Rajan Wilcox
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) was the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contained the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. Unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters, the ET was not reusable and broke up before impact in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. The ET burned up in the atmosphere shortly after liftoff. However, it may have been possible to reuse them in orbit, for example, as extra living or research space, or as raw materials for orbiting factories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) |
| Weight | 66,000 pounds |
| Colour | Orange |
| Components | Three major components: the forward liquid oxygen (LO2) tank, the aft liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank, and the interconnecting structure |
| Capacity | 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen |
| Use | Supplies fuel and oxidizer to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent |
| Jettison | Occurs just over 10 seconds after main engine cut-off (MECO) and it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere |
| Reuse | Not reusable, breaks up before impact in the Indian or Pacific Ocean |
| Foam | Coated in spray-on foam insulation |
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What You'll Learn
- The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) contained liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen
- The ET detached and burned up in the atmosphere shortly after lift-off
- The ET was the largest element of the Space Shuttle
- The ET was not re-used and broke up before impact in the ocean
- The ET was fuelled through the Orbiter's main engine plumbing system
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) contained liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) was the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contained the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. During lift-off and ascent, it supplied fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter. The ET was jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO) and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters, the external tanks were not re-used. They 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 were not recovered.
The ET was the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle. It consisted of three major components: the forward liquid oxygen (LO2) tank, the aft liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank, and the interconnecting structure. The forward liquid oxygen tank was smaller but heavier than the aft liquid hydrogen tank due to the higher density of liquid oxygen. The aft liquid hydrogen tank was the largest part of the ET, but it was relatively light due to liquid hydrogen's very low density.
The ET had to be drained of all hydrogen via a helium gas purge, a 20-hour process, before technicians could inspect and repair any problems. The oxygen tank vent on top of the ET was covered during the countdown and retracted about two minutes before lift-off. This process siphoned off oxygen vapour, protecting the orbiter's thermal protection system during launch. The ET also had to be purged of liquid oxygen before it could be safely entered by technicians.
The ET's orange colour is due to the spray-on foam insulation. 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 that the shuttle spent on the launch pad. The weight of the ET was reduced over time, increasing the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. This weight reduction was achieved by eliminating portions of stringers (structural stiffeners running the length of the hydrogen tank), using fewer stiffener rings, and modifying major frames in the hydrogen tank.
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The ET detached and burned up in the atmosphere shortly after lift-off
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) was a crucial component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle, supplying fuel and oxidizer to the main engines during lift-off and ascent. However, shortly after lift-off, the ET was jettisoned, and its journey towards burning up in the Earth's atmosphere began.
The ET was not designed to be reused and was the only part of the shuttle stack that was not. Its fate was to break up before impact in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes, ensuring a safe and controlled disposal. This process started with the ET detaching from the shuttle at an altitude of about 70 miles above the Earth's surface.
The ET's detachment was a critical step in the shuttle's ascent, occurring just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO). Once detached, the ET re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, where it burned up, unable to withstand the intense heat and friction generated during re-entry.
Over the years, there were proposals to reuse the ET in orbit, such as incorporating it into a space station or using it as rocket fuel for interplanetary missions. However, these ideas never came to fruition, and the ET remained a single-use component, playing a vital but brief role in each Space Shuttle launch.
The ET was a significant and heavy element of the Space Shuttle, consisting of three main components: the forward liquid oxygen tank, the aft liquid hydrogen tank, and the intertank that connected the two fuel tanks. The liquid hydrogen tank was the largest, but its very low density made it relatively light.
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The ET was the largest element of the Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) was the largest element of the Space Shuttle. It was the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contained the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. During lift-off and ascent, it supplied fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter. The ET was jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO) and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters, the external tanks were not reused. They 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 were not recovered. When loaded, the ET was also the heaviest element of the Space Shuttle.
