This text in some of these annotations has been copied
from the worksheet. Students should always write
things in their own words; the ability to communicate
in writing is such an important skill to have!
Space Shuttle Speed vs Time
Speed in Km/hr
30000
MECO command (Main
Engine Cut Off) 8:24
Spacecraft at
launch
The orbiter’s main engines are
switched off.
25000
Negative return 3:52
refers to the point at
which a spacecraft can no
longer safely return to the
launch site in an abort
situation.
20000
Rolls to heads up 5:47
A programmed maneuver
rolls the spaceship to a
heads up position, placing
the shuttle atop the
external tank.
Start roll maneuver 0:11
15000
The space ship begins a programmed
roll maneuver to achieve a
northeasterly track from Kennedy
Space Centre, heading toward a 51.6
degree inclination to the equator.
10000
SRB staging 2:03
Having consumed all their propellant, the
solid rocket boosters are
jettisoned/detached from the
attachment points on the external fuel
tank.
5000
Launch
0
0:00
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
Time (minutes)
6:00
7:00
8:00
8:59