Mercedes Mullins
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is the largest element of the Space Shuttle. The ET is the backbone of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support and attachment for the orbiter and booster rockets. The ET is also the heaviest component of the Space Shuttle when loaded with fuel. The external tank can hold up to 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The liquid hydrogen tank is 2.5 times larger than the liquid oxygen tank, but the filled hydrogen tank weighs only a fifth of what the filled oxygen tank does due to the low density of liquid hydrogen. The ET is covered with spray-on foam insulation, which is typically orange in color.
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What You'll Learn
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) is the largest element
The Space Shuttle external tank, also known as the ET, is the largest element of the Space Shuttle. It is also the heaviest element when loaded. The ET is often referred to as the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, as it provides structural support for attachment with the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The tank is connected to each SRB at one forward attachment point and one aft bracket, and it connects to the orbiter at one forward attachment bipod and two aft bipods.
The ET contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, which are supplied under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. The liquid hydrogen tank is 2.5 times larger than the liquid oxygen tank, but the filled hydrogen tank weighs only a fifth of what the filled oxygen tank does due to the low density of liquid hydrogen. The ET also has two electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power from the orbiter to the tank and the SRBs, and they provide information from the SRBs and ET to the orbiter.
The ET is jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. The external tanks are not reused and break up before impact in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency, which resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle.
The ET-94, completed in 2001, was one of three types of external tanks used in the shuttle program. It was a lightweight tank intended to propel the shuttle into low-Earth orbit. The external tank is the only component of the shuttle stack that was not reusable, with a new one constructed for each launch.
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The ET is the backbone of the shuttle during launch
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is an integral component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle. It is often referred to as the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support for attachment with the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The ET is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded.
The ET contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, which are supplied under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. It is connected to the SRBs through forward and aft attachment points, and to the orbiter through forward and aft bipods. The aft attachment area also includes umbilicals that facilitate the transfer of fluids, gases, electrical signals, and power between the tank, the orbiter, and the SRBs.
The ET is not reusable and is jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off, re-entering the Earth's atmosphere and breaking up over the Indian or Pacific Ocean. Its external cameras and transmitters continue to send video data long after separation from the shuttle.
Over the years, NASA has worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency and cargo-carrying capability. The first two tanks, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect them from ultraviolet light during pre-launch preparations. However, subsequent tanks have used spray-on foam insulation, which is left unpainted to reduce weight.
The ET is a critical component of the Space Shuttle launch system, providing the necessary fuel and structural support to enable the shuttle's ascent and attachment to other key components.
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The ET is jettisoned after main engine cut-off (MECO)
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. The ET is the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support and attachment points for the orbiter and booster rockets. It is connected to the orbiter and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) via multiple attachment points and umbilicals, which also carry fluids, gases, electrical signals, and power between the tank and the orbiter.
The ET is jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO). After detachment, the ET falls back towards Earth, following a planned path over the Pacific or Indian Oceans, and disintegrates in the atmosphere before impact. The ET is not reusable and is the only component of the shuttle stack that is not. Each launch requires a new ET.
Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency. The weight reduction resulted in a near-equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The original ET, also known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT), was fabricated from 2219 aluminum alloy, a high-strength aluminum-copper alloy used for many aerospace applications. Later versions included lightweight tanks (LWTs) and super lightweight tanks (SLWTs), which could carry more cargo to the International Space Station.
The ET also 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 ET have separated. The ET played a critical role in providing the propellants necessary to produce the thrust required to push the space shuttle into orbit.
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The ET is not reusable
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is the only component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that is not reusable. The ET is the largest element of the Space Shuttle and, when loaded, it is also the heaviest.
The ET is sometimes referred to as the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, as it provides structural support for attachment with the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The tank is connected to each SRB at one forward attachment point and one aft bracket, and it is connected to the orbiter at one forward attachment bipod and two aft bipods.
The ET carries liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, which flow into the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). During lift-off and ascent, it supplies the fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter. The ET also has electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power from the orbiter to the tank and the two SRBs, and provide information from the SRBs and ET to the orbiter.
After the orbiter reaches orbit, the ET separates from the orbiter vehicle and follows a ballistic trajectory into the Indian or Pacific Ocean. The ET is not reused; a new one is constructed for each launch.
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The ET weighs 66,000 pounds
The Space Shuttle external tank, also known as the ET, is the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contained the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. The ET is the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support and attachment to the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The ET is the largest element of the Space Shuttle, and when loaded, it is also the heaviest. The ET weighs 66,000 pounds and is about as tall as a 15-story building.
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, external tanks were not re-used. They broke up before impact in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes, and were not recovered. The ET was covered in spray-on foam insulation, which was originally painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light during the extended time that the shuttle spent on the launch pad prior to launch. However, it was later determined that the paint did not actually protect the foam, so starting with STS-3, the tanks were left unpainted.
The ET had two electrical umbilicals that carried electrical power from the orbiter to the tank and the SRBs. It also provided information from the SRBs and ET to the orbiter. The ET had external cameras mounted in brackets attached to the shuttle, along with transmitters that could continue to send video data long after the shuttle and the ET had separated. The ET held up to 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which combined and ignited to produce almost one and a half million pounds of thrust to help push the space shuttle to orbit.
The ET-94, completed in 2001, was one of three types of external tanks used in the shuttle program: standard-weight tanks (SWTs), lightweight tanks (LWTs), and super lightweight tanks (SLWTs). ET-94 was a lightweight tank intended to propel the shuttle into low-Earth orbit. It never flew and is considered the “sister” to Columbia’s external tank, which was destroyed during re-entry in 2003, killing the seven astronauts on board. After the Columbia accident, NASA reprioritized its missions to complete the space station before retiring the shuttle fleet.
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Frequently asked questions
The space shuttle external tank (ET) is the largest element of the Space Shuttle and is about as tall as a 15-story building. It weighs 66,000 pounds and can hold up to 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
A space shuttle fuel tank can hold up to 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel.
The ET is the "backbone" of the shuttle and provides structural support for attachment with the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. It is also the only component of the shuttle stack that is not reusable.
