Technical Space flight question

[Rednosty]

Just watched James May in space programme and One thing has puzzled me from when I was a kid and tonights programme just reminded me of. James used the x-2 (I think it was that plane) to reach the very edge of the atmosphere and Look down on Earth and into space. The present day and Past Astronauts Use Rockets that take of Vertically. WHY? If the plane can skim the top of the Atomosphere why can't it go that little bit further and reach space? Always puzzled me that.

[JerseyDevil]

Because he'd never get back.
Except as a cinder.

[JudesNiceThings]

Got it in one!

[Rednosty]

If thats the case Why does the Space Shuttle not take of like that (OK a Light weight version?)

[astral276]

Primarily because the US space program was built on technology looted from Germany after the war.

[TiasTreasures]

Got it in one!

[canuckbid]

Why keep bringing those shuttles back anyway if the shuttle program is going to shut down.? Park the fleet on the moon and use it as a starter base to explore farther. The ruskies seem pretty good at coming and going into space cheap. Just send the crew groceries up there and wish them a nice day. :)

[JaBek1]

Rocket engines do not require air to operate. Other types of engines such as those of jet planes.

If I'm not mistaken there was some talk about launching the shuttle from a high altitude aircraft some years ago. I have no idea why it wasn't adopted.

I got the chance to watch the shuttle take off from the cape many years ago from just across the water from the pad thanks to a friend of the wife's whose hubby worked there. I was quite an experience. I've watched them go up many times but nothing beats feeling the heat from the engines and the shock wave as it goes over your head.

Dennis

[harold69]

I think that is what the space station is for

[11thEagle]

It's so you break out of the earths Gravity field, last night they were flying at 13 miles whereas the moon is almost 250000 miles.

There was a bit last night where he compared the different boosters to car gears, from what i could understand by the time the rocket gets 13 miles high it's only into 2nd gear

[earthangel]

I'm surprised everybody didn't already know these answers. I mean, we're talking space flight here! It's not exactly rocket science, is it?


:)

[bykimbo]

Rocket engines do not require air to operate. Other types of engines such as those of jet planes.


Isn't it more accurate to say that they do require oxygen, but they take it with them? You couldn't get into space with a "normal" plane because of the lack of oxygen, so spacecraft have to take everything they need with them. Which is very heavy. So they need more fuel to get them into space. Which requires massive storage space. Which is very heavy. So they need more fuel...

And if that does your head in, just think about "orbit". Constantly falling back to earth, but earth's falling away at the same speed, so you appear to be in the same place... it's mind-boggling. I wish I'd had a better physics teacher at school, I never knew it was so interesting until too many years later. :D

[JudesNiceThings]

By 'eck!

We're a well erudite lot on here!! LOL