Rajan Wilcox
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) was an integral component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle, providing structural support and housing the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. Despite its crucial role, the ET was designed for single-use and was not recovered or reused. After detaching from the shuttle, the ET would burn up and disintegrate upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere, typically over the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. While there were ideas proposed for reusing the ET in orbit, such as incorporating it into a space station or as rocket fuel tanks, these concepts never materialized. The ET's insulation was also a challenge, as it had a tendency to detach and become space debris. Over time, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET, which increased the cargo-carrying capacity of the Space Shuttle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) |
| Components | Aft liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank |
| Intertank | |
| Forward liquid oxygen (LO2) tank | |
| Weight | 65,000 lbs (29,500 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum alloy |
| Color | Orange/Pumpkin |
| Reuse | Not reused, but there were plans to reuse in orbit |
| Disposal | Burned up upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere |
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What You'll Learn
- The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) is not recovered or reused
- The ET is the backbone of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support
- The ET disintegrates in the atmosphere and burns up, typically over the Indian Ocean
- The ET is the largest element of the Space Shuttle and contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer
- The ET has electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power and signals between the orbiter and the tank
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) is not recovered or reused
The ET was the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support for attachment with the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. It was connected to each SRB at one forward attachment point and one aft bracket and to the orbiter at one forward attachment bipod and two aft bipods. In the aft attachment area, umbilicals carried fluids, gases, electrical signals, and electrical power between the tank and the orbiter.
After the solid rocket boosters fell away and parachuted into the Atlantic Ocean, where they were recovered and refurbished, the ET helped the shuttle orbiter get into space. The ET was then detached and burned up upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere. It broke up before impact in the Indian Ocean (or the Pacific Ocean in the case of direct-insertion launch trajectories), away from shipping lanes, and was not recovered.
Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency. The weight reduction resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The external tank's orange colour is due to the spray-on foam insulation. The original ET, informally known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT), was fabricated from 2219 aluminum alloy, a high-strength aluminum-copper alloy used for many aerospace applications.
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The ET is the backbone of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is a vital component of the Space Shuttle launch system. It is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded, and it contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer required for the shuttle's ascent. The ET is indeed often referred to as the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing critical structural support for the attachment of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter.
The ET is connected to each SRB at specific forward and aft attachment points, ensuring stability and structural integrity during the launch phase. It also serves as the conduit for various essential functions, including the transfer of fluids, gases, electrical signals, and power between the tank and the orbiter through umbilicals. These umbilicals play a crucial role in facilitating communication and control between the orbiter and the solid rocket boosters.
Over the years, NASA has made concerted efforts to reduce the weight of the ET to enhance overall efficiency. This weight reduction has had a direct impact on increasing the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The external tank's distinctive orange or pumpkin colour is due to the spray-on foam insulation, which was initially painted white for protection against ultraviolet light during pre-launch preparations but was later left unpainted to save weight.
The ET is not designed to be reused like the solid rocket boosters. After the shuttle's ascent, the ET is jettisoned and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere, typically burning up over the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. While there have been proposals for reusing the ET in orbit, such as incorporating it into a space station or as rocket fuel tanks for interplanetary missions, these ideas have not come to fruition. The ET's insulation has posed challenges, as it tends to detach and become space debris, creating potential hazards.
Despite not being reused, the ET still holds significant value, even after its separation from the shuttle. In May 2016, NASA's last space shuttle external fuel tank, ET-94, completed a remarkable journey from New Orleans to the California Science Center (CSC) in Los Angeles. This tank is now on display, inspiring awe and curiosity among visitors, including city dignitaries and local photographers. The arrival of the ET-94 at the CSC energised the region, sparking dreams of space exploration and admiration for the engineering marvels that make space travel possible.
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The ET disintegrates in the atmosphere and burns up, typically over the Indian Ocean
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. It is the backbone of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support and attachment for the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The ET is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle.
The ET is jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. It breaks up and burns in the atmosphere, with debris falling into the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. The ET is not recovered and is not reused.
