Shuttle Info!
   Today's space Shuttle is the largest type of spacecraft Americans have flown into space. First was the one man Mercury spacecraft. Alan Shepard reached an altitude of 166 1/2 miles on the 5th of may in 1961. On febuary 20, 1962, John Glenn was the first American in orbit aboard the friendship 7, to fly three orbits in the Mercury capsule.

   today's shuttle orbiters are the first true spacecraft. Huge, roomy, and comfortable to live in, they are 122 feet long, and they weigh 200,000 pounds. At lift off. with their giant rocket boosters and external fuel tank, they weigh about 4 1/2 million pounds!

   Shuttles work with rocket boosters. They are launched into space, do their mission or orbit, reaserch and return, landing on the ground, like an airplane. Most capsules have a basic load out. "Bathroom", "beds", "launch areas", and other things that you would need for month long space trips. Their food is completly desposable. It is in plastic tubes, like tooth paste. Rockets are launched at launching pads. Launching pads have control areas at control stations, were people have certain areas to look after. 5..4..3..2..1, "we have lift off", or "houston we have a problem!" are famous sayings that originated with space orbits or launchings. Many,  many, books have been directed or published by people that work with space, or astronomy, so check out your local library to find lots of interesting facts, and figure out what is fact or fiction.
 
 
Back to Home Page