Final answer:
The space shuttle is currently accelerating at a rate of 16 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
The acceleration of the space shuttle can be calculated using the formula:
acceleration = net force / mass
First, we need to convert the mass of the space shuttle from kg to N by multiplying it by the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s²:
mass = 2,041,000 kg x 9.8 m/s²
Next, we can substitute the given values into the formula to calculate the acceleration:
acceleration = 16 m/s²
Therefore, the space shuttle is currently accelerating at a rate of 16 m/s².