Spacecraft facts for everyone to learn or brush up on. Spacecraft are incredible machines, whether they are satellites, probes, space telescopes or shuttles Spacecraft are incredible feats of engineering. There is also a lot about spacecraft that most people are not aware of.
We have 10 spacecraft facts here, and some of them may well surprise you.
1. The first of our spacecraft facts: Shuttles are incredibly fast
While in orbit, a space shuttle will travel around Earth at around 17,500 miles per hour (approximately 28,000 kph).
Did you know?
When travelling at these speeds, the crew of the shuttle will be able to observe a sunset or sunrise at 45-minute intervals.
2. All 5 NASA shuttles have travelled a long way
The total mileage of all 5 (actually 6, but only 5 were fit for space) shuttles is in the region of 513 million miles, or, to put it another way, 1.3 times the distance from Earth to Jupiter.
Did you know?
Each of the five shuttles, apart from Challenger, has travelled further than the distance from Earth to the Sun.
3. To date, 3 US Presidents have been present for a shuttle launch
Contrary to popular belief, three US presidents and not just one have been present for a crewed shuttle launch:
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, President, on February 10, 1960
- Richard Nixon, President, on November 14, 1969
- Barack Obama, President, on April 15, 2010
Did you know?
Barack Obama cancelled NASA’s Constellation Program, which was a crewed program to finish the ISS and return Man to the moon by 2025.
4. Space labs!
Number 4 in spacecraft facts: Shuttles are not just for transport; they are laboratories too. There have been over 20 Spacelab missions. These are missions where physics, science and astronomy have been studied.
Did you know?
There have been special modules carried on space shuttles where experiments have been carried out.
5. Shuttles endure a lot of heat
Shuttles have something called a Thermal Protection System, a heat shield, and this contains over 30,000 tiles. These help the shuttle endure the intense heat that it will experience when leaving and entering the atmosphere.
Did you know?
All of the tiles are inspected before takeoff and, after the heat of the atmosphere, they can be cool enough again to hold in the hand just a minute later.
6 They have landed on asteroids
In 2005, Japan managed to successfully land an unmanned craft on an asteroid. It was an incredible feat, and the spacecraft was able to collect samples.
Did you know?
The probe returned to Earth with the collected samples in 2010.
7 There is a spacecraft cemetery – hopefully not one for spacecraft facts
In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, there is an area where spacecraft are left when they are no longer needed. This area of the ocean is known as the ‘spacecraft cemetery’.
Did you know?
When the Soviets decommissioned the Mir Space Station, this was the area where they performed a semi-controlled ditching.
8 Sand gets absolutely everywhere
In 1982, the Space Shuttle Columbia landed in White Sands, New Mexico. NASA had decided to use White Sands as a location for a landing strip for their reusable shuttle.
Did you know?
They didn’t consider the sand. So much sand got into the shuttle that it kept coming out of panels inside the ship for the following 20 years.
9 There may be a ring of dark matter around Earth
There is a phenomenon known as the Flyby Anomaly. This is when spacecraft fly by Earth at certain angles. When this happens, there is a small but very sudden speed increase.
Did you know?
The Flyby Anomaly is currently unexplained, but a possible explanation is there is a ring of dark matter around Earth.
10 Neil Armstrong had a close call
When Neil Armstrong, the first person on the moon, was still on the surface of Earth’s satellite, a Soviet spacecraft crashed into a mountain range on the moon.
Did you know?
The Luna 15 was a mission in the Soviet Union’s Luna program, and it crashed on its descent to the surface. It was the second attempt by the Soviets to collect samples from the moon.
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