The Rise and Fall of the Space Shuttle

Space shuttle technology term definition

Chinese name: space shuttle English name: space shuttle definition: a reusable space vehicle that travels between the ground and low-Earth orbit. Applied disciplines: Surveying and Mapping (first-level subject); Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (second-level subject) This content is approved and published by the National Scientific and Technical Terms Approval Committee. Encyclopedia business card for help editor

Space Shuttle Space Shuttle (Space Shuttle) , also known as space shuttle or space shuttle) is a reusable spacecraft that travels between space and the ground, combining the properties of an aircraft and a spacecraft. It can not only represent a launch vehicle to send spacecraft such as artificial satellites into space, but also operate in orbit like a manned spacecraft, and can glide and land in the atmosphere like an airplane. The space shuttle provides a good tool for humans to freely enter and exit space. It greatly reduces the cost of space activities and is an important milestone in the history of spaceflight.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the U.S. Space Shuttle

Components

External Fuel Tank Pair of Solid Rocket Booster Orbiter

U.S. Space Shuttle Fleet

Introduction to Space Shuttle Enterprise (Enterprise) Introduction to Space Shuttle Columbia (Introduction to Space Shuttle Challenger) Introduction to Space Shuttle Discovery (Discovery) Introduction to Asia Introduction to Space Shuttle Atlantis Introduction to Space Shuttle Endeavor

Aerospace Records

Last Flight

First Flight

Other countries’ space shuttle programs

Soviet Russian space shuttle European countries’ space shuttle program China’s space shuttle program

Space shuttle accident

Challenger Columbia exploded during liftoff and Columbia disintegrated on return

Historical moment

Subsequent plan Introduction to the U.S. space shuttle

Components

External fuel tank 1 Introduction to the Solid Rocket Booster Orbiter

U.S. Space Shuttle Fleet

Introduction to the Space Shuttle Enterprise (Enterprise) Introduction to the Space Shuttle Columbia (Columbia) Introduction to the Space Shuttle Challenger ) Introduction to the space shuttle Discovery (Discovery) Introduction to the space shuttle Atlantis (Atlantis) Introduction to the space shuttle Endeavor (Endeavor) introduction

Aerospace records

The final flight< /p>

First flight

Space shuttle programs of other countries

Soviet Russian space shuttle European countries’ space shuttle program China’s space shuttle program

Aerospace Aircraft accident

Challenger exploded during liftoff and Columbia disintegrated on return

Historical moment

Follow-up plan

Expand edit this paragraph U.S. Aerospace Introduction to the aircraft

Space Shuttle

In April 1969, NASA proposed a plan to build a reusable space vehicle. In January 1972, the United States officially included the development of a space shuttle space transportation system in its plan, and determined the design of the space shuttle, which consisted of a recyclable and reusable solid rocket booster, two non-recyclable external fuel tanks and a reusable The multiple-use orbiter consists of three parts. After five years, a Space Shuttle Entrepreneurship orbiter was developed in February 1977, and it was carried by a Boeing 747 aircraft for airborne testing. On June 18, 1977, the first manned aircraft took to the sky for a test flight. The two astronauts C.F. Haise and G. Fullerton participated in the test flight. On August 12, the manned flight test on the aircraft was successfully completed. After another four years, the first manned space shuttle finally appeared on the space stage, which was another milestone in the history of aerospace technology development. The space shuttle is a rocket-powered aircraft designed to cross the boundary between the atmosphere and space (the gate line at an altitude of 100 kilometers). It is a winged, reusable spacecraft that is launched out of the atmosphere by an auxiliary launch vehicle. As a means of transportation between the earth and outer space, the space shuttle combines the properties of an airplane and a spacecraft, like a winged A spaceship that looks like an airplane. The shuttle's wings provide air braking when returning to Earth and lift when descending to the runway. When the space shuttle ascends into space, like other single-use vehicles, it uses rocket power to ascend vertically. Because of the wings, the space shuttle's payload ratio is lower than

the space shuttle's wonderful pictures (17 photos). Designers hope to compensate for this shortcoming with reusability. Although many countries in the world have successively developed space shuttles, only the United States and the former Soviet Union have actually successfully launched and recovered such vehicles. However, due to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the relevant equipment being received by Kazakhstan, the entire space program was shut down due to insufficient funds to maintain operations. Therefore, only the US space shuttle fleet in the world can actually be used and perform missions.

Day records

The U.S. space shuttle has set many new space records.

