Earth & Space Science
You will learn all about the technologies used in space exploration, from telescopes to rockets to shuttles. Design your own telescope and explore the technology found on a space station.
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After completing this tutorial, you will be able to complete the following:
When did NASA begin using the space shuttle, and how was it different from other spacecraft?
~ NASA introduced the space shuttle in 1981. The space shuttle is different from other spacecraft because it carries astronauts into space and back, and it can actually be used for more than one trip into space.
Describe the properties of the space shuttle.
~ A space shuttle exits Earth's atmosphere with the help of rockets by breaking free of gravity. After the mission is over, the astronauts and the shuttle return to Earth, much like an airplane. Shuttles land, moving around 200 miles per hour, onto a special runway. The part of the shuttle that looks like an airplane carries the crew and their equipment. While they are in orbit, the upper section of the shuttle opens to allow the crew to work. Beneath this section is a huge fuel tank, which is used to get the shuttle into orbit. Once it is used, rockets that are mounted onto this tank detach from the body and fall back to Earth. Parachutes are attached to it to aid in its descent.
| Approximate Time | 2 Minutes |
| Pre-requisite Concepts | Students should be familiar with the following terms: airplane, artificial satellite, and astronauts. |
| Course | Earth & Space Science |
| Type of Tutorial | Animation |
| Key Vocabulary | airplane, artificial satellite, astronauts |
