Ask an Explainer

Q:

How do astronauts control the path of their ship in space as well as the position of the ship in relation to other ships or satellites?

A:

In the case of the space shuttle, the shuttle wass equipped with 46 rocket thrusters of different sizes. The rocket thrusters are in different places on the shuttle and, when fired, turned the shuttle different ways. The biggest thrusters could change the shuttle's path a lot. The smallest thrusters provided small adjustments to the shuttle's position.

Ask an Explainer
Categories: