Was the Space Shuttle a lifting body?
The space shuttle, with a shape like a bulky glider, is actually a lifting body. A lifting body is a specially constructed spacecraft that cannot launch under its own power, but needs additional rocket engines for thrust.
What is the aspect ratio of a Space Shuttle?
The aspect ratio is the square of the wingspan divided by the platform area of the wing: AR = b2/S. The aspect ratio of a wing is defined as the square of the span divided by the wing area. The Space Shuttle has a low aspect ratio because of high-speed effects. …
How much can the Space Shuttle lift?
At launch, the Shuttle, external tank, solid rocket boosters and all the fuel combined had a total weight of 4.4 million pounds. The Shuttle could also carry a 65,000 payload.
What payloads did the shuttle carry?
Space Shuttle
| Size | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 2,270 kg (5,000 lb) with Inertial Upper Stage |
| Payload to Earth, returned | |
| Mass | 14,400 kg (31,700 lb) |
| Launch history |
Why do space shuttles take off vertically?
Rockets launched from the surface of the Earth are launched vertically so as to pass through the thickest part of the atmosphere at relatively low speeds. A key concept here is maximum dynamic pressure, or max Q. In the case of the Space Shuttle, max Q occurred at about 11 km above the surface of the Earth.
What is the edge of a wing called?
leading edge
The front of the wing (at the bottom) is called the leading edge; the back of the wing (at the top) is called the trailing edge. The distance from the leading to trailing edges is called the chord. The ends of the wing are called the wing tips, and the distance from one wing tip to the other is called the span.
Does NASA reuse rockets?
At an altitude of approximately 45 km (24 nautical miles), the boosters separate from the orbiter/external tank, descend on parachutes, and land in the Atlantic Ocean (+ View Video: SRB Processing). They are recovered by ships, returned to land, and refurbished for reuse.
Can a delta wing stall?
At low speeds, a delta wing requires a high angle of attack to maintain lift. As the angle of attack increases, the leading edge of the wing generates a vortex which energises the flow on the upper surface of the wing, delaying flow separation, and giving the delta a very high stall angle.
Who built the flying wing?
Jack Northrop
In the 1940s, Jack Northrop generated great excitement with his amazing “Flying Wing,” which flew like an airplane but didn’t look like one, at least not in the traditional sense. It demonstrated that an aircraft did not need a tail or a fuselage to fly. The wing was enough.
Is the Space Shuttle really a lifting body?
The space shuttle, with a shape like a bulky glider, is actually a lifting body. A lifting body is a specially constructed spacecraft that cannot launch under its own power, but needs additional rocket engines for thrust.
How are the wings on a Space Shuttle used?
The orbiter has wings that create lift. It uses a double-delta wing configuration to achieve the most efficient flight during hypersonic speed as well as providing a good lift -to-drag ratio during landing. For control, each wing has an “elevon”.
What was the weight of the Space Shuttle?
The entire shuttle vehicle, fully loaded, weighed about 2 million kg (4.4 million pounds) and required a combined thrust of about 35 million newtons (7.8 million pounds-force) to reach orbital altitude.
How did the Space Shuttle get to its altitude?
The SRB thrust vector control system enabled the nozzles to rotate, allowing the entire shuttle to maneuver to the required ascent trajectory during first stage. Two minutes after launch, the spent SRBs were jettisoned, having taken the vehicle to an altitude of about 45 km (28 miles).