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Author Topic:   Final space shuttle external tanks' status
Shuttleman
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From: Huntsville, Al. USA
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posted 10-15-2009 01:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Latest External tank status (as of October 2009):
  • ET-133/STS-129 is poised to launch from KSC in November
  • ET-134/STS-130 is en route to KSC with Pegasus
  • ET-135/STS-131 is in assembly at MAF
  • ET-136/STS-132 is in assembly at MAF
  • ET-137/STS-134 is in assembly at MAF
  • ET-138/STS-133 is in assembly at MAF
Note: ET-122 (Katrina damaged) will be upgraded for flight as the (LON) for STS-133 final flight... hopefully it will be a museum piece!

Hart Sastrowardoyo
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posted 10-15-2009 02:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Which begs the question: Which three tanks were not used? (138 ETs, but 134 missions.) I have a booklet that I have to dig up that could shed some light, but in addition to ET-122, I think one heavyweight tank was not used (ET-7?), and possibly two LWTs before the change to SLWTs. Anybody have an answer?

Shuttleman
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posted 10-15-2009 10:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Those are:
  • ET-7
  • ET-94 (sister tank to ET-93) STS-107 Columbia
  • ET-95
*ET-122 (Katrina Damaged)

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 10-16-2009 09:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Space shuttle program manager John Shannon noted today that three more tanks (ETs 139, 140 and 141) could be assembled from the hardware at Michoud, were a decision made to extend the space shuttle program.

The program would however, need about six months from the point of the decision to rehire personnel and re-certify contractors to restart production.

Shuttleman
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From: Huntsville, Al. USA
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posted 10-16-2009 10:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm in the process of building more ET-composite nosecones here at MSFC. I will be shipping two completed cones in the next couple weeks... stay tuned gents.

Note: MAF provided me with decals that depict a golden egg (to identify the nosecone in the box as a show stopper if damaged). These decals are issued one at a time... sounds like a future collectors item!

Hart Sastrowardoyo
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posted 10-17-2009 12:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Found the booklet: Space Shuttle Flight Info, by Lockheed Martin, January 1997. As a sidebar, there were four tanks delivered to Vandenberg before they were re-delivered to KSC: ET-23, ET-27, ET-33 and ET-34; ET-33 was delivered to VAFB after January 1986.

ET-23 was used on STS-27R; ET-27 on STS-34; ET-33 on STS-36; and ET-34 on the following flight, STS-31R.

Were there any differences on the ETs scheduled for Vandenberg flights? The flights they all wound up seem to be heavy cargo flights...

Jay Chladek
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posted 10-17-2009 11:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wasn't there another heavy weight tank that Marshall had for a few years after it was used in development of the shuttle? I'm thinking it was used with MPTA-98 for SSME testing.

Jay Chladek
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From: Bellevue, NE, USA
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posted 10-18-2009 01:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Were there any differences on the ETs scheduled for Vandenberg flights? The flights they all wound up seem to be heavy cargo flights...
To my knowledge, the tanks intended for use at Vandenberg were no different from those intended for KSC launches at the time. But that doesn't mean manufacturing techniques wouldn't have continued to lighten the tanks on each production batch.

The SRBs on the other hand would have been the lighter weight Fillament Wound Casing (FWC) boosters. That project got canceled after Challenger. Two of those boosters ended up on the Alabama Space and Rocket Center's Pathfinder shuttle display.

Shuttleman
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posted 10-18-2009 02:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
When Martin Marietta got the contract for the ET, NASA directed three test tanks to be built.
  1. MPTA-used at NSTL/Stennis (1977-1987) used to hold fuel for the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) all three for certification. I helped bring that tank to the Alabama Space and Rocket Center (1988) it's under the Pathfinder.

  2. GVTA (short name) used for first mating of shuttle stack and vibration testing (1977-79) at MSFC, shipped back to MAF.

  3. STA-Tested at MSFC for three years for loading and stress analysis and put on display for many years in building 4708, I helped ship it to NSTL/Stennis in 1987.

edmk5000
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From: Homestead, FL USA
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posted 10-18-2009 05:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for edmk5000   Click Here to Email edmk5000     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is a good review of the ETs. If I read the report correctly, tanks through ET-94 are Lightweights and ET-96+ are Super Lightweights.

