Space Shuttle.

"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...

How do you propose to slow the shuttle down from orbital velocity?


The shuttle does slow from orbital velocity to re-enter.

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:

"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...

How do you propose to slow the shuttle down from orbital velocity?


The shuttle does slow from orbital velocity to re-enter.

Yeah, by a tiny fraction of it's total horizontal velocity.

Then there is that inconvenient energy of position which gets
converted to energy of motion as it falls back to Earth.

--
Jim Pennino

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In article ,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

How do you propose to slow the shuttle down from orbital velocity?

The shuttle does slow from orbital velocity to re-enter.

It slows only slightly, enough to get its orbit to dip into the atmosphere
where it then uses aerodynamic braking. Avoiding the need for
aerodynamic braking was, I believe, the whole point of the original
question.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

How do you propose to slow the shuttle down from orbital velocity?

The shuttle does slow from orbital velocity to re-enter.

It slows only slightly, enough to get its orbit to dip into the atmosphere
where it then uses aerodynamic braking. Avoiding the need for
aerodynamic braking was, I believe, the whole point of the original
question.


The short answer to your follow-up question is the Orbital Maneuvering
System. The shuttle uses the OMS for both orbital maneuvering and to slow
from orbital velocity for reentry.

In article ,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

The short answer to your follow-up question is the Orbital Maneuvering
System. The shuttle uses the OMS for both orbital maneuvering and to slow
from orbital velocity for reentry.

I know how the shuttle de-orbits. My follow-up question was directed at
the OP.

In the context of the original question, the OMS is entirely inadequate.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

On Dec 28, 4:05*am, "Oz Lander" wrote:
Just watched a show on the Columbis disaster, and a question came to me.
Why does the shuttle have to be travelling so fast to re-enter the
atmosphere?

Think of it this way. The shuttle isn't moving fast, its landing on a
fast moving object. Landing on the earth is like a carrier landing,
the earth is spinning around and the shuttle has to match to it.

-Robert

As long as were on the subject of getting into and out of orbit, anyone want
to discuss the space elevator concept?

--
Best Regards,
Mike

http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel


"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
...
On Dec 28, 4:05 am, "Oz Lander" wrote:
Just watched a show on the Columbis disaster, and a question came to me.
Why does the shuttle have to be travelling so fast to re-enter the
atmosphere?

Think of it this way. The shuttle isn't moving fast, its landing on a
fast moving object. Landing on the earth is like a carrier landing,
the earth is spinning around and the shuttle has to match to it.

-Robert

On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:52:55 -0700, "Mike Noel" wrote:

As long as were on the subject of getting into and out of orbit, anyone want
to discuss the space elevator concept?

Great once it's in place (except for the risk from terrorists) but kinda tough
to build....

Ron Wanttaja

"Mike Noel" wrote:
As long as were on the subject of getting into and out of orbit,
anyone want to discuss the space elevator concept?

Wont work - the banal music will keep people from using it.

Mike Noel wrote:
As long as were on the subject of getting into and out of orbit, anyone want
to discuss the space elevator concept?

It has been discussed to death on sci.physics, sci.space.policy,
sci.space.shuttle and for some strange reason soc.culture.zimbabwe,
though a lot of it is babbling drool by Brad Guth and associates.

--
Jim Pennino

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