Mrs. Force's 4th grade class
at the Ray School in Hanover, New Hampshire,
asks astronaut Jay Buckey some great questions!
Is it possible to buy a simulation program for a computer similar
to the ones the astronauts use to prepare for emergencies in space?
There is a simulation program that allows you to simulate what it is
like to do a shuttle re-entry--but I haven't found one for emergencies
in orbit. The re-entry program is called Precision Approach by Binary
Star Ltd. The address is 17000 El Camino Real, Suite 105J, Houston, Texas
77058-2632
How do you keep the engine the right temperature as the shuttle
moves up through the atmosphere and the rapidly changing temps?
Although the temperature outside the Shuttle does change quite a bit
as you go up through the atmosphere, it is a really small change compared
to the temperature extremes within the engines. The fuel for the main
engines is liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. They are pumped into the
engine at a temperature of apprioximately -300 degrees F. In the engine,
these two liquids are introduced to each other in the combustion chamber,
where they meet, explode and produce the hot steam coming out of the main
engine exhaust. The temperature in the combustion chamber is +6000 degrees
F. One problem for rocket engine designers is to find materials that can
stand the high and low temperatures within the engine.
How long do you stay in the insulated suits you wear at take-off?
We have recently been training on this. My fellow payload specialist,
Jim Pawelczyk, and I are responsible for getting everybody out of their
launch/entry suits once we get on orbit. To get the middeck of the orbiter
squared away and get everyone out of their suits takes about an hour and
a half.
What happens if you have a fuel crisis while in space?
We would have to come back. Recently, there was a shuttle flight that
had a bad fuel cell (STS-83). They had to return to Earth early to get
the problem fixed. They launched again (STS-94) and had a successful flight.
How long does it take to fill that big orange fuel tank on the launch
pad at Cape Kennedy?
It takes 5-6 hours to fill the tank with liguid hydrogen and oxygen.
What do you get when you put these two together?
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