What Was The Fastest Space Shuttle? The Answer Surprised Me!

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  • čas přidán 7. 05. 2023
  • A question was asked, I had to answer.
    Spaceplanes are the fastest 'aircraft', but which one flew fastest? There were 5 shuttles which flew multiple missions to different orbits and different reentry trajectories, so the entry speed has some variation, is there one that stands out above all the others to take the crown of 'fastest aircraft ever'?
    Summary of all the space shuttle missions:
    sma.nasa.gov/SignificantIncid...
    Follow me on Twitter for more updates:
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  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 1,1K

  • @Karagoth444
    @Karagoth444 Před rokem +1797

    I nominate Kilo Feet Per Second KFPS for the most indecisive unit. SI, Metric, Imperial? Yes...

    • @audunrundberg9180
      @audunrundberg9180 Před rokem +226

      Let’s add some Roman numerals and call it XXV kilo feet per second

    • @ENCHANTMEN_
      @ENCHANTMEN_ Před rokem +67

      Honestly if I were the guy in charge of the metric system, I'd have just used the existing foot and replace inches with decifeet and miles with kilofeet

    • @mariusdragoe2888
      @mariusdragoe2888 Před rokem +119

      @@ENCHANTMEN_ There was no existing foot. There were a dozen different feet plus hundreds of other non-feet measuring units.

    • @wodthehunter8145
      @wodthehunter8145 Před rokem +111

      @@ENCHANTMEN_ The point of metric isnt just the 10 system. It also standardizes different types of measurements, 1 cubic centimeter is equal to a mL for example. Also, 10,000 KM from the pole to the equator was its definition. Dude just wanted nice numbers.

    • @CommentConqueror
      @CommentConqueror Před rokem +1

      ​@@ENCHANTMEN_yes!

  • @OmegaReaver
    @OmegaReaver Před rokem +518

    I'd like to point out, Scott, that _Challenger_ in fact WASN'T the slowest shuttle. _Enterprise_ was, as she only reached whatever velocity the 747 carrying her reached. Sure, she never went to space, but she _was_ a Space shuttle, and she _did_ fly, so...☺

    • @sealy3
      @sealy3 Před rokem +65

      And she was a AIRCRAFT!

    • @kauffmanba
      @kauffmanba Před rokem +63

      I agree that Enterprise was the slowest, but its top speed wasn't limited to the that of the carrier aircraft. After in-flight release from the 747, the Enterprise could accelerate by simply lowering the nose and gliding faster. The 747-shuttle combo certainly did not cruise at the 747's top speed.

    • @rogervanbommel1086
      @rogervanbommel1086 Před rokem +21

      This is wrong, his words were “the slowest REENTRY”, and that’s not reentry

    • @kargi42
      @kargi42 Před rokem +16

      You only need one word for the distinction: Orbiter.

    • @kumoyuki
      @kumoyuki Před rokem +17

      I approve this nit-picking

  • @fiveoneecho
    @fiveoneecho Před rokem +452

    “As long as it stops on the centerline, nobody will know…”
    Scott, your pilot is showing :P

  • @KernelLeak
    @KernelLeak Před rokem +65

    11:21 "Unfortunately, Challenger could not be with us to accept the award tonight..." - big orbital OOOOF...

    • @justins8802
      @justins8802 Před rokem +2

      Yeah, I groaned a bit on that one

  • @marianaldenhoevel7240
    @marianaldenhoevel7240 Před rokem +68

    "You seem to have touched down left of centerline"
    "Affirmative. And my first officer to the right of it"

