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On
that day, the weather is sunny without clouds.「Columbia Space Shuttle」for
the first time was ready to launch at Kennedy Space Center. Then,
with fire flame and the blast, the gigantic rocket load with space
shuttle going to the sky.
During
that time, astronauts inside the space shuttle felt facing a huge
thrusting force. This force is the gravity that empowers the take
off of space shuttle and getting rid of the velocity. As the space
shuttle was gaining the speed, we can hear a huge "sound blast."
The speed exceeded that of sound (340 m/second) and it continuously
increased. Soon after it flew at the altitude of 110 km away from
the earth and entered the scheduled orbit carrying out its space
mission.
Space
shuttle manned astronauts flew afar the earth and advanced to the
space. But there is no air and water in the space. For human beings,
it is a very bad living environment. In the space, we do not have
the atmosphere to protect us from sun ray. If there is no sun light,
the temperature will plunge. What is worse, there is radiation rays
existing in the space and also we will face the possible attack
of meteors. These materials are fatal to human beings. So astronauts
need to wear space suit while taking activities in the space for
protection; otherwise, they need to stay inside space shuttles.
Space
shuttle is a space vehicle which can be reused to travel among space
orbits and the earth. It can be used to load people and goods. It
is always launched by a rocket to its scheduled orbit. It is like
a rocket and a space shuttle. While returning to the earth, it is
an airplane. This indicates the multi function of space shuttles.
Space
shuttles are able to carry out many missions. They can put man-made
satellites to The earth's orbit and bring them back to the earth
for repairing and maintenance. Astronauts also can build up space
station by taking advantage of space shuttles and later on they
would be used for space travel. Space shuttles have so many functions,
but the most important function is to protect astronauts from the
damage of severe environment.
Except
for certain missions, astronauts need to stay inside the space shuttle
most of the time. Thus, in order to protect astronauts and provide
them material for surviving, space shuttles should be well equipped
with comfortable room, sufficient food and water, and places for
showing and sleeping. Sometimes, they are equipped with physical
training facilities.
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