ET-94 was used for testing for the CAIB.

ET-96 was used on STS-91.

What is the story with ET-95?

Shuttleman
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From: Huntsville, Al. USA
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posted 10-20-2009 02:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
ET-95 was a transition from Lightweight tank to Super-lightweight tank (ET-96) so it wasn't built.

Shuttleman
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From: Huntsville, Al. USA
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posted 11-25-2009 02:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is the latest schedule released on the ET-delivery and Launch dates (subject to change). I think we will fly out the shuttle in 2010 and not 2011.
  • STS-129 - November 16, 2009
    ET-133 - July 29, 2009

  • STS-130 - February 4, 2010
    ET-134 - October 14, 2009

  • STS-131 - March 18, 2010
    ET-135 - December 23, 2009

  • STS-132 - May 14, 2010
    ET-136 - February 24, 2010

  • STS-134 - July 29, 2010
    ET-137 - May 5, 2010

  • STS-133 - September 16, 2010
    ET-138 - June 29, 2010

dogcrew5369
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posted 01-07-2010 10:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for dogcrew5369   Click Here to Email dogcrew5369     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One thing I've been thinking about, which isn't plausible or practical, is for the final shuttle flight to have the ET in the original white. That to me would be the ultimate salute to the program. I know it would make the shuttle heavier and the tank probably is already finalized, but it would be cool to see again. Just wishing.

wickball
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posted 01-07-2010 05:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for wickball   Click Here to Email wickball     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
How cool would that be!

Shuttleman
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posted 01-10-2010 03:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To paint the last tank would be cool! The paint used on the first two tanks was called (FRL) Fire retardant Latex. Maybe we can spray paint the LOX tank only! As for John Young flying again, he said his wife would kill him first. The Shuttle program was a grand adventure and I will miss the great people and challenges.

Shuttleman
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posted 02-26-2010 02:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Space Shuttle schedule (final four missions)
February 26, 2010

Mission - Launch Date - Tank - Delivery Date

  • STS-131 - April 5, 2010 - ET-135 - December 20, 2009
  • STS-132 - May 14, 2010 - ET-136 - February 24, 2010
  • STS-134 - July 29, 2010 - ET-137 - May 5, 2010
  • STS-133 - September 16, 2010 - ET-138 - June 29, 2010
  • ET-122* - September 30, 2010
* Launch-on-need tank for STS-133/ET-122.

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 05-03-2010 01:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Update on ET-137:
  • Space.com
    Oil Spill Hinders Space Shuttle Fuel Tank Delivery
    Space shuttle program manager John Shannon said Monday that NASA's recovery ship Freedom Star -- one of two ships that deliver shuttle fuel tanks as well as retrieve an orbiter's twin reusable solid rocket boosters from the Atlantic Ocean after a launch -- is not equipped to make the shallow-water detour around the oil spill.

    "It's kind of stuck in Gulfport, Mississippi right now because of the oil slick," Shannon told reporters in a morning briefing. "They've had to take a different path with the barge and the Freedom Star cannot do that shallow-water course to Michoud."

  • Spaceflight Now
    Oil spill stands in route of penultimate shuttle fuel tank
    Freedom Star is not equipped to steam into an alternate shallow-water approach to New Orleans, so NASA has procured commercial vessels to tow the barge for the first leg of its 900-mile journey.

    "They will use commercial tugs to deliver the barge through shallow water to meet up with Freedom Star," Shannon said.

    The barge is scheduled to rendezvous with Freedom Star Tuesday morning, allowing the towboat to begin tugging Pegasus in daylight.

Shuttleman
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From: Huntsville, Al. USA
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posted 05-06-2010 03:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Space Shuttle schedule (subject to change).

