Imagine that both engines of the plane you’re on have failed, and the plane must make a powerless landing. A terrifying scenario, isn’t it? A situation so dangerous that it requires a Mayday call, where the chances of the pilots safely landing the plane are slim. Unfortunately, not every flight is as lucky as TACA Flight 110 (see notes 1) or US Airways Flight 1549 (see notes 2).
But what if I told you that every landing of the Space Shuttle was a powerless landing? The Space Shuttle, after atmospheric reentry, is essentially an unpowered aircraft. On top of that, it has terrible aerodynamics, making it difficult to fly and control! Yet, out of the 133 landings (see notes 3) performed by the Space Shuttle, none ended in disaster; they were all successful. An incredible statistic!
Landing a poorly aerodynamic plane flying in space at 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 km/h) on a runway about 3 miles (4,572 meters) long at Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, using only air resistance to brake, is mind-boggling. And just like in the case of a double-engine flameout in passenger planes, you only have one chance. You can’t abort the landing and go around if something goes wrong, just as you can’t in an ordinary airplane with a double-engine flameout. If you miss your only chance, everybody dies.
But the unpowered landing isn’t the only interesting detail about the Space Shuttle’s return to Earth. In the excellent video below, software engineer Bret Copeland explains and provides very interesting details about how to land the Space Shuttle… from space!
How to land the Space Shuttle… from space?
A very good, funny, and informative video by software engineer Bret Copeland. I think he could also make a brilliant career as a stand-up comedian.
The Challenge of Landing the Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle, unlike a typical aircraft, requires a unique approach for landing. With no engines for the descent, pilots must rely on precise maneuvers and the Earth’s atmosphere to safely bring the shuttle to the ground. Despite the last shuttle landing was back in 2011, the intricate process remains a fascinating feat of engineering and piloting.
Preparing for Landing: From Orbit to Atmosphere
As the shuttle orbits the Earth at over 17,500 miles per hour (approximately 28,000 kilometers per hour or 7.82 kilometers per second), landing begins with a deorbit burn. This maneuver, using the shuttle’s small orbital maneuvering engines, slows the shuttle just enough to begin its descent into the atmosphere. The shuttle then coasts for about half an hour before reaching the atmosphere, during which time it pitches to a 40-degree angle to protect its aluminum airframe from the intense heat of reentry.
Managing Reentry: Balancing Lift and Descent
Once the shuttle enters the atmosphere at around 400,000 feet, it faces the challenge of controlling its descent. The shuttle’s wings generate lift, which can cause it to skip off the atmosphere if not properly managed. By adjusting the shuttle’s bank angle, pilots control the descent rate, ensuring the shuttle slows down at the right rate to reach Kennedy Space Center. This delicate balance of speed and altitude requires precise maneuvering to avoid overshooting or undershooting the landing site.
Transitioning to Airplane Mode: From Spacecraft to Glider
As the shuttle slows to around 8,000 miles per hour (1about 2,875 kilometers per hour or 3.58 kilometers per second), it transitions from a spacecraft to a glider, entering a mode called Terminal Area Energy Management (TAEM). The shuttle now flies like a “bad airplane,” with no engines and limited aerodynamic capabilities. Pilots adjust pitch to control descent rate and use speed brakes to manage airspeed, all while navigating the shuttle through a series of S-turns to align with the runway.
The Final Approach: A High-Stakes Landing
Unlike a typical airliner, which descends at a gentle 3-degree angle, the shuttle approaches at a steep 20-degree angle, descending at over 10,000 feet per minute. At 2,000 feet, the shuttle begins a preflare maneuver to trade airspeed for a slower descent rate. The landing gear is deployed at 300 feet, and the shuttle touches down at 225 miles per hour. With no engines to abort or retry the landing, this is the one and only chance to safely land.
The Final Moments
The final moments of landing are intense, with the pilot and commander working in tandem to guide the shuttle to a safe touchdown. As they descend from 37,000 feet in just three and a half minutes, the importance of precision becomes clear. The shuttle, referred to as a “flying brick” due to its poor aerodynamics, requires expert handling to ensure a safe landing.
Fortunately, although primitive compared to today’s computers, the Space Shuttle’s flight computer was able to flawlessly handle all these complex operations, from reentry to bank angle management, descending rate, and the landing operation.
Once the landing was completed, the shuttle was then towed to the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was mated with its tank and boosters. Once fully assembled, the launch vehicle, along with its mobile launcher platform, was transported to the launch pad on a sturdy, slow-moving crawler-transporter. Each successful processing flow culminated in a spectacular liftoff, and after landing, the entire sequence started anew.
Despite the challenges, every space shuttle landing was successful, a remarkable achievement given the high stakes and complex procedures involved. The process, though no longer in practice, remains a captivating example of what it takes to land a spacecraft from orbit.
Notes
- TACA Flight 110, a Boeing 737-300, encountered a severe emergency on May 24, 1988, during its approach to New Orleans. The aircraft flew through a powerful thunderstorm, leading to both engines flaming out due to water and hail ingestion. With no engine power, Captain Carlos Dardano skillfully glided the plane to an emergency landing on a narrow grassy levee, saving all 45 people on board. The crew’s quick thinking and expert handling of the situation are widely praised in aviation circles. The incident led to improvements in engine design and remains a key case study in pilot training programs, illustrating the critical importance of airmanship in emergency situations.
- US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320, experienced a dual engine failure on January 15, 2009, shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York. The engines failed due to a bird strike when the plane flew into a flock of geese. With no engine power and limited altitude, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles decided to make an emergency water landing in the Hudson River. The crew executed the ditching flawlessly, and all 155 passengers and crew on board were safely rescued. The incident, often referred to as the “Miracle on the Hudson,” is celebrated for the crew’s extraordinary airmanship and is studied extensively in aviation for emergency response and decision-making under pressure.
- The Space Shuttle was launched a total of 135 times, but 2 of these missions resulted in disasters: On January 28, 1986, Challenger exploded 1 minute and 13 seconds after launch, killing all 7 astronauts onboard. On February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated during reentry, again, killing all 7 astronauts onboard. Aside from these two missions, where the disasters did not occur during the landing phase, all landings, 133 in total, were completed without any issues.
Sources
- Space Shuttle mission page on the NASA website
- TACA Flight 110 on Wikipedia
- US Airways Flight 1549 on Wikipedia
- List of Space Shuttle missions on Wikipedia
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