Space shuttle thrusting in space?

Since there is no atmosphere in space, how does a space shuttle direct itself after it has left the moon ssurface?? THe thrusters wont have anytihng to push against, how do they work?

Space shuttle thrusting in space?myspace ip

One of the basic principles of physics (Newton's Third Law) is that for every action (force) there is an opposite and equal reaction (force). The principle of a rocket motor may be understood by considering the example of a closed container filled with a compressed gas. Within this container the gas exerts equal pressure on every point of its walls. If a hole is punched in the bottom of the container, however, the gas at the bottom escapes and the pressure against the top of the container is no longer equalized. The internal gas pressure then pushes the container upwards in reaction to the jet of air escaping downwards. The amount of thrust developed by a rocket motor depends mainly on two factors, the velocity with which the burning gases leave the combustion chamber, and the mass of the burning gases.

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Space shuttle thrusting in space?myspace co myspace.com

Actually there is atmosphere just very little.
the shuttle doesnt go to the moon. it orbits the earth . has something to do with the earth's gravitational pull or something.
There is a differential in pressure within the motors themselves. Just like a balloon you blow up there is high pressure inside the balloon pushing outwards in every direction on the surfaces of the balloon. The opening of the balloon (a rocket motor nozzle) has no pressure, therefore the forward pressure is not canceled and moves the balloon (rocket) in that direction.
yes
The expanding gases exiting the thruster push on the inside of the thruster with the same force as they exit with, the gases take the path of least resistance, that being the nozzle. Thrusters don't push against an "atmosphere," they simply expel their waste gases from the combustion process.
Study Physics and the Name Newton shines like a star because he found "Laws" of physics and Newtons Third Law would tell you that "Every Action has an Equal and Opposite Reaction" which would let you know why the thrusters work in space. Refer to another more comprehensive answer alread posted by someone for a better answer than this one which forces the reader to think for himself.

Ha HA

Regards and all the best
The space shuttle never goes to the moon.

Nothing like the space shuttle has ever been to the moon.

Would be kinda neet to compare the two vihicles.

Kinda neet to imagin what a moon ready space shuttle would look like it would have to be allot different if it was gona go to the moon AND come back.

Well supposedly the next time we goto the moon is 2018.

Lockheed Martin has a proposal for a moon vehicle its like a limazine compared to 1969.

http://space.com/news/050914_nasa_cev_up...

I doubt it will look like what is ilistrated but still neet idea.
An interesting aspect about rockets designed for use in space: they tend to be more efficient than they could ever be in the atmosphere. An important function of a rocket nozzle is to expand the exhaust gases and obtain additional thrust from this expansion. A measure of this ability is its expansion ratio, the ratio of the areas at the exit plane (the end of the nozzle bell) and at the throat (point of minimum area). In space, the optimum expansion ratio is "as much as you can get", so the expansion ratio actually used is a tradeoff involving the desire for the maximum vs. the weight and size penalty. In the atmosphere the optimum expansion ratio is smaller; once the exit-plane pressure falls below atmospheric pressure, the exhaust is overexpanded and there is a negative thrust penalty due to the resulting suction.