Can it take off or fly in the space shuttle?

[tallyho8]

After reading the threads on WILL IT TAKE OFF OR FLY, I got to thinking. Would a bird be able to fly in the space shuttle in outer space? What do you think?

 

[the_sandman_454]

Yes, because there is air in the space shuttle, although it would look rather funny due to it not being used to microgravity. Newton's laws still apply in space, especially the third. The bird pushes against the air in the shuttle, and the air pushes back, ergo the bird flies.

However, if the bird got out of the space shuttle, it's blood would boil from the vacuum of space, and the experiment would be classified as a tragic accident, and would be a moot point.

 

[RayH]

Anything could fly in the space shuttle (while its in space) because there is no gravity. The bird wouldnt even need to flap its wings but one time to get that initial thrust and it would be on the ceiling. The bird would find flying extremely easy after it gets used to the environment.

 

[Redbug]

Ohhhhh Gawd!!! Somebody pleaseeee put me out of my miseryyyyyy...

 

[Ford960]

The bird would probably die in short order due to the head injuries from hitting the walls overhead structure.

However, based on the pictures that we see of the Space Shuttle orbiting the earth upside down, would the bird try to fly upside down or right side up?

 

[rback33]

However, based on the pictures that we see of the Space Shuttle orbiting the earth upside down, would the bird try to fly upside down or right side up?

Yes

 

[thcri]

I beleive because there is no gravity the bird would not know what to do and if tried flying would hit something in the space shuttle awful fast. It would be come delerious? The astronauts even have to go through a lot of training.


murph

 

[texbaylea]

A technical point but there is gravity acting on the Space Shuttle and everything in it. It is actually in free fall. The point is that it's forward velocity is high enough that it's trajectory takes it around the earth rather than into it.

The net effect is that it appears as if there were no gravity acting on things in its interior.

Vernon
NASA retired

 

[turnkey4099]

The bird would probably die in short order due to the head injuries from hitting the walls overhead structure.

However, based on the pictures that we see of the Space Shuttle orbiting the earth upside down, would the bird try to fly upside down or right side up?

To be pedantic, there is no 'up' or 'down' in a weightless environment. I suppose the crew would arbitrary designate one as 'up' but only for convenience.

Harry K

 

[daTeacha]

One small flap of a birds wings which is sufficient to lift it into the air on earth would in fact cause it to accelerate rapidly and collide briskly with the first object in it's path. It would ricochet from that, still try to fly, and soon be zipping around the cabin like a feathered missle, eventually dying from the accumulated injuries.

I would be surprized if there have not been some experiments done with birds in the shuttle. There is a lot of competition for experimental work to be done in the conditions unique to the shuttle, much of it biological. I would google it, but right now I'm too lazy to do it.