John Young, commander of the first flight of the space shuttle, flew into space six times and was the astronaut who participated in the most spaceflights in the world at that time. On June 18, 1983, female astronaut Sally K. Ride flew into space on Challenger, ranking first among American women in spaceflight. On August 30, 1983, Challenger launched Guion S. Bluford, the first black American astronaut, into space. B. McCandless, who ascended to space aboard Challenger on February 3, 1984, became the first astronaut in the world to walk in space without a safety belt. After Challenger launched into space on April 6, 1984, astronauts successfully captured and repaired a satellite in orbit for the first time. Kathryn D. Sullivan, who participated in the Challenger flight on October 5, 1984, became the first American female astronaut to walk in space. Discovery took off on January 24, 1985, carrying out its first secret military mission. On April 29, 1985, the first Chinese astronaut Tayler Wang took the Challenger to space to participate in scientific experiments. On November 26, 1985, Atlantis carried astronauts to space for the first space station test. Endeavor made its first flight on May 7, 1992, and astronauts successfully rescued and recovered a satellite manually for the first time in space. On July 31, Atlantis went into space and conducted the first tethered satellite power generation test. On September 12, Endeavor carried the first black female astronaut, the first Japanese journalist and the first astronaut couple into space.

The decelerating space shuttle (1 photo) Edit the final flight of this paragraph

The space shuttle

In early 2010, NASA officially decided to replace the aging space shuttle All retired. They have only five missions left before they are scheduled to be retired in the fall of 2010. In other words, unless NASA needs a few more months to complete the remaining missions, or President Obama chooses to extend the life of the shuttle program to reduce the gap in U.S. manned spaceflight capabilities, the shuttle will be grounded in the fall of 2010 . [1] In February 2010, the space shuttle Endeavor was launched, kicking off the retirement flight of the space shuttle in 2010. The space station was equipped with the "Tranquility" node module and a space station to facilitate astronauts' observation of the earth, other celestial bodies and An observation platform for spacecraft to conduct panoramic observations. In March, Discovery was standing on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, scheduled to launch on April 5. In this space mission, the space shuttle will carry a multifunctional logistics module into the space station. This logistics module is basically a large storage room that contains scientific research racks for the space station laboratory. According to the plan, the astronauts will conduct three space walks during this mission to complete the replacement of ammonia tanks, retrieval of the Japanese experimental module outside the space station, and replacement of gyroscopes. In May, the space shuttle Atlantis will carry out a 12-day mission to deliver an integrated cargo module and a Russian-made mini research module to the space station. The mini research module will be installed at the bottom port of the Dawn module of the space station. In addition, the mini research module will also carry American cargo. During this mission, astronauts will conduct three spacewalks to install spare parts on the outside of the space station, including six spare batteries, a truss assembly for Ku-band antennas and parts for the Canadian robotic arm. Radiators, airlocks, European robotic arms, Russian multifunctional experimental modules and other components will also enter the space station aboard the "Atlantis". In July, the space shuttle Endeavor will return to space on a 10-day mission to deliver a series of spare parts to the space station, including two S-band communication antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, and preparations for the Canadian robotic arm. of additional parts as well as a micrometeoroid debris shield. Installing such shields is important due to the increased amount of space debris flying around or near the space station. In September, Discovery will conduct a nine-day mission. In this mission, "Discovery" will transport the No. 4 rapid logistics transport device and other parts to the space station. This will be the shuttle's 134th flight and the 36th mission to the space station. The logistics transport unit helps increase the space station's cargo storage space. In February 2011, Discovery returned to Earth from the International Space Station carrying six crew members, completing its 39th flight. Since the "Discovery" was put into service in 1984, it has stayed in space for 365 days, with a total flight distance of nearly 230 million kilometers, which is equivalent to 288 round trips to the moon. The "Discovery" will be sent to a museum in Washington for public display in a few months after its successful retirement, and the remaining two space shuttles will also be retired this year. On the morning of July 8, 2011, the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This will be the 135th launch in the U.S.'s 30-year-old space shuttle program and the last flight of any U.S. space shuttle. According to reports, the four crew members of the space shuttle will send supplies, spare parts and scientific experimental instruments to the International Space Station during this 12-day trip. The space shuttle "Atlantis" played a large role in the construction and operation of the International Space Station.

On July 21, 2011, the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:57 a.m. Eastern Time on the 21st (17:57 on the 21st Beijing time), ending its " Curtain Call", which means the end of the 30-year space shuttle era in the United States. Edit this paragraph for the first flight

On April 12, 1981, millions of people gathered at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to watch the launch of the first space shuttle, Space Shuttle Columbia. Astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen opened a new page in the history of spaceflight.

