Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/shuttle-carrier-aircraft

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Shuttle Carrier Aircraft?Approximately 170,000 pounds (77,110 kg)
2. What is the aircraft fleet?Two modified Boeing 747-100 series aircraft (NASA 905 and NASA 911)
3. What is the orbiter attachment mechanism?Over-wing pylon structure designed for secure mounting and load distribution
4. Why did NASA need a special plane to carry the shuttle?The shuttle is very heavy and fragile, and moving it on the ground would be slow and could damage it. Flying it on a big plane was faster and safer.
5. How does the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carry the shuttle on its back?The shuttle is mounted on a strong pylon that sits over the wing, and the airplane's body is reinforced to support the weight. The shuttle sits on the back of the 747.

Center of Gravity: The point where an object's weight is evenly distributed, affecting its stability and balance.
Aerodynamic Profile: The shape of an object that determines how air flows around it, influencing lift and drag.
Service Ceiling: The maximum altitude an aircraft can reach and maintain level flight.