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. The tank was connected to each SRB at one forward attachment point and one aft bracket. It was also connected to the orbiter at one forward attachment bipod and two aft bipods. In the aft attachment area, there were also umbilicals that carried fluids, gases, electrical signals, and electrical power between the tank and the orbiter. Electrical signals and controls between the orbiter and the two solid rocket boosters were also routed through these umbilicals.
The weight of the ET was reduced over the years to increase overall efficiency. The weight reduction resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The original ET is informally known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT) and was fabricated from 2219 aluminum alloy, a high-strength aluminum-copper alloy used for many aerospace applications. After STS-4, several hundred pounds were eliminated by deleting the anti-geyser line, which paralleled the oxygen feed line. The total length and diameter of the ET remained unchanged.
The Super Lightweight Tank (SLWT) was first flown in 1998 on STS-91 and was used for all subsequent missions with two exceptions (STS-99 and STS-107). The SLWT used an aluminium-lithium alloy (Al 2195), which was 40% stronger and 10% less dense than its predecessor. This alloy provided a significant reduction in tank weight (about 7,000 pounds or 3,175 kg) over the LWT. The SLWT provided 50% of the performance increase required for the shuttle to reach the International Space Station.
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The ET was not re-used and broke up before impact in the ocean
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) was not reusable and broke up before impact in the ocean. The ET was the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded. It contained liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, supplying the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. About 70 miles above the Earth's surface, the ET was jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off and it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, burning up in the atmosphere shortly after liftoff.
The ET was not designed to be recovered and reused. Instead, it was discarded and broke up before impact in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. Over the years, there were proposals to reuse the ET in orbit, such as incorporating it into a space station, using it as rocket fuel for interplanetary missions, or converting it into raw materials for orbiting factories. However, these plans were not implemented, and the ET remained a single-use component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle.
The ET played a critical role in providing fuel and oxidizer to the main engines, but its disposability ensured that the shuttle could shed weight during its ascent. This weight reduction contributed to an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. By discarding the ET, the shuttle improved its overall efficiency and could carry bulkier payloads.
The ET's orange color is a distinctive feature, resulting from the spray-on foam insulation applied to its surface. This insulation protected the tanks from ultraviolet light exposure during the extended periods when the shuttle was on the launch pad. The first two tanks, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to serve the same protective purpose.
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The ET was fuelled through the Orbiter's main engine plumbing system
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) was the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contained the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. The ET was fuelled (a process known as "tanking") through the Orbiter's main engine plumbing system, with the help of Tail Service Masts (TSM). One TSM delivered LH2 (liquid hydrogen), while the other delivered LOX (liquid oxygen). The ET supplied the fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent.
The ET was an essential component of the Space Shuttle, and when loaded, it was the heaviest element. Despite its importance, the ET was always discarded and never reused. It broke up before impact in the Indian or Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. Although it may have been possible to reuse the ET in orbit, for example, as extra living or research space, as rocket fuel tanks, or as raw materials, NASA focused on reducing its weight to increase overall efficiency.
The orbiter's fuel plumbing system was quite complex, with fuel flowing from the TSM into the orbiter and then into the ET. The LOX, in particular, had to be pumped up to the LOX tank located in the upper half of the ET. This added weight to the ET due to the LOX feed-line. Despite this complexity, there were likely advantages to fuelling the ET through the orbiter that influenced NASA's decision.
The use of external tanks for propellant carried in expendable tanks was a more affordable option than building a bigger booster. This configuration allowed for a smaller orbiter with its propellant carried externally. The use of external tankage also reduced the dry weight of the two-stage shuttle by almost a third, from 1.02 million pounds to 692,000 pounds. This weight reduction resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle.
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Frequently asked questions
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) is the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer.
The external fuel tank burns up in the atmosphere after detachment.
Although the external fuel tanks were always discarded, there were plans to reuse them in orbit. Some plans included using the tank as extra living or research space, as rocket fuel tanks for interplanetary missions, or as raw materials for orbiting factories.
The external fuel tanks are not reused because they break up before impact in the ocean, away from shipping lanes.