The ET's orange colour is due to the spray-on foam insulation. Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET, which increased the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The first two tanks, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light while on the launch pad. However, it was found that the paint did not actually provide protection, and from STS-3 onwards, the tanks were left unpainted, saving approximately 272 kg (600 lb).
The ET has external cameras mounted in brackets attached to the shuttle, which continue to send video data even after the shuttle and ET have separated. These cameras were added after the Columbia disaster in 2003, where a piece of foam insulation detached from the tank and damaged the leading edge of the shuttle's wing, leading to the destruction of the shuttle and the loss of its crew.
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The ET is the largest element of the Space Shuttle and contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is the largest element of the Space Shuttle. It contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, which are supplied under pressure to the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. The ET is constructed by Lockheed Martin for NASA at the Michoud Assembly Facility. It is 153.8 feet (47 m) long and has a diameter of 27.6 feet (8.4 m).
The ET is composed of three major components: the forward liquid oxygen (LOX) tank, the aft liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank, and the intertank that separates them. The LH2 tank is the largest part of the ET, but it is relatively light due to liquid hydrogen's very low density. The LOX tank contains a separate, pyrotechnically operated, propulsive tumble vent valve at its forward end. This valve is opened during separation to assist in the separation maneuver and provide more positive control of the ET's entry aerodynamics.
The ET also has electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power from the orbiter to the tank and the two SRBs, as well as provide information from the SRBs and ET to the orbiter. The ET thermal protection system consists primarily of spray-on foam insulation (SOFI), preformed foam pieces, and premolded ablator materials. The system also includes phenolic thermal insulators to prevent air liquefaction.
Over the years, NASA has worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency. The weight reduction resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The first two tanks, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light during the extended time on the launch pad before launch. However, it was later determined that the paint did not actually protect the foam, and starting with STS-3, the tanks were left unpainted.
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The ET has electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power and signals between the orbiter and the tank
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support for attachment to the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The ET is connected to the orbiter at one forward attachment bipod and two aft bipods. In the aft attachment area, there are umbilicals that carry fluids, gases, electrical signals, and electrical power between the tank and the orbiter. These electrical umbilicals, of which there are two, are responsible for transmitting electrical power from the orbiter to the tank and the two SRBs. They also provide information from the SRBs and the ET to the orbiter.
The ET has external cameras mounted in brackets attached to the shuttle, along with transmitters that can continue to send video data long after the shuttle and the ET have separated. The ET also has five propellant umbilical valves that interface with orbiter umbilicals: two for the liquid oxygen tank and three for the liquid hydrogen tank. The liquid hydrogen tank is an aluminium semi-monocoque structure of fusion-welded barrel sections, with five major ring frames and forward and aft ellipsoidal domes. The ET is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded.
The ET is jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine is cut off and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. Unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters, the external tanks are not reused. They break up before impact in the Indian Ocean (or the Pacific Ocean in the case of direct-insertion launch trajectories), away from shipping lanes, and are not recovered.
Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency. The weight reduction in the ET resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The first two tanks, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light during the extended time the shuttle spent on the launchpad before launch. However, NASA engineer Farouk Huneidi stated that the paint did not actually protect the foam. Starting with STS-3, Martin Marietta (now part of Lockheed Martin) left the rust-coloured spray-on insulation unpainted, saving approximately 272 kg (600 lbs).
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Frequently asked questions
No, the fuel tanks, also known as the External Tank (ET), were not recovered. They disintegrated in the atmosphere and fell into the Indian or Pacific Ocean.
The ET was the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support and attachment for the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. It also supplied fuel and oxidizer to the RS-25 main engines.
The original ET was made from 2219 aluminum alloy, a high-strength aluminum-copper alloy. The insulation was spray-on foam, which was painted white for the first two tanks to protect them from ultraviolet light.
Unlike the fuel tanks, the Solid Rocket Boosters were recovered and refurbished after they fell into the Atlantic Ocean.
The fuel tanks were not reused. However, there were proposals to reuse them in orbit, such as incorporating them into a space station or using them as rocket fuel tanks for interplanetary missions. The primary issues with reuse were the risk of insulating foam becoming space debris and the lack of need for large tanks during the Space Shuttle Program era.
