Guion S? Bluford) sent to space flight. 1February 3, 984, mccandless (B? McCandless), became the first astronaut in the world to walk in space unsafe. 1April 6, 984, astronauts successfully captured and repaired satellites in orbit for the first time. 1984 10 Sullivan (Catherine d? Sullivan) became the first female astronaut in the United States to walk in space. 1985 65438+1On October 24th, Discovery launched its first secret military mission. 1On April 29th, 985, Wang Ganjun, the first astronaut in China, took part in scientific experiments aboard the Challenger. 1985165438+1On October 26th, Atlantis carried astronauts into space for the first time. 1on may 7, 992, endeavour made its first flight, and astronauts successfully rescued the recovered satellite in space for the first time. On July 3 1, Atlantis was launched, and tethered satellite conducted power generation test for the first time. On September 12, Endeavour sent the first black female astronaut, the first Japanese journalist and the first astronaut couple into space.

The maiden voyage of the space shuttle Blizzard was a success.

1988165438+1October 15 at 6 o'clock in the morning Moscow time, the space shuttle "blizzard" of the former Soviet Union was launched from Baikonur Space Center for the first time and entered a circular orbit 250 kilometers above the ground 47 minutes later. It flew around the earth twice, traveled in space for three hours, returned safely as scheduled at 9: 25, and landed accurately on the cement runway 0/2 km away from the launch site/kloc-0, completing an unmanned test flight.

The space shuttle "Blizzard" is almost as big as an ordinary large passenger plane, and its shape is very similar to that of the American space shuttle, with triangular wings. The captain is 36 meters, the altitude is 16 meters, the wingspan is 24 meters, the fuselage diameter is 5.6 meters, the takeoff weight is 105 tons, and the landing weight after returning is 82 tons. It has a large cargo hold with a length of 18.3 meters and a diameter of 4.7 meters, which can send 30 tons of cargo into low-earth orbit and transport 20 tons of cargo back to the ground. There is a cabin with a volume of 70 cubic meters at the head, which can take 10 people. Scientists believe that this time, relying entirely on the computer system on the remote control machine of the ground control center, it will automatically return and land on the narrow runway without driving, which is much more difficult than the manned flight test of the US space shuttle in 198 1 year. First of all, the main engine of Blizzard is not installed at the tail of the space shuttle, but on the energy rocket, which greatly reduces the weight of the space shuttle in orbit, and also makes room for installing small motor-driven flight engines and deceleration brake umbrellas. Secondly, when the blizzard lands, it can use the small engine at the tail to make dynamic maneuvering flight and land safely and accurately on the narrow runway. In the case of landing failure, it can also improve the reliability of the space shuttle for a second landing. The American space shuttle can only land once by unpowered gliding. Thirdly, blizzard can glide in the atmosphere with the help of aileron, rudder and air brake, just like an ordinary plane. It is also equipped with a deceleration brake umbrella, which will automatically pop up when the speed slows down to 50 km/h during landing and taxiing, so that the space shuttle can stop in a short distance. The successful maiden voyage of Blizzard indicates that the space activities of the former Soviet Union have entered a new stage, paving the way for the establishment of a more perfect transportation system between heaven and earth. The manned flight was originally planned to be carried out one year later, but due to the fact that the safety and reliability of the airborne system have not been fully guaranteed, and the subsequent political and economic reasons, the time for loading into the flight was delayed.

Attachment: The space shuttle Challenger exploded.

1986 65438+1On October 28th, the booster rocket exploded in the air after the first launch of the American space shuttle Challenger, killing all seven astronauts (including a female teacher). It caused a direct economic loss of $65.438+$200 million, and the space shuttle grounded for nearly three years, which became the most serious manned space accident in the history of human space, and made the world have a clear understanding of the arduousness of conquering space.

The astronauts killed were Scobie, Smith, mcnair, jervis, Oni Tsuka (born in Hawaii, Japanese) and Judian? Resnick (female), mcauliffe (female teacher).

At 1 1 39 am EDT, the space shuttle Challenger exploded in the air 10 mile above Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. As a result, all space shuttle flights in the United States were suspended for three years, and the "Star Wars" plan also suffered serious setbacks.

The space shuttle Columbia crashed, killing seven astronauts.

On February 1 day, local time in the United States, the American space shuttle Columbia returned to Earth after completing its 16-day space mission, but an accident occurred before landing, and the space shuttle disintegrated and crashed.

At 9: 00 am EDT (22: 00 Beijing time), that is, before Columbia landed 16 minutes, the plane suddenly disappeared from the radar.

Television images show that the disintegrated Columbia has drawn several white tracks over Texas.

NASA did not immediately announce that the crew, including an Israeli astronaut, were killed, but the flag at Kennedy Airport was lowered at half mast. At present, the search for the wreckage of Columbia in Texas continues, and NASA has warned people not to touch any debris because the engine of the space shuttle is covered with highly toxic chemical paint.