Mission/Launch - Date - Tank - Tank Delivery Date

  • STS-132 - 5/14/10 - ET-136- Feb 24, 2010
  • STS-133 - 9/16/10 - ET-138 - June 29, 2010
  • STS-134 - Mid 11/10 - ET-137 - May (right now)
  • ET-122* - Sept 30, 2010
* Launch on need for STS-134/ET-137

Shuttleman
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posted 06-01-2010 06:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is the latest External Tank/Flight schedule:

Mission/Launch - Date - Tank - Tank Delivery Date

  • STS-133 - Sept. 16, 2010 - ET-137 - April 30, 2010
  • STS-134 - Mid November 2010 - ET-138 - June 29, 2010
  • ET-122* - Sept 30, 2010
* Launch on need for STS-134/ET-138

Robert Pearlman
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posted 06-30-2010 01:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA release
NASA'S External Tank For Final Shuttle Flight Gets New Orleans Send-Off

NASA and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company will hold a ceremony at 9:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, July 8, at the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans. The event will commemorate 37 years of successful tank deliveries and the final external tank's rollout for the last space shuttle flight.

NASA TV and the agency's website will broadcast the ceremony live. Coverage begins at 8:45 a.m. NASA and Lockheed Martin senior managers will participate in the ceremony.

The last external tank scheduled to fly on a shuttle mission was completed on June 25 by Lockheed Martin workers at Michoud. The tank, designated ET-138, will travel on a wheeled transporter one mile to the Michoud barge dock. It will be accompanied by the Storyville Stompers, a traditional area brass band, and hundreds of handkerchief-waving employees in typical New Orleans fashion and spirit.

The tank will travel on a 900-mile sea journey to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will support shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 launch.

NASA TV will broadcast the events on its media and high definition channels.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-09-2010 10:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE
Fuel tank ready for final space shuttle flight

The external tank that will fly on NASA's final space shuttle mission was rolled out for delivery to its Florida launch site on Thursday. A brass band and hundreds of handkerchief-waving workers trailed the tank as it was driven to a waiting barge, celebrating in New Orleans-style the completion of their work.

Lying on its side, the 154-foot tank left the final test and checkout building here at the Michoud Assembly Facility to begin the 900-mile sea journey to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Photo gallery: Final shuttle fuel tank to fly rolls out from Michoud

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-10-2010 04:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA video release
Final Shuttle Tank Gets New Orleans Send-Off

Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-16-2010 09:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA video release
Last Shuttle External Tank Arrives at Kennedy

Robert Pearlman
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posted 09-28-2010 03:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
collectSPACE Photo Gallery:
Space shuttle's final fuel tank arrives at launch site

The last of the orange-brown external tanks used to fuel the space shuttle was delivered to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Sept. 27 in preparation for the final planned mission of the nearly-30 year space shuttle program.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 09-30-2010 10:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Lockheed Martin release
Lockheed Martin Ends External Tank Production At NASA Michoud Assembly Facility

After 37 years and 136 tanks delivered, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) production of the Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) has come to an end at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

The final tank arrived at Kennedy Space Center on September 27, ending a production program that began with contract award on September 5, 1973. Two shuttle launches remain in the program -- on November 1 this year and February 26 next year.

"The Space Shuttle has provided a pathway for America's leadership in space exploration," said Manny Zulueta, Lockheed Martin vice president & site executive at Michoud. "Working alongside NASA on the External Tank has been a gratifying and historic experience for our employees."

Some of the more significant ET milestones include:

  • June 29, 1979 -- rollout of the first ET, commonly referred to as the Heavyweight version - weighing 76,000 pounds

  • September 10, 1982 - rollout of ET-8, the first Lightweight Tank - weighing 66,000 pounds. The 10,000-pound weight savings from the Heavyweight version equated to increasing the shuttle payload capacity by an additional five tons per mission.

  • June 2, 1998 - launch of ET-96 and the first Super Lightweight Tank - weighing 58,500 pounds. The 7,500-pound weight savings from the Lightweight version was critical in enabling the Space Shuttle to carry components to build the International Space Station.

  • August 29, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina strikes the Michoud facility, causing more than $100 million in damage. A NASA-Lockheed Martin ride-out crew keeps the pumps operating and saves the facility from flooding. Their efforts preserve tens of millions of dollars of one-of-a-kind tooling, thus protecting the human space flight program. Michoud reopens to limited production less than five weeks later on October 1.
With the end of ET production, workforce reductions have been taking place as discrete elements of work have concluded. On January 1, 2010, Lockheed Martin employed 1,438 employees at the Michoud Assembly Facility. The current workforce stands at approximately 600. The majority of that number includes employees working on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle program and those who have Launch and Landing responsibility for the final Space Shuttle launches.

