Mercedes Mullins
The Space Shuttle external tank (ET) is an important component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle, containing liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. During lift-off, it provides the necessary fuel and pressure for the shuttle's engines. Despite its crucial role, the ET is not reused and is jettisoned shortly after main engine cut-off. The tank typically breaks apart and burns up upon re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, with any remaining pieces falling into the Indian or Pacific Ocean. Over the years, NASA has worked to reduce the weight of the ET, which has increased the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. The ET has also been at the centre of some controversies, such as the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, where a piece of foam insulation detached from the tank and caused significant damage to the shuttle.
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What You'll Learn
The ET is jettisoned and burns up in the Earth's atmosphere
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is a vital component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle, providing structural support and housing the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. However, once its fuel is depleted, the ET is jettisoned and follows a distinct path upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
The ET is not designed for reuse and differs from the Solid Rocket Boosters, which can be recovered and refurbished. After the boosters separate and parachute into the Atlantic Ocean, the ET continues its ascent, aiding the shuttle orbiter in reaching space.
Approximately 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO), the ET is jettisoned and begins its descent. As it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere, the ET experiences intense heat and pressure, causing it to break apart. The remaining fuel and oxidizer mix, resulting in rapid combustion that further disintegrates the tank into smaller pieces.
This process ensures that the ET burns up before reaching the Earth's surface, typically over the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. The ET's size and weight make it a significant component of the Space Shuttle, and its safe breakup during re-entry is crucial to prevent any potential hazards upon re-entry.
The ET's fate stands in contrast to the Solid Rocket Boosters, which are designed for reuse. While the boosters can be recovered and reused, the ET is not intended for such a purpose. The disintegration of the ET during re-entry underscores the unique challenges and complexities of space exploration and the engineering required to manage these challenges.
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It is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) was the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded. It was the "backbone" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support and attachment for the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The ET 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.
The ET contained liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, supplying them under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. The liquid hydrogen tank was 2.5 times larger than the liquid oxygen tank, but due to liquid hydrogen's very low density, the filled hydrogen tank weighed only a fifth of what the filled oxygen tank did. The ET also had electrical umbilicals that carried electrical power and signals between the orbiter and the SRBs.
The external tank was one of three main sources of fuel for the Space Shuttle, along with twin solid rocket boosters. It was the only part of the shuttle stack that was not reusable and was jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off, re-entering and burning up in the Earth's atmosphere. Each launch required a new external tank.
Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency and cargo-carrying capability. The original ET, informally known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT), was fabricated from 2219 aluminum alloy. Later versions included lightweight tanks (LWTs) and super lightweight tanks (SLWTs), which could carry more cargo to the International Space Station.
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It is not reused
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is not reused. Unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters, which are recovered and refurbished, the ET is always discarded.
The ET is the largest element of the Space Shuttle and, when loaded, it is also the heaviest. It is the backbone of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support for attachment with the Solid Rocket Boosters and the orbiter. It also contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer, supplying them under pressure to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter.
The ET is jettisoned just over 10 seconds after the main engine cut-off and it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. During re-entry, the tank heats up and starts to break apart, resulting in rapid combustion which breaks the tank into smaller pieces that burn up before reaching the Earth's surface. This typically occurs over the Indian Ocean (or the Pacific Ocean for direct-insertion launch trajectories), away from shipping lanes.
Over the years, NASA worked to reduce the weight of the ET to increase overall efficiency. 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. The weight reduction in the ET resulted in an almost equal increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle.
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It provides structural support for attachment with the Solid Rocket Boosters
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded. It provides structural support for attachment with the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. The ET is connected to each SRB at one forward attachment point and one aft bracket. The forward attachment point uses a crossbeam through the intertank, while the aft attachment area uses struts to connect the SRB to the external tank.
The aft attachment area also contains umbilicals that carry fluids, gases, electrical signals, and electrical power between the tank and the orbiter. These umbilicals also route electrical signals and controls between the orbiter and the SRBs. The ET's structural support is critical for the attachment and operation of the SRBs, ensuring a stable and functional connection during the launch phase.
The weight of the ET's aft solid rocket booster attachments was reduced by using a stronger yet lighter and less expensive titanium alloy. This weight reduction resulted in a significant increase in the cargo-carrying capability of the Space Shuttle. NASA's efforts to reduce the weight of the ET included milling different portions of the tank to decrease thickness and using aluminium-lithium alloy for a large part of the tank structure.
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. These cameras and transmitters provide valuable information and visual data during the launch and ascent phases of the mission.
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It contains liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer
The Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) is a vital component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle, containing liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. During lift-off and ascent, the ET supplies fuel and oxidizer to the three RS-25 main engines in the orbiter, providing the necessary propulsion for space missions.
The ET is the largest and heaviest element of the Space Shuttle when loaded. It is composed of three main parts: the forward liquid oxygen (LOX) tank, the aft liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank, and the intertank that separates the two fuel tanks. The aft liquid hydrogen tank is the largest component of the ET, but it is relatively light due to liquid hydrogen's low density.
The ET also serves as the "'backbone'" of the shuttle during launch, providing structural support for attachment to the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the orbiter. It connects to the SRBs and the orbiter through multiple attachment points and umbilicals, which facilitate the transfer of fluids, gases, electrical signals, and power.
During a mission, the ET is jettisoned just over ten seconds after the main engine cut-off (MECO). Unlike the Solid Rocket Boosters, the ET is not reused and breaks up before impact in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean, away from shipping lanes. This break-up is caused by the tank heating up during re-entry, leading to a mixture of fuels and oxidizers that result in rapid combustion, breaking the tank into smaller pieces that burn up before reaching the Earth's surface.
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Frequently asked questions
The ET is the component of the Space Shuttle launch vehicle that contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer.
The ET is the only component of the shuttle system that is not reused. It burns up upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, typically over the Indian Ocean.
The ET is fabricated from 2219 aluminum alloy, a high-strength aluminum-copper alloy used for many aerospace applications.
The ET is pumpkin or orange in colour due to the spray-on foam insulation.
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.
