![]() The program rebounded in April 1990 with the successful mission of Discovery.Īstronauts on this momentous flight placed the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. The space shuttle program was suspended in the wake of the accident, and no shuttles were launched for nearly three years. A string of successful missions was broken in 1986 when Challenger disintegrated seconds after liftoff, killing its seven-person crew. The program was a tremendous success for NASA, but it also endured several tragedies. woman in space as part of the Challenger crew. In 1983 space shuttle astronaut Sally Ride became the first U.S. On April 12, 1981, John Young and Robert Crippen launched the space shuttle program by piloting Columbia to space and returning successfully two days later. Each of the shuttles was specially equipped for such functions, most notably with a large cargo bay and a robotic manipulator arm. Astronauts performed a variety of tasks aloft, including satellite repair and construction of the International Space Station. Kennedy Space Center, a typical space shuttle mission lasted ten days to two weeks and included a full schedule of scientific experiments and technological maintenance. The craft's aerodynamic winged shape allowed it to descend through the atmosphere and touch down on a runway, much like a commercial airplane.Īfter liftoff from Florida's John F. Unlike the much smaller capsules of the Apollo era, which launched on the tips of rockets and splashed back into the ocean, the jetliner-size shuttle was designed to streak into space using powerful boosters and return to solid ground as a glider. NASA's space shuttle was unlike any other spacecraft built during the 30 years the program was in operation. ![]() While in orbit, the space shuttle circled the planet at some 17,500 miles (28,000 kilometers) an hour, which means that the crew could see a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes. The craft’s aerodynamic winged shape allowed it to descend through the atmosphere and touch down on a runway, much like a commercial airplane. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |