In only eight minutes, a space shuttle can accelerate to a speed of 27,000 kilometers per hour. In the U.S., the most frequent month for a tornado to occur is in May. It takes eight and a half minutes for light from the sun to reach the earth. One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year. Orville Wright, a pilot, was involved in the first aircraft accident. His passenger, Lt. Thomas Selfridge, was killed.