Why Don't Space Shuttles Get Lost in Space?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of why space shuttles do not get lost in space after escaping Earth's gravity, exploring concepts of motion, gravity, and the nature of the universe. Participants engage in a conceptual examination of how objects behave in space, particularly in relation to the movement of the universe and gravitational forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the nature of the universe's movement and how it affects objects in space, particularly regarding the concept of being "lost" after escaping gravity.
  • It is proposed that space shuttles do not escape Earth orbit and remain influenced by gravitational forces from nearby celestial bodies.
  • One participant suggests that an object in space continues to move with the solar system unless acted upon by an external force, drawing an analogy to tossing a ball in a moving vehicle.
  • Another participant raises the idea of whether gravity can be disregarded in certain conditions, questioning if an object could break free from the expanding universe.
  • Newton's first law is referenced to explain that an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force, emphasizing the importance of gravitational influence.
  • Discussion includes the concept that the Hubble expansion is negligible within galaxies due to gravitational forces, which dominate over cosmic expansion at smaller scales.
  • There is speculation about the implications of black holes or wormholes in the context of breaking free from the universe.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the concept of the "edge" of the universe and what lies beyond it, questioning the nature of space itself.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and agreement on the concepts discussed. Some agree on the influence of gravity on objects in space, while others question the implications of cosmic expansion and the nature of motion in the universe. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the broader implications of these ideas.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion, including unclear definitions of terms like "brake free of the expanding universe" and assumptions about the nature of motion in a vacuum. The conversation also reflects varying levels of formal education in physics among participants.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals curious about the behavior of objects in space, the effects of gravity, and the nature of the universe, particularly those exploring foundational concepts in physics.

michels
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If the universe as a whole is moving at great speeds and spaces is a mostly vacant vacuum why aren't space shuttles lost when they brake free of gravity?
 
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michels said:
If the universe as a whole is moving at great speeds
Is it?
and spaces is a mostly vacant vacuum
OK
why aren't space shuttles lost when they brake free of gravity?
Space shuttles don't escape Earth orbit. (And they are part of the universe, just like everything else.)

Perhaps you can restate your question.
 
Um, yes, sorry. What I'm laboring to ask, is what keeps a free object in space from getting left behind by the moving universe?
 
And remember that no matter how fast the "vacuum" moves, since it is a vacuum, it cannot exert a force on the Space Shuttle. So the main forces that the Space Shuttles experience are gravitational attraction from nearby masses (Earth mostly, moon a little, sun a tiny bit, etc.), and a little bit maybe from the Solar Wind. There is no vacuum Universal Wind to blow satellites away once they reach escape velocity from the Earth. Does that make sense?
 
michels said:
Um, yes, sorry. What I'm laboring to ask, is what keeps a free object in space from getting left behind by the moving universe?

Because the object is already moving at the same speed as the solar system. I takes a force to change the velocity of the object, and there is no vacuum Universe Wind force to blow the object away. It's the same as if you are standing in the trailer of an 18-wheeler going a constant speed down the highway. You toss a ball up and catch it, just like you were standing stationary in the park.
 
I see, but then is there a point at which gravity is taken out of the equation and self propulsion over takes the initial force, could a object between the galaxies brake free of the expanding universe?
 
Newton's first law states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest, unless acted upon by an outside force.

So an object free of Earth's gravity, but in the general vicinity of Earth and moving with it will just keep on moving with it.

Also, the phrase "brake free of the expanding universe" doesn't have any meaning that I can decipher. You may be operating on another misconception about motion there, but I'm not sure I understand what you are driving at...
 
Last edited:
Yeah, think I get it now, any man made construct is still part of the universe despite its location and/or acceleration. I guess you can tell I'm not formally educated in physics, but I do have an interest in it, sorry if my question was unclear.
 
The Hubble expansion is comparatively negated inside galaxies, where gravitation for the most part overcomes its effect. The cosmological expansion between the Earth and a satellite in geosynchronous orbit (35,786 km) is only about 10-8 cm/sec.
 
  • #10
Unless (maybe) black holes or wormholes are involved, nothing can break free from the universe. Where would it go?
 
  • #11
space has no friction so it is made of nothing so at the end of the univese (like the ege) what is there unless it is just nothing but then it wouldent be the ege of the universe
 

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