The U.S. space shuttle Endeavor

This space shuttle is about 56 meters long, with a wingspan of about 24 meters, a take-off weight of about 2,040 tons, a total take-off thrust of 2,800 tons, and a maximum payload 29.5 tons. Its core orbiter is 37.2 meters long, roughly the size of a DC-9 airliner. Each flight can carry up to 8 astronauts, the flight time is 7 to 30 days, and the orbiter can be reused 100 times. The space shuttle combines the technical characteristics of rockets, satellites and airplanes. It can launch vertically into space orbit like a rocket, fly in space orbit like a satellite, and re-enter the atmosphere and glide to land like an airplane. It is a new type of space shuttle. Multifunctional space vehicle. From 1981 to the end of 1993, the United States had 5 space shuttles carry out 59 flights, including 15 flights for Columbia, 10 for Challenger, 17 for Discovery, and 12 for Atlantis. , Endeavor 5 times. Each time it carries 2 to 8 astronauts, the flight time ranges from 2 to 14 days. In 12 years, 301 people have participated in space shuttle flights, including 18 female astronauts. During the 59 flights of the space shuttle, more than 50 satellites were launched into space, 2 space stations were carried to space orbit, 3 space probes, 1 space telescope and 1 gamma ray detector were launched, and satellite space recovery and In space repair, a series of scientific experimental activities have been carried out and fruitful detection experimental results have been achieved. In addition to carrying people and cargo between heaven and earth, the space shuttle can also conduct a large number of scientific experiments and space research in space due to its large volume, the ability to carry multiple people and its large payload capacity. It can bring artificial satellites from the ground to space for release, or repair unmanned spacecraft that have failed or been damaged in space, such as low-orbit satellites and other artificial celestial bodies, and then put them into use. It can even put the "spacecraft" developed by the European Space Agency into use. "Laboratory" is loaded into the cabin to carry out various scientific research work. Edit this paragraph Space shuttle programs of other countries

Former Soviet Buran space shuttle

Soviet Russian space shuttle

At 6 a.m. Moscow time on November 16, 1988 On the same day, the former Soviet Union's Buran space shuttle was launched from the 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, and after traveling in space for 3 hours, it returned safely at 9:25 as scheduled and accurately landed on a concrete runway 12 kilometers away from the launch site, completing an unmanned test flight. The size of the Buran space shuttle is almost the same as that of an ordinary large passenger aircraft. Its appearance is very similar to that of the American space shuttle, with its wings being triangular. The aircraft is 36 meters long, 16 meters high, has a wingspan of 24 meters, a fuselage diameter of 5.6 meters, a take-off weight of 105 tons, and a landing weight of 82 tons after return. It has a large cargo bay 18.3 meters long and 4.7 meters in diameter, which can transport 30 tons of cargo to low-Earth orbit and 20 tons of cargo back to the ground. There is a passenger cabin with a volume of 70 cubic meters at the head, which can accommodate 10 people. Scientists believe that this time it was entirely dependent on the ground control center to remotely control the aircraft's computer system to automatically return home and accurately land on a narrow runway under unmanned conditions. This was much more difficult than the 1981 manned test flight of the U.S. space shuttle. First of all, the main engine of Buran is not installed at the tail of the space shuttle, but is installed on the Energy rocket. This greatly reduces the weight of the space shuttle into orbit and frees up space for the installation of a small maneuvering flight engine and a deceleration brake parachute. Secondly, when the Buran is landing, it can use the small engine at the tail to perform powered maneuvering flight and land safely and accurately on the narrow runway. If the landing fails, the space shuttle can be raised for a second landing, thereby improving reliability. sex. The U.S. space shuttle can only successfully land once by gliding without power. Third, the Buran can control its taxiing in the atmosphere with the help of ailerons, rudders and air brakes like ordinary aircraft. It is also equipped with a deceleration brake parachute, which can slow down the speed to 50 kilometers per hour during the landing and taxiing process. Automatically ejects, allowing the space shuttle to stop within a short distance. The successful maiden flight of Buran marked a new stage in the space activities of the former Soviet Union and paved the way for the establishment of a more complete space-to-ground transportation system. It was originally planned to conduct a manned flight one year later, but due to the safety and reliability of the on-board system not being fully guaranteed, and subsequent political and economic reasons, the manned flight was postponed.

Space Shuttle Programs of European Countries

There are also space shuttle programs in other countries. The United Kingdom once designed a space shuttle with a unique appearance, similar to that of a launch vehicle. The same size, named "Hoto" by the British, is an unmanned space shuttle used for transportation.

It could be launched vertically or take off using the runway of the Concorde supersonic aircraft jointly developed with France at the time. In addition, the French have also conceived a small space shuttle. Its appearance is the same as that of the American space shuttle, but it is smaller than the American space shuttle. It has only a pair of small engines. The "Allina" rocket developed by France emission.

China's Space Shuttle Program

[2] my country's space shuttle development plan was first proposed in the mid-1980s. It was conceived from the strategy of developing the Space Force and was first assigned to the 863 The aerospace subsidiary project of the plan sub-project number 204 is a progressive concept from a spacecraft to a space shuttle. At that time, the successful first flight of the U.S. space shuttle caused a huge sensation. Therefore, the dominant opinion in our country was to pursue the space shuttle project, and the spacecraft was not ranked at all at that time. After three years of debate, China's manned space program was formally formulated in 1992, proposing the development and operation of a manned space system with a space station as the core, and the space-to-ground shuttle system was determined to be a spacecraft, which later became the Shenzhou series of spacecraft. . Academician Wang Xiji, an aerospace expert who advocated the spacecraft program at that time, recalled: "If China had developed a space shuttle at that time, then the manned program (Shenzhou spacecraft) would have been discontinued long ago." Aerospace technology is the "863 Plan" and "High Technology Research and Development Plan Outline" 》The second area among the seven areas, the theme projects are: large launch vehicles and space-to-ground transportation systems, manned space station systems and their applications. After the introduction of the "863 Plan", two expert groups were established in the aerospace field. One is large-scale. The launch vehicle and the space-to-ground transportation system are code-named 863-204; the second is the manned space station system and its application, code-named 863-205. In 1987, under the organization of the former Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, the "863 Plan Aerospace Technology Expert Committee" was established and the theme project expert group to conduct a comprehensive demonstration of the overall plan and specific approaches to developing China's manned space technology. In April 1987, the "863-204" expert group issued the "Conceptual Research and Development of Large Launch Vehicles and Space-to-Earth Transportation Systems." "Feasibility Demonstration" bidding notice selects units with technical advantages through bidding and demonstrates manned space programs as required. In less than 2 months, each bidding unit proposed 11 technical solutions. 863-204" expert group selected 6 plans and required them to complete a technical feasibility demonstration report before the end of June 1988 in order to participate in the review of high-level experts. Although the 1987 plan is 22 years old, When we look through them today, we still have to pay tribute to the boldness and insight of our country's scientists. Plan 1: The manned spacecraft plan proposed by the 508th Institute of the Ministry of Aerospace. Plan 2: Tianjiao 1 proposed by the First Institute of the Ministry of Aerospace. Small space shuttle plan. It is close to the Great Wall-1 space shuttle in Plan 3. The difference is that the orbiter does not have main power and uses its own structure to glide to land when returning. Plan 3: 805 Institute of the Shanghai Space Administration of the Ministry of Aerospace and Aviation 604. The jointly proposed Great Wall-1 space shuttle plan takes off vertically, lands horizontally, and is partially reusable. The orbiter can fly autonomously with main power. Plan 4: The V-2 two-stage rocket proposed by the Ministry of Aerospace. Plan for the aircraft. It takes off vertically like a rocket, lands horizontally like an airplane, is powered by a rocket engine, and is completely reusable. Plan 5: The H-2 space plane proposed by the Ministry of Aviation. It can be used like an airplane. Horizontal take-off and landing, using an air-breathing turbojet combination engine, fully reusable. Option 6: A comprehensive analysis of the Hermes small space shuttle being studied by France by the Ministry of Aviation's 611 Institute. The demonstrator believes that France is developing a space shuttle. The political, economic, and technical background are similar to those of our country. Its overall technology is similar to the Tianjiao 1 small space shuttle plan proposed by the First Academy of the Ministry of Aerospace. It is the most labor-saving and time-saving plan among the space shuttle plans. After comprehensively considering its own technical foundation and economic capabilities, in May 1990, the "863-2" expert committee finally determined the spacecraft plan with "small investment, small risk, and greater certainty", that is, using my country's existing The Long March 2E carrier rocket launches a one-time use spacecraft as the first step in my country's manned space flight; a large manned space station system will be built in 2010 or later. Edit this paragraph Space Shuttle Accident

Challenger exploded during launch

Challenger (crash in January 1986)

January 28, 1986 After the U.S. space shuttle Challenger's 10th launch, the booster rocket exploded due to an accident, killing all seven astronauts (including a female teacher) in the cabin. Directly causing economic losses of US$1.2 billion, the space shuttle was grounded for nearly three years. It became the most serious manned space accident in the history of human spaceflight, and gave the world a clear understanding of the difficulty of conquering space. The astronauts who died were Scobee, Smith, McNair, Jervis, Onizuka (born in Hawaii, of Japanese descent), Judith Resnick (female), and McAuliffe (female teacher). At 11:39:12 a.m. Eastern Time that day, 10 miles above the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the space shuttle Challenger exploded in the air with a loud bang. As a result, all space shuttle flights in the United States were suspended for three years, and the "Star Wars" program also suffered a serious setback.

Columbia disintegrated on return