Re: Space travel problems

Not quite.

The space shuttle in orbit is traveling at around 17,000 mi/hr. When it
re-enters it must do something with all that kinetic energy. Thus the
fireworks.

Space ship one never got anywhere near orbit. The highest speed was mach
3.09 (~2300 mph). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceShipOne The potential
energy of the altitude is a small fraction of orbital kinetic energy.

Space ship one can be said to have "re-entered", but it never had that much
need to worry about thermal shielding. They have a long way to go to achieve
orbit.







"personaljazz" <personaljazz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1121059861.711879.264620@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> > The big issue they overcame was the problem of re-entry into the
> Earth's atmosphere. The space shuttle has tens of thousands of ceramic
> tiles to shield it from the heat that results from the air friction
> that results when you fall toward the Earth faster than a speeding
> bullet. (like a meteorite) The wing and tail fold up to a 60 degree
> angle upon re-entry, (called "feathering") to create a huge drag that
> slows the vehicle much sooner, allowing the entire design to be simpler
> and lighter. Genius in its simplicity.
>


.

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