  • @KanadianJay
    @KanadianJay Před rokem +195

    I have an eye witness story to tell about the STS-36 DOD mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis on February 28, 1990 that launched into that one-off 62 degree orbit inclination. I live in Machias, Maine (eastern Maine). That 62 degree orbit inclination launch sent the Shuttle and its expended External Tank directly over New Brunswick, Canada. I have a NASA “Space Shuttle News Reference” book that I’ve had since the early ‘80s. It’s loaded with information on anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the STS system. From that reference book, I had access to information that allowed me to deduce that I should see an OMS rocket burn on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis at approximately 10 minutes and 40 seconds after the launch, facing N-NE from my location in Machias, Maine, looking at a 45 degree angle off the horizon, or halfway up the sky. That launch happened at 2:50:22 EST. I watched the launch on CNN. I started my stopwatch from the launch on CNN. At a minute before 3 AM, I stepped outside into my snow covered backyard, wearing a bathrobe and moccasin slippers on my feet. It was a star-studded moonless night in Machias, Maine. I faced New Brunswick, Canada (faced N-NE) and I watched the time progress on my stopwatch. On my stopwatch, at 10 minutes and 30 seconds, I looked halfway up the sky and took in a wide field of view, working my peripheral vision. At 10 minutes and 40 seconds, I had an OMS rocket burn of the Space Shuttle Atlantis appearing smack dab in the center of my field of vision. The size of this OMS rocket plume was about a peppercorn or a BB shot pellet held out at arms length. You could see the shafts of rocket exhaust shimmering in this OMS plume. This peppercorn sized OMS plume was moving across the sky at the speed of a satellite moving across the sky. I watched this OMS plume move across the sky for about 45 seconds, heading N-NE, heading away from me, until it disappeared from my view behind the trees on my horizon. I remember thinking how I could have watched it for a much longer time were it not for the trees on my horizon blocking my view.
    Post edit:
    OMS is the Orbital Maneuvering System rocket engines and its fuels tanks that were housed in those two big ungainly-looking bulges on the back end, upper side of the shuttle orbiter, on either side of the rudder. Those two big ungainly-looking bulges were called “OMS Pods”.
    After posting this eye witness story, I found a most interesting NASA document on the web titled “Space Shuttle Missions Summary” published in September 2011. In this document, on page “2-38” for mission STS-36, it shows that no “OMS-1” engine burn occurred at the ten and a half minute mark into the launch. And, that the first OMS burn in that launch didn’t occur until 32 minutes into the flight (the first OMS burn is designated “OMS-2” in this NASA document). I beg to differ with this information shown on mission STS-36 in this NASA document, because my eyes saw a rocket burn appear and move across the sky over New Brunswick, Canada at ten and a half minutes into the launch of mission STS-36, the shuttle Atlantis, on the morning of February 28, 1990.
    SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS SUMMARY - September 2011
    ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20110001406/downloads/20110001406.pdf
    Post edit #2:
    I’m just now realizing that the NASA doc I found and posted a link to here is the same NASA doc that Scott Manley is featuring and drawing data from in this video.

    • @wilboersma9441
      @wilboersma9441 Před rokem +6

      Duuuuude thats awesome

    • @alexlandherr
      @alexlandherr Před rokem +2

      Damn cool story! My only cool one is a probable static fire near the KSC visitor center on March 1 2017.

    • @ooslum
      @ooslum Před rokem +3

      Ahh, the details make the memories, cheers.

    • @tredogzs
      @tredogzs Před rokem +1

      Me TOO!

    • @rogerwilco2
      @rogerwilco2 Před rokem +1

      Thanks for sharing.
      Very well done!

  • @bradnarraway9141
    @bradnarraway9141 Před rokem +95

    Scott, this was 13 of the most riveting minutes of my life about information I never knew I wanted or needed 😂This was some proper space nerdery, and that's why you're still one of the best space educators out there!

  • @Mikado8
    @Mikado8 Před rokem +239

    I‘m pretty sure it is hard to come up with a more unimportant question, but you also complicated it so much it basically got hilarious.
    No seriously you are unter the best CZcamsrs out there, just by being so friendly, funny but also over precise .
    I hope my englisch is good enough to let that sound like a compliment.

    • @martinda7446
      @martinda7446 Před rokem +21

      It sounds like you are calling him a nut, but don't worry, it's all good, we need our nuts to correct Twitter errors and spend a weekend doing double differentiation.😸😸😸

    • @BrianHoff04
      @BrianHoff04 Před rokem +5

      It was good enough to sound like a compliment.

    • @martinda7446
      @martinda7446 Před rokem

      @@BrianHoff04 It was.

    • @DrWhom
      @DrWhom Před rokem

      you mean compliment

  • @sirjohniv
    @sirjohniv Před rokem +72

    Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.

    • @MattH-wg7ou
      @MattH-wg7ou Před rokem +4

      Thats how I feel any time I ride a motorcycle/streetbike. Thats why I can NOT have one lol.

    • @cheapscifi
      @cheapscifi Před rokem +2

      Is this a Hunter S Thompson quote? Definitely feels like him.

    • @squidwardfromua
      @squidwardfromua Před rokem

      Whose quote is it?

    • @Agnemons
      @Agnemons Před rokem +2

      or death overcomes the thrill of speed.

    • @andrewfleenor7459
      @andrewfleenor7459 Před rokem +1

      Allegedly this quote is by Thompson, about riding his motorcycle. Checks out. :D

  • @personzorz
    @personzorz Před rokem +16

    "unfortunately Challenger couldn't be with us to accept the award tonight"
    Too soon, Scott, too soon...

  • @eugenioarpayoglou
    @eugenioarpayoglou Před rokem +64

    We could also define it as the fastest human piloted winged vehicle. In that case the title would go to Space Shuttle Columbia which was manually flown all the way from orbit to landing by Joe Engle on STS-2.

    • @ppatin
      @ppatin Před rokem +21

      It's a myth that STS-2's re-entry was flown manually. You can check out Joe Engle's interview on the JSC oral history project, he did put in some manual control inputs to get the vehicle closer to its operating limits. I think the idea of it being all manual was a shoddy Wikipedia article.

