Space Shuttles

Space Shuttles

A Reusable Spacecraft

• In the 1960s and 1970s, all space flights were made with spacecrafts that could only be used once.

• This was very expensive and wasteful so NASA decided to build a spacecraft that could go into space and return many times.

Parts of a Space Shuttle

• The space shuttles has three main parts, two of which are needed to get the shuttle into space.

• They are the solid fuel booster rockets and the liquid fuel tank. The orbiter is the only part that goes into space.

Launching.

• As the space shuttle launches, the booster rockets and rocket engines are fired. After a few minutes the booster rockets separate and fall into the ocean to be used again

• The large liquid fuel tank provides fuel for the orbiters engine. The tanks drops away before orbiter reaches Earth's orbit. When the orbiter is in space the engine are turned off.

Why use space shuttles?

• The space shuttle has a cargo bay that can carry alot of heavy equipment into space. You can even launch satellites and space probes from the shuttle.

• Shuttle astronauts can repair satellites in order or help return them to earth.

• The shuttle even has its own laboratory called the Space lab in the cargo bay.

Fill in the Blank

A reusable spacecraft is known as a

Multiple Choice

The space shuttle has how many main parts?

• 4

• 3

• 7

• 1

Multiple Choice

The ___________ is the only part of the shuttle that goes into space.

• orbiter

• booster rockets

• fuel tank

Multiple Choice

The _______ can be picked up in the ocean and used again.

• orbiter

• fuel tank

• booster rockets

Fill in the Blank

The space shuttles fuel tank is turned off while in orbit and is only turned on to change the shuttles speed and _________.