28. How much horsepower does a NASA Space Shuttle use to blast through the atmosphere? (A K2S Question)

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Rather than horsepower, the Shuttle is rated in terms of thrust at sea level. The solid rocket boosters are rated at 3,300,000 pounds each, and the orbiter main engines are rated at 393,300 pounds each, giving a total thrust for the Shuttle of 7,781,400 pounds at lift off. (Ref. 1)

Ref 1.NASA, National Space Transportation System Reference, Volume 1 Systems and Facilities, June 1988. This document is available on the Internet at: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/stsreftoc.html#sts-umbilical-doors


Answer provided by Jon H. Brown


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


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