    • @giuliodondi
      @giuliodondi Před rokem +9

      IF you take a look at the NASA reentry training handbook you find that there is actually not that much operational difference between a manual and an automatic reentry, since the Shuttle is fly-by-wire and totally dependent on digital GNC for all phases of flight.
      Besides, every single Shuttle flight switched to manual during TAEM at the latest

    • @AssistantCoreAQI
      @AssistantCoreAQI Před rokem +6

      I Thought This Was Gonna Be A Really Depressing Joke-

    • @RCAvhstape
      @RCAvhstape Před rokem +4

      Even if the manual control thing were true, it's not necessary. Even with the autopilot engaged, the human in the left front seat is still in control of the vehicle.

    • @markrichards9646
      @markrichards9646 Před rokem +3

      Flying brick… I like it.

  • @MrHichammohsen1
    @MrHichammohsen1 Před rokem +23

    Normal people seeing a tweet: Meh...
    Scott Manley seeing a tweet: i'm gonna make a spreadsheet and a video!

  • @RustyorBroken
    @RustyorBroken Před rokem +38

    As a kid I launched an SR71 rocket model. It flew up about 10 feet and leveled off. That would have been cool except that it was headed towards the picture window of the neighbor across the road. Luckily the motor ran out of fuel before it got to the window. That rocket-plane had the highest pucker factor ever.

    • @ZboeC5
      @ZboeC5 Před rokem +6

      I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!! WHAT??? I also had a model rocket SR-71 and it did the same exact thing, the first time it ended up on the front porch of a house across the road a ways and just skidded to a stop like a foot from the huge window of their front door...It was crazy. I only flew it maybe 3 times and twice it went up, leveled off and shot away like it was actually flying. I had to shoehorn a bigger engine into it to get it to fly "right". Both times it leveled off it went completely opposite directions and not knowing which way it was going to go made it not worthwhile to me. But it was cool. With the bigger engine it flew like every other rocket and the vertical wing parts didn't take landing very well even with a 'chute. So yeah, didn't fly it but a few times.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear Před rokem +2

      I launched a Hawk SAM (basically a Big Bertha with a larger, heavier nosecone and delta fins) on a pad with a plastic rod (it was the only one open at the time). I hit the button, and the next thing I saw was the back end of the rocket as it flew away from me and straight downrange. Looked every bit like an Army-green ATGM coasting down the field.

    • @RustyorBroken
      @RustyorBroken Před rokem

      @@ZboeC5 that's incredible! Must be some sort of flaw in the model design. Did you put the clay in the nose cone that came with the kit? I did. I only flew mine the one time.. forever grounded after that.

    • @RustyorBroken
      @RustyorBroken Před rokem +2

      @@BogeyTheBear I also had a three stage rocket, Comanche I think, that only flew once..it launched, went up about 100 feet, flipped over, and flew straight down onto the sidewalk. It was badly mangled and was never issued a flight permit again.

    • @ZboeC5
      @ZboeC5 Před rokem +1

      ​@@RustyorBroken I can't remember honestly, but if it was included in the directions it probably was. My dad helped quite a bit on that one. I'll never forget the first time it nosed over about 10 feet in the air and took off though, I wish cellphones with cameras were a thing back then it would have made for one heck of a video.

  • @SpecialEDy
    @SpecialEDy Před rokem +60

    Space Shuttle Enterprise is the best one, because it was the first, and few know of it's existence. I got to explore Enterprise at KSC when I went to Space Camp as a kid, it will always be my favorite!

    • @Ganiscol
      @Ganiscol Před rokem +11

      Also for the name and how NASA was basically bullied into giving it that name by the most loyal and serious fan group 😅

    • @nagualdesign
      @nagualdesign Před rokem +10

      🤔 I assume that by "few" you mean _a few hundred million._

    • @BGerbs66
      @BGerbs66 Před rokem +5

      She's now on USS Intrepid in NY if you want to go back

    • @MattMcIrvin
      @MattMcIrvin Před rokem +4

      Enterprise was the first one I saw in person, because around 1986 they flew it in to Dulles Airport for eventual installation at what would become the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center (still many years away from construction), and the carrier 747 made a few turns around the area before landing. For a while they had it just sitting out on the apron there. And I saw it at the museum eventually. Some time later, they swapped it out for Discovery (since they wanted the Smithsonian's "orbiter of record" to be one that had actually flown in space) and sent Enterprise to New York, and I saw it there too.

    • @SpecialEDy
      @SpecialEDy Před rokem +2

      @nagualdesign I doubt even that many people could name Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavor, the ones that actually flew to space.
      Enterprise is the least known of the bunch.

  • @Thayleon
    @Thayleon Před rokem +10

    "Challenger couldn't be with us to accept the award" Oof

  • @rnedisc
    @rnedisc Před rokem +9

    I love the excitement you can hear in Scott's voice because he gets to nerd out about space shuttles and win an internet argument at the same time. I love all the different details you actually have to take into account to determine the fastest aircraft!

  • @Skvid
    @Skvid Před rokem +10

    Would be interested to see a video documenting differences between all of the shuttles and what/why things were changed throughout the life of a program

  • @kauffmanba
    @kauffmanba Před rokem +13

    Now that you've loaded your spreadsheet, Scott, I would like to know which mission resulted in the most energy dissipated upon reentry. Just multiply the relative velocity by the gross vehicle mass (including returning payload).

  • @johndoepker7126
    @johndoepker7126 Před rokem +76

    An episode filled with spreadsheets and charts....Adrian Beil from NSF would absolutely LOVE this !!!
    Edit: Fixed a critical spelling error....!

    • @LPAmdee
      @LPAmdee Před rokem +15

      Can confirm. Loved it!

    • @johndoepker7126
      @johndoepker7126 Před rokem +7

      @@LPAmdee holy crap.....I didn't think you'd actually respond to my comment......an sorry bout misspelling your name...Edit coming shortly!

    • @AndrewGillard
      @AndrewGillard Před rokem +2

      ​@@johndoepker7126 Oh hey, yours is a familiar name to those of us who've watched far too many NSF streams-not that "too many" is possible! I've heard them read messages from you fairly often 😸👋
      And hey Adrian, too! 😸

    • @johndoepker7126
      @johndoepker7126 Před rokem

      @@AndrewGillard !indeed

  • @robertf3479
    @robertf3479 Před rokem +11

    You beat me to it Scott ... I WAS going to ask about Buran but you shortstopped me. Well done sir!

  • @Benaplus1
    @Benaplus1 Před rokem +18

    Gemini 11 went up to 739 nmi, so if they had kept the rogallo wing that might have held the record for the fastest winged vehicle (even though it wouldn't be winged when it reached its highest speeds)

    • @thegreenguy5555
      @thegreenguy5555 Před 2 měsíci

      So would Starship count if it comes back from the Moon or Mars?

  • @carrotwine3649
    @carrotwine3649 Před rokem +26

    This video has sort of CGP Grey vibe to it - digging so much and correcting yourself so many times, dealing with a lack of documentation, love it

  • @longlakeshore
    @longlakeshore Před rokem +4

    "So I created a spreadsheet..." Total geek-out central! 😎

    • @webchimp
      @webchimp Před rokem +1

      Needs a crossover with Matt Parker.

  • @FireStormOOO_
    @FireStormOOO_ Před rokem +12

    I imagine the speeds get much smaller if you take "like a plane" to mean glide ratio >> 1... or even just > 1. First part of re-entry is definitely more brick-like than plane like even with wings.

  • @moisttowlette123
    @moisttowlette123 Před rokem +54

    Scott! You left yourself open to pedantry! Technically the shuttle did use parachutes to land!
    Great video as always though man!

    • @jamiehollywood7681
      @jamiehollywood7681 Před rokem +13

      Ah, but didn't the space shuttles parachutes open after it had already touched the ground?

    • @davisdf3064
      @davisdf3064 Před rokem +8

      Its only used to stop faster, otherwise, if they had an infinite runway, it could definitely land itself

    • @JohnR31415
      @JohnR31415 Před rokem +3

      Used them to stop after landing surely….

    • @NoNameAtAll2
      @NoNameAtAll2 Před rokem +5

      parachute was added a decade after first flights, iirc

    • @moisttowlette123
      @moisttowlette123 Před rokem

      @@jamiehollywood7681 Yes, but, let us consider reentry and landing as the full bleed off of speed to facilitate a safe recovery of crew.
      In that context, the space shuttle required a drogue chute to assuredly and confidently achieve 0 relative velocity and recovery. Technically it is a parachute assisted reentry.
      This is all in the sense of pedantic silliness and technicality.
      We all know what Scott meant, and it still is true.

  • @williamchamberlain2263
    @williamchamberlain2263 Před rokem +7

    Scott gives us a free video to justify his "Well actually...."
    Awesome

  • @lyricbread
    @lyricbread Před rokem +4

    1:30 Those shockwaves are absolutely incredible! 😮

  • @4077Disc
    @4077Disc Před rokem +2

    Ingenuity, the tiny helicopter on Mars, checks all your boxes for aircraft and had much higher relative velocities when leaving Earth or entering Mars.
    I recognize this is a ridiculous, pedantic exception, but i couldn't resist. :)

    • @sergey1519
      @sergey1519 Před rokem

      It actually technically rn has much higher relative velocity to Earth's surface

  • @davebenhart4611
    @davebenhart4611 Před rokem +7

    This is the high quality research that I watch this channel for!

  • @Erasmuspipebagger1
    @Erasmuspipebagger1 Před rokem +11

    Excellent & In depth as always.

  • @TheWeakLink101
    @TheWeakLink101 Před rokem +4

    Imagine being so wrong on the internet that Scott Manley makes a video about it! 😂 awesome video Scott, great to see the breakdown and a winner!

  • @ichinichisan
    @ichinichisan Před rokem +6

    Only _Enterprise_ would've surprised me. 😆
    (But then, I didn't spend hours slaving over a hot spreadsheet, forming and testing hypotheses. Good job researching!)

  • @johndododoe1411
    @johndododoe1411 Před rokem +37

    In the slow entry category, we should not ignore the Burt Rutan planes: SpaceShip 1 and 2. They too went to space and landed as airplanes. Note that I'm aware thar an SS2 was lost in atmospheric trials and the new one got a new individual vessel name.

    • @jaimeduncan6167
      @jaimeduncan6167 Před rokem +2

      I believe he is estimating the speed based on his calculations, taking into account the height. In any case, I truly believe that the competition should be among crewed vehicles only. You know the others are not vehicles, with that Buran is out.

    • @andrewday3206
      @andrewday3206 Před rokem +1

      @@jaimeduncan6167
      How are Spaceship 1 and Spaceship 2 not crewed vehicles that flew in space and landed with wings?

    • @simongeard4824
      @simongeard4824 Před rokem +3

      @@jaimeduncan6167 Eh, I'd count Buran. It was crew-capable, even if it was uncrewed for its only flight.

    • @G0RSHK0V
      @G0RSHK0V Před rokem

      @@jaimeduncan6167 Buran is CLEARLY a vehicle

  • @wxb200
    @wxb200 Před rokem +2

    I've seen lots of Space Shuttle Videos, but the video of the Cloud Silhouette Shock Cones was pretty damn awesome!

  • @BigDaddy-yp4mi
    @BigDaddy-yp4mi Před rokem

    Dang Scott. That's a LOT of work and math to prove someone wrong not for the sake of 'beating' them but rather to prevent the spread of misinformation. I salute you, sir.

  • @pendexwelding
    @pendexwelding Před rokem +1

    Videos like this are why I love your channel so much.

  • @philipkudrna5643
    @philipkudrna5643 Před rokem +17

    Another hilarious video by our idol Scot, who seems to have too much time for embarking on all these investigations and research and even bedsheets of excel calculations just to find out the fastest Space-Shuttle. And shout out for even able to make a compelling and exciting video about this with changing favorites and a worthy winner! One of the best videos lately!

    • @kauffmanba
      @kauffmanba Před rokem +1

      Well, it was a good exercise for him to take a break from flight training.

  • @lxcien4867
    @lxcien4867 Před rokem +6

    another reason to love the shuttle that won this one (i had to change it not to spoil)…

  • @dhouggy
    @dhouggy Před rokem

    Thanks. Glad to see you getting back to explanatory physics videos!

  • @Thomas..Anderson
    @Thomas..Anderson Před rokem

    As always I like the research and sheer enthusiasm behind Scott's videos.

  • @nathnich
    @nathnich Před rokem +13

    I just googled it, but the Stardust return capsule at 28,000 mph is the fastest return vehicle ever. That's pretty crazy.

    • @4077Disc
      @4077Disc Před rokem +5

      Osiris Rex, due back at the end of September this year, will beat it by a solid measure.

    • @GaryBleck
      @GaryBleck Před rokem

      @@4077Disc Only if we are limiting to earth’s atmosphere. The sun has an atmosphere and Parker Solar probe got in it. 😉

    • @nathnich
      @nathnich Před rokem +2

      @@GaryBleck It's not using aerodynamic resistance to maneuver though or experiencing significant drag.

    • @trolleriffic
      @trolleriffic Před rokem +10

      The fastest atmospheric entry was the Galileo probe to Jupiter which impacted Jupiter's upper atmosphere at 106,000mph (47 km/s). It experienced decelerations of 350G and its heatshield was exposed to temperatures of over 15,000K.

    • @vibrolax
      @vibrolax Před rokem

      ​@@trolleriffic I watched Galileo leave earth aboard "Atlantis" from the causeway in Melbourne in October 1989. This time the launch delay worked in my favor.

  • @michaelmize1155
    @michaelmize1155 Před rokem +3

    Worked on the STS and Ares Programs for 22 years at KSC and I seem to remember the Long Duration Exposure Facility when it was retrieved as being a “Bear” to wrestle down safely with more then the usual number of tires blowing up on the Landing Strip. How was the greater mass affecting speeds and control?

  • @understandingautism1389
    @understandingautism1389 Před rokem +1

    I love when you do videos about the shuttle!!

  • @DaveInPA2010
    @DaveInPA2010 Před rokem +2

    “…Unfortunately Challenger couldn’t be with us to accept the award tonight…”?
    Ouch.
    Too soon.

