The Space ShuttleThe Space Shuttle

The Shuttle’s missionThe Shuttle’s mission

The purpose of the space shuttle is to bring The purpose of the space shuttle is to bring supplies, equipment, and people to the supplies, equipment, and people to the International Space Station (ISS).International Space Station (ISS).

The shuttle’s missionThe shuttle’s mission

When completed, the ISS will serve as a When completed, the ISS will serve as a launch pad for future missions to the Moon, launch pad for future missions to the Moon, to Mars, and beyondto Mars, and beyond..

Launching a shuttleLaunching a shuttle

A space shuttle needs a great amount of A space shuttle needs a great amount of thrust to leave the Earth’s gravity.thrust to leave the Earth’s gravity.

They use rockets to reach the speed they They use rockets to reach the speed they need to escape the planet’s pull. (approx. need to escape the planet’s pull. (approx. 3000km/h)3000km/h)

Launching…Launching…

The fuel shuttles use in their rocket engines The fuel shuttles use in their rocket engines is extremely explosive.is extremely explosive.

When the shuttles engines burn the fuel, When the shuttles engines burn the fuel, huge amounts of thrust are created.huge amounts of thrust are created.

Launching…Launching… To go fast enough To go fast enough

to escape Earth’s to escape Earth’s gravity, these gravity, these engines need to engines need to burn a lot of fuel . burn a lot of fuel .

In 8 minutes, the In 8 minutes, the shuttle burns over shuttle burns over 1.9 million litres of 1.9 million litres of fuel.fuel.

Components of a shuttleComponents of a shuttle The shuttle consists of 3 parts that make it able The shuttle consists of 3 parts that make it able

to reach space:to reach space:

1.1. OrbiterOrbiter: the part that carries the crew and : the part that carries the crew and payload. payload. It has three main engines that fire It has three main engines that fire during the launch. It also has to smaller engines during the launch. It also has to smaller engines that adjust the orbiter’s position in space.that adjust the orbiter’s position in space.

Components of a shuttleComponents of a shuttle2.2. Solid Rocket Boosters Solid Rocket Boosters: these two boosters are filled : these two boosters are filled

with a solid fuel and have their own engines. with a solid fuel and have their own engines. These are used up during the launch and are let These are used up during the launch and are let go once their job is done. They splash down in the go once their job is done. They splash down in the ocean and are retrieved to be used again.ocean and are retrieved to be used again.

Components of a shuttleComponents of a shuttle

3.3. External Fuel TankExternal Fuel Tank: this large fuel tank : this large fuel tank carries the fuel that the shuttle’s main carries the fuel that the shuttle’s main engines burn during the launch. engines burn during the launch. When the When the tank is empty, it is released and it burns up tank is empty, it is released and it burns up as it reenters the atmosphere.as it reenters the atmosphere.

External Fuel Tank

The big orange thing isn’t a rocket, it’s just the gas tank!

The launchThe launch From launch to orbit, it doesn’t take long for a space shuttle to get into From launch to orbit, it doesn’t take long for a space shuttle to get into

space.space.

First, the main engines fire and then the First, the main engines fire and then the solid rocket boosters fire and the shuttle lifts solid rocket boosters fire and the shuttle lifts off.off.

The launchThe launch

Two minutes later the boosters have used Two minutes later the boosters have used up all their fuel and detach from the shuttle. up all their fuel and detach from the shuttle. They splash down in the Atlantic.They splash down in the Atlantic.

The launchThe launch After eight minutes, the fuel tank is empty After eight minutes, the fuel tank is empty

and detaches to falls into the atmosphere, and detaches to falls into the atmosphere, where it burns up and is destroyed. where it burns up and is destroyed.

Let’s watchLet’s watch

A different viewA different view

Another viewAnother view

Then . . .Then . . .

In SpaceIn Space

In spaceIn space

Life in the shuttleLife in the shuttle

Working in space Working in space with the with the

CanadarmCanadarm

Saving money and resourcesSaving money and resources One main benefit to using the space shuttle One main benefit to using the space shuttle

is that it’s reusable. It lands like an airplane is that it’s reusable. It lands like an airplane and can be fixed up for another trip.and can be fixed up for another trip.