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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.

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How does helium help space shuttles get into space?

Helium is used as a pressurizing agent in the fuel and oxidizer tanks of space shuttles. By regulating pressure during fuel consumption, helium ensures a steady flow of propellants to the engines, which is crucial for achieving the necessary thrust to lift the shuttle off the ground and into space.


Why do External Tanks on space shuttles burn up when entering the atmosphere?

External tanks on space shuttles burn up upon re-entry due to their composition and the extreme heat generated by atmospheric friction. Made primarily of lightweight materials like aluminum, these tanks are not designed to withstand the intense temperatures and pressures experienced during re-entry. As they descend, the friction with the atmosphere generates temperatures that can exceed 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to the combustion of the tank's material. Ultimately, this results in the tanks disintegrating and burning up before reaching the Earth's surface.


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 would you breath inside inside a space shuttle?

oxygen tanks


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.

Related Questions

What do they plan for the future of space shuttles?

they want to have space ships that don't lose gas tanks


How does helium help space shuttles get into space?

Helium is used as a pressurizing agent in the fuel and oxidizer tanks of space shuttles. By regulating pressure during fuel consumption, helium ensures a steady flow of propellants to the engines, which is crucial for achieving the necessary thrust to lift the shuttle off the ground and into space.


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.


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 people breath in a space shuttle?

they have air tanks in their space suits


How do you breath in a space colony?

with oxygen tanks


How do people get in space?

They take it with them, in pressurised tanks.