No, quite the opposite. They experience up to three times the normal force of gravity during the launch.
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During the launch, astronauts in a space shuttle experience a sensation of weightlessness for a short period due to the force of gravity being canceled out by the acceleration of the shuttle. However, this weightlessness is not the same as the zero gravity experienced in orbit, as it is a result of the shuttle's motion rather than being in a true microgravity environment.
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Apollo 1: A cabin fire during a launch rehearsal in 1967 killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. Space Shuttle Challenger: The shuttle disintegrated during launch in 1986, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. Space Shuttle Columbia: The shuttle broke apart during re-entry in 2003, leading to the deaths of all seven astronauts on board.
The four main parts of a space shuttle are the orbiter, which is the main part that astronauts live and work in, the solid rocket boosters, which help launch the shuttle into space, the external tank, which holds the fuel for the shuttle, and the main engines, which provide thrust during launch.
During a shuttle launch, astronauts experience high G-forces which can cause increased blood pressure, changes in vision, and difficulty breathing. The force of gravity can also compress the spine and put stress on the body, leading to potential muscular-skeletal issues. As the shuttle accelerates, the astronauts feel heavier due to the increasing G-forces acting on their bodies.
There were seven astronauts onboard the space shuttle Challenger when it tragically exploded shortly after its launch on January 28, 1986.