During the first stage of its launch, a space shuttle goes from rest to 5,030 km/hr while rising a verticle of 62.1 km. Assume constant acceleration and no variation in g over this distance.
a) what is the acceleration of the shuttle?
b) if the 59.0 kg astronaut is standing on a scale inside the shuttle during this launch, what will the scale "read"? (Hint: consider the Normal force on the astronaut).
c) Will the astronaut "feel" heavier or lighter than when he was standing on earth?