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Can a Boeing 747 fly into space?
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters….
| Shuttle Carrier Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Developed from | Boeing 747–100 |
Is it possible for a plane to go to space?
Planes can and have flown into space for over 50 years – though not the kind you see at the airport. That’s because conventional planes need air for both propulsion and lift, and space is essentially a vacuum.
What happened to the 747 that carries the space shuttle?
The following year, it was dismantled and then transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for preservation. Since 2016, it has been on display in an area of the center called ‘Independence Plaza,’ with a replica Space Shuttle attached to it.
How many 747 does NASA have?
two
NASA has two modified Boeing 747 jetliners, originally manufactured for commercial use, that are used as Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
Why can’t a fighter jet fly into space?
Even the most modern of fighter jets cannot fly into space. Jet engines rely on air intake to function properly. Once you get above certain heights the air is too thin for jet engines to work efficiently so they end up shutting down.
Can a space shuttle land on an aircraft carrier?
Enterprise to make Intrepid landing in 2012 In a move sure to delight aerospace fans everywhere, it has been announced that one of NASA’s retired space shuttles will make a landing in the harbour of New York City next year – onto the deck of an aircraft carrier. The only sort of launch Enterprise ever made.
What is a Boeing 747?
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial jet airliner and cargo aircraft, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. Its distinctive “hump” upper deck along the forward part of the aircraft makes it among the world’s most recognizable aircraft, and it was the first wide-body produced.
Why does the Boeing 747 have a hump on its upper deck?
Boeing designed the 747’s hump-like upper deck to serve as a first class lounge or extra seating, and to allow the aircraft to be easily converted to a cargo carrier by removing seats and installing a front cargo door.
What is the Boeing 747’s tail number?
Known as NASA 905, referring to its tail number, the 747 will deliver space shuttle Discovery to Washington, D.C. on April 17 for public display by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
How long has the Boeing 747 been the world’s biggest aircraft?
First flown commercially in 1970, the 747 held the passenger capacity record for 37 years. The four-engine 747 uses a double deck configuration for part of its length. It is available in passenger, freighter and other versions.