  • @MrPere94
    @MrPere94 Před rokem +4

    Hello Scott, first of all thanks for the videos you are doing and your efort to translate speeds from imperial to international. But could you also edit them on the screen to be read? Also you are missing some convertions at the end. Cheers :D

  • @Trek001
    @Trek001 Před rokem +5

    STS 36 launched a Misty - AFP-731 in this case - as well as a few other little goodies
    Although there is some debate over if it actually failed a while later or not due to debris spotted in the orbit

  • @JEBavido
    @JEBavido Před rokem +1

    My eyes crossed, and I got dizzy when you mentioned spherical trigonometry, but I think I’ll be all right in a bit. Thanks for all the info.

  • @tonybaloney3726
    @tonybaloney3726 Před rokem

    Excellent video as always! Thank you👍🏻

  • @Darkskynet
    @Darkskynet Před rokem +9

    For anyone wondering as I was:
    The chutes that are deployed behind the Shuttle when it lands on the tarmac, those are not parachutes. That is a drogue parachute, also called a drag chute, drag parachute, drogue chute, or braking parachute.

    • @juliasophical
      @juliasophical Před rokem +7

      Also, Discovery didn't have one on STS-48. Endeavour was the first shuttle to have a braking chute, and it was first used on its maiden flight, STS-49. Only after that were the older shuttles retrofitted with drag chutes.

    • @SoloRenegade
      @SoloRenegade Před rokem

      You are SO wrong, and you provided the proof yourself.
      "those are not parachutes. That is a drogue parachute, also called a drag chute, drag parachute, drogue chute, or braking parachute."
      Drogue PARACHUTE
      Drogue CHUTE (chute is short for parachute)
      Drag PARACHUTE
      Drag CHUTE (chute is short for parachute)
      Braking PARACHUTE
      So they are in fact parachutes in every way, both in name and function.

    • @TheEvilmooseofdoom
      @TheEvilmooseofdoom Před rokem +2

      @@SoloRenegade I think the main distinction (at least for the shuttle) is that one is employed TO land the other employs one AFTER landing.

    • @SoloRenegade
      @SoloRenegade Před rokem

      @@TheEvilmooseofdoom doesn't matter, they are all parachutes.

    • @stargazer7644
      @stargazer7644 Před rokem +2

      @@SoloRenegade It isn't a parachute that lowers it to the ground in the sense that Scott mentioned it you pedantic little troll. It isn't deployed until AFTER the Shuttle is on the ground. And not all of the Shuttle flights even had them installed.

  • @tarlneustaedter
    @tarlneustaedter Před rokem +3

    For slowest, wasn’t there an ATO (abort to orbit) that ran a slower re-entry?

  • @redwalsh87
    @redwalsh87 Před rokem

    This is the most Scott Manley video ever, love it!!

  • @richb313
    @richb313 Před rokem

    Thanks for this video Scott.

  • @kaltenstein7718
    @kaltenstein7718 Před rokem +10

    Kilo Feet per second is just a terrible unit of measurement

    • @zebo-the-fat
      @zebo-the-fat Před rokem +6

      I like mega furlongs per fortnight!

    • @davisdf3064
      @davisdf3064 Před rokem

      Indeed, he should have measured it by kilofootballcamps !

    • @stargazer7644
      @stargazer7644 Před rokem +1

      @@zebo-the-fat Damn, I came here to say exactly this.

  • @suprememaxpayne
    @suprememaxpayne Před rokem +5

    Does a manhole cover have wings? Just asking

    • @davisdf3064
      @davisdf3064 Před rokem

      Perhaps if it melted into a wing shape

  • @DarkPhoenixDack125
    @DarkPhoenixDack125 Před rokem +1

    I love the silly, mathematical, mechanical videos that you make. It also made my day that I have the Lego Discovery on my shelf!

  • @TheManLab7
    @TheManLab7 Před rokem +2

    2:52 Thats so cool. Just look how much thrust there is to flex everything.

  • @patrickchase5614
    @patrickchase5614 Před rokem +21

    It's not entirely accurate to say that 28.5 deg is "the lowest inclination you can get from Florida". If you have a _lot_ of excess delta-V you can execute an plane change burn at the orbital node. The only time I can recall that being done was for IXPE, and it basically reduced the 15t LEO payload capacity of F9 to 330 kg.

    • @nikolatasev4948
      @nikolatasev4948 Před rokem +1

      SpaceX launches geostationary satellites which have 0 deg inclination.

    • @martinda7446
      @martinda7446 Před rokem

      What?

    • @jaimeduncan6167
      @jaimeduncan6167 Před rokem +1

      @@nikolatasev4948 yes, but that does not mean the space shuttle reached that inclination, let alone the altitude of geostationary satellites.

    • @jaimeduncan6167
      @jaimeduncan6167 Před rokem +1

      He means that the Space shuttle could do.

