0
Why does NASA have to insulate the external fuel tanks of the space shuttle?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
The fuel inside is super cool. The insulation slows the temps from raising too fast and the fuel evaporating
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is really the space shuttle?
Contrary to popular belief, the Space Shuttle is the orbiter, external boosters and external tanks combined. The bit that actually goes into space is called the orbiter.
How much fuel is needed for a space shuttle to takeoff?
The external tanks can contain up to 534,900 US gallons of propellant. The shuttle has two of these.
Why aren't the space shuttle external tanks used as pieces of the space station?
as far as i know they burn up on reentry,but it would seem if small booster rockets had been used to get them to orbit after detachment from shuttle then they may have been used to build a cylindrical station by connecting external fuel tanks,considering the number of fuel tanks that went up with shuttle,this would be a large station. does anyone know whynot?
How people breath in a space shuttle?
they have air tanks in their space suits
How would you breath inside inside a space shuttle?
oxygen tanks
What has the author Robert W Fricke written?
Robert W. Fricke has written: 'STS-68 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Spaceborne experiments, Endeavour (Orbiter), Space shuttles, Performance tests, Space transportation sytem flights, Space transportation system, Space laboratories, Space missions, Get away specials (STS), Postflight analysis 'STS-40 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Space shuttles 'STS-63 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Spacecraft docking, Flyby missions, Space transportation system, Space transportation system flights, Spaceborne experiments 'STS-67 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Endeavour (Orbiter), Space shuttle payloads, Postmission analysis (Spacecraft), External tanks, Space shuttle main engine, Space transportation system, Space shuttle missions, Space shuttle boosters 'STS-47 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Space shuttles 'STS-54 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Space shuttles 'STS-61 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Anomalies, Earth orbits, Extravehicular activity, Fault detection, Hubble Space Telescope, Space maintenance, Space missions, Space shuttles, Space transportation system flights, Spaceborne experiments, Spacecraft maintenance, Spacecraftmaintenance 'STS-79 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Earth orbital rendezvous, Mir space station, Spacecraft docking, External tanks, Solid propellant rocket engines, Space shuttle main engine, Space transportation system flights, Space shuttle boosters 'STS-77 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): External tanks, Payloads, Endeavour (Orbiter), Space shuttles, Space programs, Booster rocket engines 'STS-52 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Space shuttles 'STS-37 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Space shuttles 'STS-46 space shuttle mission report' -- subject(s): Space shuttles
Where does the space shuttles external fuel tanks land after being detached on lift off?
About nine minutes into the flight, the external fuel tank is jettisoned from the space shuttle orbiter. Because there is no viable way to bring the external tank back to the Earth intact, they are instead allowed to re-enter the atmosphere where they are destroyed. After re-entry, whatever is left of the fuel tanks land in the Indian ocean.
How does the Space Shuttle take off?
Space shuttles took of vertically, attached to an external fuel tank and two solid rocket boosters (SRBs).A space shuttle takes off by burning fuel at very high temperatures and this provides lift. The rocket needs to carry extra tanks of fuel for it to provide the combustion for a reasonable amount of time until the shuttle gets into orbit.
Does the space shuttle reuse the liguid-fuel tanks?
No. The large orange External Tank or ET as it is called is jettisoned at about the 8 minute mark of the flight and burns up in the earths atmosphere during its reentry.
How many fuel tanks are necessary to lift off a Space Shuttle in to outer space?
One. That's the big orange thing you see the shuttle strapped to when it's on the launching pad.
Why should people insulate their houses before they insulate their water tanks?
someone answer
How much does 1 Space Shuttle external tank cost?
According to a report on the SpaceRef web site linked below as 'Lockheed Martin Awarded External Tank Contract', NASA has a contract with Lockheed Martin, New Orleans, that totals $2.94 billion to build 17 external tanks through Sept. 2010. That comes out to be an average price of around $170 million per tank. However, the report mentioned above is about an addition to the external tank contract, so it may be a misprint and the 17 external tanks may be additional tanks added to take the contact to the end of the shuttle program. According to the reference linked below as 'The Assembly and Production of the External Tank', each tank costs about $55 million as of 1995. Later tanks, called the Super Light-Weight Tanks (SLWT) cost around $5 million more than the earlier version, the Light-Weight Tank. The SLWT costs more because they use an aluminum/lithium alloy that is more expensive and harder to work than earlier materials. By making the tank lighter, the shuttle is able to carry a heavier payload. This change allowed the shuttle to meet the payload requirements for construction of the International Space Station.
