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Why do white flakes fall from the sides of space shuttles fuel tanks?
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
These "white flakes" are chips of ice formed from water condensing and freezing on the very cold surface of the cryogenically cooled fuel/oxidizer tank. The fuel is liquid hydrogen, at a temperature of about −253C. The oxidizer is liquid oxygen, at a temperature of about −183C. As water freezes at 0C any water vapor in the air around the tanks rapidly condenses and freezes to a layer of ice on the skin of the tank.
At launch a combination of vibrations and air frictions causes this ice to breakup and flake off, producing the white flakes that you saw.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
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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.
Why are oxygen tanks and space suits needed to explore in space?
Oxygen tanks and space suits are needed for space exploration because there is no air in space and anyone there without suitable coverings and sources of oxygen would quickly die.
How does the space suit backpack help astronauts in a space environment breathe?
it has scuba tanks of oxigen.
How have space suits changed over time?
they ave oxygen tanks
What do they plan for the future of space shuttles?
they want to have space ships that don't lose gas 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
When did Space Tanks happen?
Space Tanks happened in 2003.
When was Space Tanks created?
Space Tanks was created in 2003.
How big is the biggest space shuttle on record?
The United States is currently the only country that has flown space shuttles. All shuttles are the same size, which according to NASA is 184 feet long overall. The orbiter section of the craft, which is the shuttle without additional fuel tanks, is 122 feet long. The wingspan is 78 feet and it weighs in at 4.5 million pounds when it lifts off.
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.
Were is the fuel stored in a liquid fuel rocket?
It is stored in two separate tanks. In the shuttle, the external tank(s) hold the two fuels as well as smaller tanks inside the shuttles wings.
How do astronauts get oxygen in space?
Astronauts bring tanks of oxygen with them when they go into space. The space suits they use to make space walks also have small oxygen tanks on them.
How will people in space breathe in space?
if you mean humans then the have oxygen tanks on space suits
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.
How people breath in a space shuttle?
they have air tanks in their space suits
Why are oxygen tanks and space suits needed to explore in space?
Oxygen tanks and space suits are needed for space exploration because there is no air in space and anyone there without suitable coverings and sources of oxygen would quickly die.
