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Why do astronauts float around in the shuttle instead of falling?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
They are falling !
As you see them on TV floating around in the shuttle (or outside it), they are falling towards the earth. So is the shuttle, at exactly the same acceleration, which is why they seem to hover in mid-air; they are moving exactly in time with the shuttle.
In fact, shuttle and astronauts are both moving; pretty fast, too, around 18,000 mph. And that is the big secret as to why they don't crash to earth. They are falling towards the earth's surface, but the surface of the earth is curved. Because they are travelling around the earth, it's surface is receding from them, and it just happens to be moving away at the same rate as the shuttle (and contents) are falling towards it.
This is called an orbit, and it doesn't really "just happen"; the engineers who program the launch vehicle take some trouble to get the final velocity just right to achieve the orbit that they want.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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How many Gs do astronauts experience during space shuttle launch?
Around 4
How does the space shuttle orbit the earth?
The shuttle is always falling via gravity, it's just so far up that it never falls to earth,but goes around and around.
What speed does the space shuttle have to reach to escape earths gravity?
17,500 miles per hour puts the shuttle in orbit. BUT the gravity is still there. I'm fact there is about 90% of the gravity while the shuttle is on the ground. That great rate of speed is required to keep the shuttle from falling back to earth. At that speed the shuttle is basically falling around the planet.
How does the space shuttle move in space?
Most of the movement, the orbiting of the shuttle around Earth, comes from the launch which gets the shuttle up to over 17,000 miles per hour. While in orbit, astronauts use the the shuttle's reaction control system to make adjustments to the shuttles orbit. The main engines are used again at the end of the mission to slow the shuttle down allowing the Earth's gravity to the rest of the work to bring the shuttle and astronauts back to the ground.
Are astronaunts in orbit around earth really weightless?
The astronauts appear to be weightless as they are in a constant freefall, falling at the same speed as the space vehicle they are on. They are 'falling' but due to their angular speed, they are 'falling' around the earth, so don't crash into it. They still have their mass, but you can't really weigh the astronauts as any scales you try to use will read zero as the scales will also be 'falling' at the same rate.
Are astronauts in space shuttle in free fall?
It's called micro gravity but basically yes. They are just falling around the planet.
Are astronauts weightless during the Shuttle's launch?
Noop. In fact, as the Shuttle is accelerating, the astronauts are experiencing not only the pull of gravity, but also the acceleration of the rocket. For the comfort of the crew, they try to keep the excess gravity to about 4 G, basically 4 times the pull of gravity. Only after the engines have stopped, and the shuttle is no longer accelerating, will the astronauts feel weightless, as the Shuttle and astronauts are all falling around the Earth at the same speed.
How many Gs do astronauts experience during space shuttle launch?
Around 4
Why do astronauts in orbit feel weightlessness?
they are falling through space around earth
Can you fly while you are in a space shuttle in space?
You may have seen photos or videos of astronauts who appear to be floating through the air while in space. They aren't flying, nor are they really floating, they are falling. Any orbiting spacecraft (such as the space shuttle or international space station) is actually falling around the Earth in a circular pattern. They have achieved enough speed (over 17,000 mph) to continue moving around the Earth without the Earth's gravity pulling the spacecraft down. Astronauts aboard those spacecraft are moving inside the spacecraft and falling along with them at the same speed giving the appearance that they flying or floating inside.
How does the space shuttle orbit the earth?
The shuttle is always falling via gravity, it's just so far up that it never falls to earth,but goes around and around.
What speed does the space shuttle have to reach to escape earths gravity?
17,500 miles per hour puts the shuttle in orbit. BUT the gravity is still there. I'm fact there is about 90% of the gravity while the shuttle is on the ground. That great rate of speed is required to keep the shuttle from falling back to earth. At that speed the shuttle is basically falling around the planet.
How does the space shuttle move in space?
Most of the movement, the orbiting of the shuttle around Earth, comes from the launch which gets the shuttle up to over 17,000 miles per hour. While in orbit, astronauts use the the shuttle's reaction control system to make adjustments to the shuttles orbit. The main engines are used again at the end of the mission to slow the shuttle down allowing the Earth's gravity to the rest of the work to bring the shuttle and astronauts back to the ground.
Are astronaunts in orbit around earth really weightless?
The astronauts appear to be weightless as they are in a constant freefall, falling at the same speed as the space vehicle they are on. They are 'falling' but due to their angular speed, they are 'falling' around the earth, so don't crash into it. They still have their mass, but you can't really weigh the astronauts as any scales you try to use will read zero as the scales will also be 'falling' at the same rate.
Why are astronauts floating above the Earth in a Space Shuttle really no weightless?
Weight is an expression of the gravitational force acting on an object. When the space shuttle is in orbit around the Earth, it is held there by the Earth's gravity. Since gravity is still acting on the shuttle and the astronauts inside, they still have weight. They are described as "weightless" because an object in orbit is in a constant state of free fall.
How can astronauts live on a space shuttle for a whole year?
By packing a lot of food, water, and fuel? And sometimes just to float around to save fuel.
What did astronauts use silly putty for?
Silly putty was used by astronauts to stop their tools from flying around the spacecraft/shuttle, whilst they were in space. This is because there is no gravity in space, which means that everything will float about the vehicle, and not fall to the floor.
