– could the space shuttle just fly into space like a plane, rather than being propelled vertically by rockets?

Question

– could the space shuttle just fly into space like a plane, rather than being propelled vertically by rockets?

In: 48

Answer 1

Planes can (and sometimes are) used to get spacecraft off the ground. The problem is that the higher you go, the thinner the air is, and the thinner the air is, the less lift you can get from airfoils. So if you wanted to lift something as heavy as a space shuttle to the edge of the atmosphere, you’d need huge and impractical wings.

Additionally, once you’re out of the atmosphere, plane wings literally cannot help you ascend any further, so you’ll need a rocket booster anyway to get you across the finish line.