In this issue of Math in the News, we look at the mechanics of space travel, as we bid a fond farewell to the Space Shuttle Atlantis. For more math media resources, go to http://www.media4math.com

1. 7/18/11

2. Space Travel
• There are a
number of
moving parts
when it comes to
launching a
spacecraft.
• Click to watch
the animation.
http://www.media4mathplus.com/MathInTheNews/MITNIssue18/MITN18-
Animation1.html

3. Space Travel
• In this
animation,
notice the path
that the rocket
takes.
• Click to watch
the animation.
http://www.media4mathplus.com/MathInTheNews/MITNIssue18/MITN18-
Animation2.html

4. Space Travel
• The movement
of the Shuttle is
a combination of
a sideways
motion and a
vertical motion.

5. Space Travel
• Where does the
Shuttle's
sideways motion
come from?

6. Space Travel
• It's a result of
the Earth's
rotation.

7. Space Travel
• As the Earth
rotates about its
axis, the Shuttle
moves along,
too.

8. Space Travel
• At any point in
its rotation the
sideways speed
vector is
perpendicular to
the Earth's
surface.

9. Space Travel
• At liftoff, the the
Shuttle has what
becomes a
sideways speed.

10. Space Travel
• The horizontal
and vertical
components of
motion can each
be represented
by parametric
equations.

11. Space Travel
• This pair of
parametric
equations
describes the
horizontal, x(t),
motion, and the
vertical, y(t),
motion. Note the
parabolic shape
of the graph.

12. Space Travel
• The parametric
equations
account for the
sideways, linear,
motion and the
vertical,
quadratic,
motion of the
shuttle.