For the first few seconds, the goal is not speed but lifting the massive vehicle off the pad. The thickest part of the atmosphere, where drag is most significant, is encountered in the first two minutes of flight.
How Shuttle Pitch Maneuver Speed Impacts Ascent and Orbital Insertion
The OMS engines provide the final pushes, adjusting the angle and final velocity of the orbit. Comparative Context: How the Shuttle Measures Up.
This velocity is so immense that the shuttle essentially falls around the Earth rather than away from it. The Afterburn: Reaching for the Stars Even after the main engines are throttled back and the external tank is gone, the shuttle continues to accelerate.
How Shuttle Pitch Maneuver Speed Impacts Orbital Velocity and Atmospheric Drag
The shuttle’s ascent is a dynamic process, transforming from a grounded machine into an object screaming through the atmosphere at velocities that defy human perception. Orbital Velocity: The True Measure of Success Contrary to popular belief, escaping Earth is not the primary goal of the launch; entering orbit is.
More About Speed of space shuttle launch
Looking at Speed of space shuttle launch from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on Speed of space shuttle launch can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
