Mercedes Mullins
The amount of fuel that an external tank can carry depends on several factors, including the type of tank, its size, and the type of fuel. For example, the Space Shuttle external tank (ET) carries liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, supplying the fuel and oxidizer under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter. On the other hand, external fuel tanks for private jets are not commonly used due to the extra weight, maintenance, and aerodynamic drag they cause. Instead, private jets can be retrofitted with auxiliary fuel tanks stored internally to increase their range. For fuel tankers, the capacity typically ranges from 2,000 to 11,600 gallons, depending on their size and intended application.
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What You'll Learn
External tanks carry liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) is the largest and heaviest (when loaded) element of the space shuttle. It is the only part of the space shuttle that is not reusable. The ET has three major components: the forward liquid oxygen tank, an unpressurized intertank that contains most of the electrical components, and the aft liquid hydrogen tank. The ET is 153.8 feet long and has a diameter of 27.6 feet.
The primary job of the external tank is to feed pressurised fuel to the shuttle's three hydrogen-burning main engines during the eight-and-a-half-minute ride into space. The engines consume more than 242,000 litres (64,000 gallons) of propellants every minute. The ET has five propellant umbilical valves that interface with orbiter umbilicals: two for the liquid oxygen tank and three for the liquid hydrogen tank. One of the liquid oxygen tank umbilical valves is for liquid oxygen, and the other is for gaseous oxygen. The liquid hydrogen tank umbilical has two valves for liquid and one for gas. The ET also has two electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power from the orbiter to the tank and the two SRBs, and they provide information from the SRBs and ET to the orbiter.
The intertank houses ET instrumentation components and provides an umbilical plate that interfaces with the ground facility arm for purge gas supply, hazardous gas detection, and hydrogen gas boil-off during ground operations. It consists of mechanically joined skin, stringers, and machined panels of aluminium alloy. The intertank is vented during flight and contains the forward SRB-ET attach thrust beam and fittings that distribute the SRB loads to the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks.
The ET thermal protection system consists primarily of spray-on foam insulation (SOFI), preformed foam pieces, and premolded ablator materials. The system also includes the use of phenolic thermal insulators to preclude air liquefaction. Thermal isolators are required for liquid hydrogen tank attachments to preclude the liquefaction of air on exposed metal and to reduce heat flow into the liquid hydrogen. While the warmer liquid oxygen results in fewer thermal requirements, the aluminium of the liquid oxygen tank forward areas requires protection from aeroheating.
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The fuel is used by the shuttle's three main engines
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is an integral component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle. It provides the necessary structural support for the attachment of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. During lift-off and ascent, the ET supplies fuel and oxidizer to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter. These engines rely on the ET to provide pressurised fuel, specifically liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, under pressure.
The ET is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded. It consists of three major components, including the aft liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank, which is the largest part but relatively light due to liquid hydrogen's low density. The ET's primary role is to feed an immense amount of fuel to the shuttle's three hydrogen-burning main engines during the ascent into space. The engines consume an astonishing 242,000 litres (64,000 gallons) of propellants every minute. This fuel accounts for about 25% of the shuttle's 2-million-kilogram (4.4-million-pound) launch weight.
The ET is not reusable and is jettisoned just over ten seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO). It breaks up before impacting the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. The ET also features sensors and electrical umbilicals. The sensors monitor fuel depletion, while the electrical umbilicals transmit power and data between the orbiter, SRBs, and the ET.
The external tank is an essential component of the Space Shuttle, providing the necessary fuel and structural support for the shuttle's main engines during lift-off and ascent. Its size and capacity are crucial for the shuttle's operation, ensuring the engines receive enough fuel to propel the shuttle into space.
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The tank is attached to the underside of the orbiter
The Space Shuttle Orbiter is the spaceplane component of the Space Shuttle, a partially reusable orbital spacecraft system that was operated by NASA from 1981 to 2011. The Orbiter is about the size of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and resembles an airplane in its design, with a standard-looking fuselage and two double delta wings.
The Orbiter is attached to the external tank (ET) at two umbilical plates, which contain five propellant and two electrical umbilicals, as well as forward and aft structural attachments. The ET is 47 meters (153.8 feet) tall and 8.4 meters (27.6 feet) in diameter, and it contains separate tanks for liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The liquid oxygen tank is housed in the nose of the ET and is 15 meters (49.3 feet) tall, while the liquid hydrogen tank comprises the bulk of the ET and is 29 meters (96.7 feet) tall.
The ET provides propellant to the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) from liftoff until main engine cutoff. The SSMEs are mounted on the orbiter's aft fuselage and can be swivelled vertically and horizontally during the rocket-powered ascent of the orbiter to change the direction of their thrust. The external tank separates from the orbiter vehicle 18 seconds after engine cutoff, and this can be triggered automatically or manually.
The Orbiter also has its own fuel cells, which provide electric power to the orbiter's subsystems and the entire Shuttle stack. These fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen kept in pairs of cryogenic storage tanks in the mid-fuselage underneath the payload bay liner. The number of these tank sets can vary depending on the requirements of the mission.
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The tank is coated with foam insulation to prevent ice formation
External fuel tanks are used to carry fuel for various purposes, such as aviation fuel delivery or high-grade gasoline transportation. The capacity of these tanks varies depending on their specific use. For example, highway tankers typically hold between 1,000 and 10,000 gallons of fuel, while external tanks for space shuttles carry an enormous amount of fuel, contributing to about 25% of the shuttle's 2-million-kilogram launch weight.
Now, let's focus on the topic of foam insulation for external tanks:
The external tank used in space shuttles is coated with multiple layers of special foam insulation. This foam serves a critical purpose: preventing ice formation on the tank's exterior during the final hours before launch. The foam insulation is essential because the external tank contains super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which must be kept well below freezing, even in the warm weather conditions often present at the Florida launch site.
Spray foam insulation is a popular and effective choice for preventing ice formation, also known as ice dams, in various applications, including homes and, as we've seen, space shuttle fuel tanks. By creating an airtight seal, spray foam insulation helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures and prevents heat loss. Specifically, in the context of homes, spray foam applied to the roof deck or attic spaces can prevent warm air from escaping into the attic, reducing the melting of snow on the roof and the subsequent formation of ice dams.
Additionally, spray foam insulation acts as a moisture barrier, preventing condensation and potential mold growth. Its dense structure also provides sound dampening qualities. Furthermore, unlike traditional insulation materials, spray foam does not settle over time, maintaining its effectiveness for years, making it a long-lasting solution.
In summary, the application of foam insulation to external fuel tanks, particularly those used in space shuttles, is a crucial measure to prevent ice formation. This technique is also highly effective in other contexts, such as residential buildings, where it helps maintain optimal temperatures, prevents structural damage, and enhances energy efficiency.
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The tank is jettisoned from the spaceship before orbit
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. During lift-off and ascent, it supplies fuel and oxidizer to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter. The ET is 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 is the only component of the Space Shuttle that is not reused. Approximately 8.5 minutes into the flight, with its propellant used, the tank is jettisoned from the spaceship before orbit. At liftoff, the External Tank absorbs the total (7.8 million pounds) thrust loads of the three main engines and the two solid rocket motors. When the Solid Rocket Boosters separate at an altitude of approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles), the orbiter, with its main engines still burning, carries the external tank to near orbital velocity, approximately 113 kilometers (70 miles) above the Earth. The now nearly empty tank separates and falls in a preplanned trajectory with the majority of it disintegrating in the atmosphere and the rest falling into the ocean.
The ET is the largest element of the Space Shuttle, and when loaded, it is also the heaviest. The Super Lightweight Tank (SLWT) was first flown in 1998 and was used for all subsequent missions with two exceptions. The SLWT had basically the same design as the LWT except that it used an aluminium-lithium alloy (Al 2195) for a large part of the tank structure. This alloy provided a significant reduction in tank weight (about 7,000 pounds or 3,175 kg) over the LWT.
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.
Fuel Tank Capacity of the 1988 F150 Truck
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Frequently asked questions
The external tank of the Space Shuttle contained liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. It carried 64,000 gallons of propellant.
The external tank feeds pressurized fuel to the shuttle's three hydrogen-burning main engines.
The external tank is the only part of the space shuttle that is not reusable. It is jettisoned when the shuttle is almost in orbit and the fuel tank is nearly empty.
