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The Space Shuttle lands as an unpowered glider.
by ynniv 9y ago
The Space Shuttle lands as an unpowered glider.
- skykooler 9y agoSo? It doesn't say "powered flight speed record."
- cavanasm 9y agoI believe they're using a definition of flight that includes "powered". If you're gliding, you're always either losing speed, losing altitude, or both. In flight, you can increase those.
- jrs235 9y agoI agree. In one case you are "driving" the other you are just riding. Not sure whether "powered" or "human controlled" is appropriate.
- barkingcat 9y agoOn the way up - https://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/webcasts/shuttle/sts112/shuttle_qa.html https://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/webcasts/shuttle/st... - escape velocity is around 17,000 mph - or about Mach 22. You can't dispute that the Shuttle is "Powered" on the way up. It's piloted by computers, ok - but near the end of the way up I'm sure the flight commander has control over his own aircraft. The only reason the Shuttle is not counted is technicalities of space flight vs "flight" vs aircraft vs spacecraft, even though the shuttle operates in both air and space.