Chapter 16 Section 8 What is the space shuttle? Objective: Explain how the space shuttle works.

A Reusable Spaceship In the 1960s and 1970s, all spaceflights were made with spacecraft that could be used only once. This was very expensive and wasteful. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) decided to build a spacecraft that could go into space and return to Earth many times. This new kind of spacecraft was known as the Space Transportation System, or the space shuttle.

INFER: How was the space shuttle an improvement over earlier spacecraft?

Design of the Shuttle The space shuttle has three main parts. Two of the parts are needed to get the shuttle into space. These are the solid-fuel booster rockets and the liquid-fuel tank. The third part is the shuttle orbiter. The orbiter is the only part that stays in space after launch.

Design of the Shuttle How does the shuttle get into orbit? At launch, both the booster rockets and the orbiter’s rocket engines are fired. After launch, the boosters separate from the orbiter. They fall back into the ocean and can be hauled out to be used again.

Design of the Shuttle The large liquid-fuel tank provides fuel for the orbiter’s engines. The tank drops away before the orbiter reaches orbit. It is not reusable.

Design of the Shuttle Once the orbiter is in space, the engines are turned off. They are fired again to change the orbiter’s speed and direction when it is ready to return to Earth. When its mission is over, the orbiter glides to a landing on a runway.

2. LIST: What are the three main parts of the space shuttle?

Uses of the Shuttle The shuttle’s cargo bay is designed to carry between 10,000 and 50,000 kg of equipment into orbit. The weight depends partly on the shuttle’s altitude in space. Satellites and space probes can be launched from the shuttle.

Uses of the Shuttle Shuttle astronauts can repair satellites in orbit. Satellites can also be returned to Earth for repair.

Uses of the Shuttle The shuttle will sometimes carry a flying laboratory called Spacelab in its cargo bay. In this laboratory, a variety of science experiments are performed. The shuttle is also used to ferry people and supplies into space.

3. NAME: What is the laboratory carried by the shuttle called?

16-8 Classwork CHECKING CONCEPTS Another name for the space shuttle is ___. The shuttle orbiter lands like an airplane on a ___. Satellites are carried in the shuttle’s ___. Spacelab is a flying ___.

16-8 Classwork THINKING CRITICALLY 5. ANALYZE: How is the space shuttle useful to people on Earth? 6. INFER: Why is it important for the boosters to be separated from the orbiter before going into orbit?