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The External Tank (ET) on the US Space Shuttle is what holds the fuel for the space shuttles main engines. The tank is the large rust colored structure under the belly of the Space Shuttle and between the two Solid-Rocket-Boosters. While the ET is the largest part of what lifts-off with the shuttle, it has no engines on it. It stand 153.8 feet tall, it's diameter is 27.6 feet wide, and weighs 1,680,000 pounds. It's liquid oxygen tank holds 19,541.66 cubic feet of oxygen, the liquid hydrogen tank holds 52,881.61 cubic feet of hydrogen.
The tank has been modified from its original design, it used to weigh 77,600 pounds, but now it weighs only 58,500 pounds. The original tank was painted white for thermal reasons, but that was proven unnecessary, not painting the tanks save about 600 pounds. The tank was modified into the Light-Weight Tank (LWT). The LWT was used on most off the Space Shuttle flights. A flaw in the design most likely led to the Columbia Disaster. The new design called the Super Light-Weight Tank is currently the model in use.
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What is orange object on space shuttle?
The orange object on the space shuttle is the external fuel tank. It contains the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen that are needed to fuel the shuttle's main engines during launch. Once the fuel is consumed, the tank is jettisoned and burns up in the atmosphere.
What falls off a space shuttle first?
Solid rocket booster followed by external fuel tank
What is the definition of external tank?
it is space shuttle
What are the main parts of a space shuttle?
The main parts of a space shuttle include the orbiter, external fuel tank, solid rocket boosters, and main engines. The orbiter is the crew and cargo-carrying component that re-enters Earth's atmosphere, while the external fuel tank supplies fuel to the main engines. The solid rocket boosters provide additional thrust during liftoff.
What is the external tank used for on a space shuttle?
The external tank is used to hold the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants needed for the space shuttle's main engines. It is jettisoned once the propellants are depleted and it is no longer needed. The external tank is not reused and burns up upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
Which part of a space shuttle does not get reused?
The 2 solid fuel rockets are jettisoned prior to departing the atmosphere and parachute down. These are recovered from the sea and refurbrished for re-use. The large (orange) External Fuel Tank is not recovered. It stays with the Shuttle until it enters into space. So when it is jettisoned it burns up on re-entry.
How many booster rockets does the space shuttle have?
The space shuttle had two solid rocket boosters attached to its external fuel tank to provide additional thrust at liftoff.
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.
What part of the space shuttle cannot be reused?
The external fuel tank of the space shuttle cannot be reused. It is a one-time use component that is jettisoned and burns up in the atmosphere upon reentry.
How does space shuttle work?
first the rocket boosters carry it into space then the external tank pushes the shuttle above earth then when the shuttle is ready the external tank falls off and the shuttle is ready for its mission then after its mission the shuttle lands and blows out a parachute come out from the back to help the shuttle slow down.any parts from the rocket or shuttle can be reused except the external tank.
What are the external fuel tank dimensions for the space shuttle?
The external fuel tank of the space shuttle was approximately 154 feet long and 27.6 feet in diameter. It had a volume of about 528,000 gallons and could hold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the shuttle's main engines during launch.
What parts of the space shuttle are reusable and which are not?
http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/events/regimes/space.html The Orbiter and Rocket boosters are re-useable The External Fuel Tank is not.