There is no possibility of Columbia flying to a forced landing. "In this case, I'm afraid Columbia has no choice," NASA spokesman Keller Helian told CNN.

After the incident, President Bush immediately ended his short vacation at Camp David and returned to the White House to pay close attention to the further development of the situation.

Columbia is the longest-serving of the four existing space shuttles in the United States. This accident is reminiscent of the crash of Challenger 19861October 28th, when all seven astronauts on board were killed.

Angela Bell, a spokeswoman for the FBI, said there was no direct evidence that the incident was related to terrorists.

Columbia was flying at an altitude of 203,000 feet at a speed of 65,438+02,500 miles per hour.

Catherine Watson, a spokeswoman for NASA, told the National Public Broadcasting Network: "At present, all flight controllers are trying to find data that can explain what happened." But when asked if any astronauts could survive, Watson shed tears.

The seven astronauts killed on Columbia were Rick Herzburn, William McCool, michael anderson, david brown, Kelpana Jorah, Laurel Clark and Israeli Ilan Ramon.

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon said: "This incident is a great tragedy for the two governments, the two peoples and the families of the astronauts who died."

The space shuttle is a reusable aircraft launched by a launch vehicle, which is used to enter the earth orbit, transport people and materials between the earth and the orbiting spacecraft, and glide back to the ground. The first space shuttle was launched in April 12 198 1. The space shuttle is mainly composed of three parts: an orbiter with wings for transporting astronauts and materials; The external propellant tank carries liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the three main engines; A pair of large solid propellant bundled booster rockets. The take-off weight of the whole system is 2000 tons and the height is 56 meters. When launching, the booster and the main engine of the orbiter are ignited at the same time, and the thrust reaches 3 1 10,000 Newton. About two minutes after takeoff, the booster rocket was abandoned and landed with a parachute, which was recycled and reused. When the orbiter used up the propellant in the external propellant tank, it had already obtained 99% of the orbital height, so it was abandoned. The propellant tank disintegrated when it fell into the atmosphere. Although the space shuttle is launched vertically like a conventional manned spacecraft, the difference is that it can slide down on the runway like an ordinary jet plane. The orbiter can be reused for 00 times in design, which reduces the cost of space flight. The space shuttle can put satellites and detectors in its warehouse and take them into space for release. Astronauts can also recover or repair satellites that have problems in orbit in space. Space robots can also be used as space laboratories, carrying special research equipment for various scientific experiments. It is much more difficult and dangerous for the space shuttle to return to the ground after completing its mission than when it was launched. When the orbiter returns to the earth and re-enters the atmosphere, it must adjust its state and angle very accurately. Due to the intense friction between the fuselage and the air, the high temperature of 1500 degrees Celsius can be generated outside the fuselage. If there is no protective device, the plane will melt. Therefore, the outer surface of the space shuttle is covered with a layer of bright black silicate fiber ceramics with different sizes and shapes. These ceramics have excellent thermal insulation performance, which can ensure that heat will not be conducted to the aircraft. The space shuttle is by far the most complex and sophisticated vehicle made by human beings. Its huge and sophisticated system consists of millions of parts, any one of which may lead to the destruction of the entire space shuttle. Two wrecked space shuttles, one because a small sealing ring leaked, exploded shortly after takeoff; One is because the tiles fall off and damage the fuselage, and the fuselage disintegrates when re-entering the atmosphere. Two accidents killed more than a dozen astronauts. While thanking these brave people and shocking this disaster, people will still be full of unremitting passion for the cause of science.

At present, only the United States has space shuttles, but the great undertakings carried out by these space shuttles have made mankind's understanding of science advance by leaps and bounds.

The space shuttle is the only reusable space vehicle in the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, the United States, the Soviet Union, France and Japan began to develop space shuttles, but due to technical and financial reasons, only the space shuttle developed by the United States was put into use. The space shuttle has a wide range of uses, such as rendezvous and docking, docking, space science experiments, launch recovery or satellite maintenance. It once captured an international communication satellite 6 that failed to enter the synchronous channel in space, repaired it and sent it into synchronous orbit. It also launched and repaired the Hubble Space Telescope three times. The space shuttle can generally carry seven people, and the flight time is generally less than two weeks, and the longest can reach 28 days.

At present, the main task of the space shuttle is to transport astronauts and various building parts to the International Space Station. The United States originally envisaged that the use of reusable space shuttles could save money. But the result is completely different. The development cost of each space shuttle is very high. The development cost of the latest Endeavour is 2 billion dollars, and the cost of each launch exceeds 654.38+0 billion dollars. So far, only six space shuttles have been built, including 1 Enterprise and five working machines, namely Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour. The reliability of the space shuttle is still very high. Challenger has successfully flown 1 10 times in April 2002 after its failed launch in June.