    • @patrickchase5614
      @patrickchase5614 Před rokem +1

      ​@@nikolatasev4948 Yes, you can much more efficiently reduce inclination while transferring to a higher (and lower-orbital-velocity) orbit like GEO than you can in LEO.

  • @Deltarious
    @Deltarious Před rokem +4

    Disagree with your initial premise as it's a definition problem: The original tweet does not say aircraft, it says "plane'. I contend that to qualify as a 'plane' it must be a powered aircraft, as we call unpowered aircraft gliders. During the time it is going fast AF, while acting as a plane, in atmosphere, it's not ever powered, and I don't think it can reasonably meet the definition of plane. I think the X-15 is a much better candidate for a manned craft, and of course my heart *really* lies in *air-breathing* manned craft, so when (if) we ever get those SABRE engines flying I'd probably favor those the most

    • @trolleriffic
      @trolleriffic Před rokem +1

      X-15 can't take off under its own power and spends most of its flight as a glider though.

  • @frankgulla2335
    @frankgulla2335 Před rokem

    Thanks, Scott for that in-depth investigation.

  • @MCsCreations
    @MCsCreations Před rokem

    Fascinating stuff! Thanks, Scott! 😊
    Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

  • @RubenKelevra
    @RubenKelevra Před rokem +3

    12:28 so if parachutes are not allowed for landing, how is the Space Shuttle the winner?

    • @juliasophical
      @juliasophical Před rokem +2

      The space shuttle did not always use a drag chute (in fact STS-49 was the first time it used one), and did not require one if it had sufficient runway. And when it did use it, it didn't deploy the parachute to land, it landed first, then deployed the braking chute once its already on the ground to slow down. So in no case was it used for landing, just for braking after landing, and much of time it didn't use it at all.

  • @junkaccount8302
    @junkaccount8302 Před rokem +8

    The definition of plane is powered flight. Therefore the space shuttle is a glider, not a plane, however by the same definition the sr-71 is not the fastest and it would instead be the x-15 as it was powered flight. Therefore everyone was wrong, and the fastest plane is the x-15 (Details matter).

    • @aspuzling
      @aspuzling Před rokem +4

      But the Shuttle has engines. It's just when your speed is already Mach 25, you don't really need to turn them on.

    • @genericguy6382
      @genericguy6382 Před rokem +1

      Deploy the OMS engines

    • @davisdf3064
      @davisdf3064 Před rokem +2

      Scott was talking about the fastest aircraft, not the fastest plane, hell, if a blimp could reach mach 56 while in atmosphere, it would be the fastest aircraft.

    • @genericguy6382
      @genericguy6382 Před rokem +1

      @@davisdf3064 No, the original post he responded to was talking about planes

    • @davisdf3064
      @davisdf3064 Před rokem

      @@genericguy6382
      Yes, but then he decided to talk about aircraft in general

  • @longboardfella5306
    @longboardfella5306 Před rokem +1

    Me: that’s a trivial question to answer. Me 13 mins later: ahh that’s why it’s called rocket science

  • @Jtnimagery
    @Jtnimagery Před rokem

    This was an amazing 13 minutes of my life following along with your nerdy research journey. Especially loved the concluding sentences!

  • @HeisenbergFam
    @HeisenbergFam Před rokem +4

    Only the bravest souls will willingly go into a spaceship and risk their lives for space exploration

    • @gordoncordon9779
      @gordoncordon9779 Před rokem

      That is in Russia, in the west they have silly "safety regulations"

  • @_koji
    @_koji Před rokem

    Thanks for the insight!

  • @kenhelmers2603
    @kenhelmers2603 Před rokem

    Tons of research there Scott, well done lad, well done.

  • @lewismassie
    @lewismassie Před rokem

    Very cool that Scott has found that shuttle document. It's my favourite

  • @joh5417
    @joh5417 Před rokem +1

    Such a Scott Manley classic :)

  • @IMBlakeley
    @IMBlakeley Před rokem +1

    I do recall when the the shuttle program was just starting up a friend was a competitive glider pilot. These folks would try for highest altitude / flight duration / distance etc and he remarked well the shuttle wins them all now.

  • @usncahill
    @usncahill Před rokem +1

    The fourth column of the old shuttle data sheets has VI on it under the heading "Launch..., Landing..." with numbers like 25k fps

  • @Masca79
    @Masca79 Před rokem

    Always so creative! You're the best!

  • @GrapeFlavoredAntifreeze
    @GrapeFlavoredAntifreeze Před rokem +1

    It’s actually emotional seeing how much older the Columbia and Challenger photos are at 0:21

  • @davidhorn932
    @davidhorn932 Před rokem

    Thanks for all this info that i had no idea that I needed to know, that I now know!

  • @weschilton
    @weschilton Před rokem +1

    Wow Scott, that was a magnificent effort you put in for this! Congratulations to Discovery--my second favorite shuttle! (runs away laughing!)

