How did they put the Space Shuttle on top of 747?
To load the shuttle onto the jet, NASA uses a giant gantry-like machine called the Mate-Demate device. This contraption uses two 100-foot steel towers with a massive lift beam in between them to hoist the orbiter off the ground.
What plane did the Space Shuttle piggyback on?
Boeing 747s
Two Boeing 747s used to piggyback NASA’s space shuttles The space shuttle’s secondary landing site was at Edwards Air Force Base in California. All up, the two 747s flew 87 post landing ferry flights for NASA, giving the travel-weary space shuttle a lift.
What is the NASA Super Guppy used for?
The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy is a large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft that is used for hauling outsize cargo components. It was the successor to the Pregnant Guppy, the first of the Guppy aircraft produced by Aero Spacelines.
How big is the space shuttle compared to a 747?
It was as long as a 737-700 and as wide as a 747.
Why can’t spaceships take off like planes?
The simple answer is an airplane does not go any faster than 500-600 mph. As a pilot of a space shuttle though, you want to get out of the atmosphere as soon as practically possible, and for that, you need a very high velocity so as to escape the Earth’s gravitational pull.
Why do rockets tilt after takeoff?
Rockets have to tilt to the side as they travel into the sky in order to reach orbit, or a circular path of motion around the Earth. This steering technique is known as a gravity turn, which uses Earth’s gravity to help conserve rocket fuel and minimize stress and strain on the spacecraft.
Why do they launch rockets straight up?
A gravity turn is commonly used with rocket powered vehicles that launch vertically, like the Space Shuttle. The rocket begins by flying straight up, gaining both vertical speed and altitude. During this portion of the launch, gravity acts directly against the thrust of the rocket, lowering its vertical acceleration.