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The
Earth
From Space
Orbiter
Landing
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- Once
all experiments are complete, it is time to come home.
The cargo is secured and the payload bay doors are
closed. The Orbital Maneuvering System thrusters are
then fired to slow the orbiter for re-entry into Earth's
atmosphere. Now is the time when the heat resistant
tiles must do their job. Firing of the orbiter thrusters
for re-entry is performed about one hour prior to
touchdown while the orbiter is on the other side of
the Earth, some 11,000 to 14,000 miles away from the
landing site.
The engines are shut down. Its high-speed glide must
bring it in for a perfect landing the first time.
There is no circle-and-try-it-again capability. With
landing speed ranges from 213 to 226 miles (343 to
364 kilometers) per hour, top performance is critical.
Remarkably, the pilot manages to touch down on his
or her mark every time. Once on the ground, the orbiter
is towed back to an OPF high bay and processing starts
all over again.
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Touch
Down In
A Few Seconds
Parachute
Deployed after Touch Down
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