  • @ICKY427
    @ICKY427 Před rokem +2

    this is the biggest "umm akshualy" ive ever seen and i love it. although personally i think "fastest plane" should be something that gains its speed exclusively IN atmosphere.

  • @mirrenboarish
    @mirrenboarish Před rokem

    This is the level of research and dedication that everyone should dedicate to the things they post as fact

  • @chriswillms2669
    @chriswillms2669 Před rokem

    Thank you for sharing getting your geek on.

  • @pcman312
    @pcman312 Před rokem +2

    I love that this is basically a video about being nerd sniped by someone on the internet.

  • @madatlas3806
    @madatlas3806 Před rokem

    This nerdy content is exactly why I'm here 😂 another amazing video, Scott!

  • @methylmike
    @methylmike Před rokem

    intensely good content mr manley

  • @johnladuke6475
    @johnladuke6475 Před rokem +1

    Great, now I need to know this information for all kinds of other categories of vehicle. Scott, you need to do a video series on the fastest/slowest of...
    -lifting-body space capsules
    -non-lifting-body space capsules
    -first stages
    -second stages
    -sub-orbital capsules
    -sub-orbital flights
    -completely non-space, all-atmosphee flights
    I frankly don't care if we can just google the information, I want this Scott Manley style overanalysis.

    • @roycsinclair
      @roycsinclair Před rokem

      The slowest for lifting body would likely be the one where they towed it behind a car.

  • @SupremeRuleroftheWorld

    This is the best "SOMEBODY IS WRONG ON THE INTERNET!" Video i have seen in a long time.

  • @manythingslefttobuild

    Great down the rabbit hole math video, thanks Scott!

  • @marcoh6618
    @marcoh6618 Před rokem

    Interesting to see the issues on each of the STS sheets,, this is worthy of an episode in itself!

  • @MichaelHovan
    @MichaelHovan Před rokem

    You are awesome, thank you 😊

  • @matthewrberning
    @matthewrberning Před rokem

    that meme format is incredible -nice use 👏

  • @comet1062
    @comet1062 Před rokem

    Another fantastically Nerdy vid Scott!! Loved it. My only question is…Dreamchaser?

  • @kuningas7
    @kuningas7 Před rokem +1

    Starship and SLS might be more powerful but Space Shuttle still has the most exciting launch sequence.

  • @deadpin
    @deadpin Před rokem

    Yo... that video from return to flight really is awesome footage! @1:10

  • @witchdoctor6502
    @witchdoctor6502 Před rokem

    Yay! Discovery! I don't know why, but I'm happy with the result :D

  • @XJapa1n09
    @XJapa1n09 Před rokem

    Epic over complication as required by the gods 🙌🏻🤣 Thanks for this, Scott!

  • @user-lv7ph7hs7l
    @user-lv7ph7hs7l Před rokem

    I'm glad, Discovery is my favourite. Only rocket launch I ever saw was STS 103 to service Hubble, Scott Kelly's first flight.

  • @forrestmorrisey
    @forrestmorrisey Před rokem

    **no one, absolutely no one**
    Scott: so I plugged all this information into my spreadsheet

  • @StrykerFox
    @StrykerFox Před rokem

    You got me excited there for a second there

  • @GPT-4_Beta
    @GPT-4_Beta Před rokem

    NEEEEERDD!!
    And I love it!!! Thank you!

  • @joyl7842
    @joyl7842 Před rokem

    2:37 You can see the heat from re-entry distorting the air. The Space Shuttle has no engines for use inside the atmosphere on descent, so that is just pure heat resonating from it. Awesome footage.

    • @dsdy1205
      @dsdy1205 Před rokem

      That's not heat shimmer, that's the wingtip vortex trailing off the Shuttle's wings distorting the light

  • @marilynphillips4712
    @marilynphillips4712 Před rokem +1

    My favorite is the Buran. I hope you considered it.

  • @merky6004
    @merky6004 Před rokem +1

    I saw Columbia first and third landing. 3rd I Used my 8” telescope. That’s was odd but I managed it. We waited til the crew left and they hauled it away. Leaving on the road out my buddy and noticed we could see the landed shuttle close (ish). Right through the chain link. One chance! So I pulled over and quickly set up the scope. 8” scope is a hell of a monocular. We took turns. I saw people in the cabin flipping switches. Cool. Then I heard my friend go, “Ahem.” I look behind and see a no-small line of hopeful shuttle watchers. They’d seen us and pulled over.
    Hell Yah!
    So we let people watch the shuttle up close as much as they wanted.
    So Columbia was my favorite.

  • @kinexkid
    @kinexkid Před rokem +1

    40 seconds in, I see the answer in the bottom right. Might as well stop it there. Jokes aside, I love when lighthearted pedantics turn into learning something new!