By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent. 1  By submitting your personal information, you agree that TechTarget and its partners may contact you regarding relevant content, products and special offers.
The distance of a light year. How long would it take the space shuttle to go one light-year? The shuttle orbits the Earth at about 5 miles per second (18,000 mph). Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, which is about 37,200 times faster than the shuttle. So the shuttle would need about 37,200 years to go one light-year.
Best Answer: A light year is the distance light travels in a year, so the time taken is the same as a year on earth (relative to the earth). But relative to the light itself, the time taken is zero; because at the speed of light, time diminishes to zero. So to us on earth, as we watched a beam of light travel one light year, it would seem to take one year; but if we were traveling on that light beam, it would seem to take no time at all. Source(s): AndrewG Â· 5 years ago. Thumbs up.