At 154 feet tall, the External Tank stands 15 stories, measures nearly 28 feet in diameter, and weighs close to 1.7 million pounds when filled with propellant. During launch, the ET delivers 535,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants to the shuttle's three main engines, thereby powering the Orbiter into space. The tank then separates from the Orbiter and burns up upon reentry into the atmosphere.

JBoe
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posted 01-07-2014 08:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was conducting a search of previous External Tanks (tank designators) and came across that ET-94 was not used and test article at Michoud. Reporting in September 2012 still had the tank's fate as unknown. Is this the tank that is outside the Kennedy Space Center Atlantis exhibit?

Editor's note: Threads merged.

JBoe
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posted 01-07-2014 08:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I found that ET-94 was used as a spare and for studies, but was never in a "flight configuration." If the one outside the Atlantis exhibit is ET-94, what was done to make it "flight ready" or appear to be in the "flight configuration?"

Jim Behling
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posted 01-07-2014 09:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The ET outside the Atlantis exhibit is nowhere close being like a flight article. It is more akin to a grain silo or refinery tank.

JBoe
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posted 01-07-2014 10:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Would ET-94 still be at Michoud or would it be plausible to be still there since the one in the exhibit is a "mock-up?"

Shuttleman
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posted 01-07-2014 10:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shuttleman   Click Here to Email Shuttleman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
ET-94 was a sister to ET-93 (STS-107 Columbia) used as a pathfinder to make mods needed to return the shuttle to flight. It is stored in building 103 as far as I know in my present retirement mode... check out the rest of the info here (excerpted below).

By the way, the Atlantis exhibit tank is nothing more than a model. Hope this helps.

However, on September 15, the Manufacturing Support and Facility Operations Contract team at the facility performed what was classed as the final critical lift of the Space Shuttle’s External Tank Program, as ET-94 was moved from its storage cell at the VAB to Building 103, translating it from its the vertical position, and prior to gently placing it horizontally into its wheeled carrier.

...the tank is in somewhat of a sorry state, after its umbilicals and feedlines were removed, along with large amounts of foam missing due to dissection activities.

The tank now belongs to Jacobs Technology, who hold the Manufacturing Support and Facility Operations Contract at MAF, under the management of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 01-08-2014 01:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
ET-94, which will remain at the Michoud Assembly Facility as a display, is likely to be placed beside the Saturn V S-IC stage by the center's main gate.

At the moment, ET-94 it sheltered in the production facility.

Also remaining at Michoud are an LO2 tank, LH2 tank, and intertank that I am told will likely become a display at Marshall Space Flight Center at some point.

There is also at least one further intertank, an LH2 aft dome, and a few other parts left over from the end of external tank production.

These photos are as of late last year (2013).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 01-08-2014 05:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One other tidbit about ET-94: it has a cameo as a missile in the 2013 movie "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" (digital effects change its appearance but it is still recognizable). The movie was in part filmed at Michoud.

hotdog
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posted 02-04-2014 08:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for hotdog   Click Here to Email hotdog     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very interesting stuff! I love knowing about the leftover artifacts of the Shuttle program. Is there any chance MSFC might give ET-94 to California to use in their Endeavour stack?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 02-04-2014 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The California Science Center needs a replica external tank (outfitted with some real space shuttle parts) because it is the tank (and the solid rocket boosters) that will serve as the long-term support structure for Endeavour.

I do not believe the (real) external tanks were engineered to support an orbiter for years, let alone decades.

(As an aside, I believe moving ET-94 to California would require loading it onto a barge and taking it through the Panama Canal, which is very expensive.)

Jay Chladek
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posted 02-06-2014 01:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The California Science Center as I understand it briefly considered utilizing the 1977 Structural Test Article (STA) ET that sat at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for many years to stick Endeavour on, but they tabled those plans when examination of the ET revealed internal corrosion, which made the structure too weak.

JBoe
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posted 02-09-2014 07:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
...but they tabled those plans when examination of the ET revealed internal corrosion, which made the structure too weak.
What sort of corrosion maintenance would be needed in order for the ET be structurally sound to become a display article? Or was it too far gone and cost more to refurbish?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 02-09-2014 09:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The STA external tank was too far gone. It was built in 1977 for loading and stress analysis tests, but most of its life it has been used as an outdoor display article at the Marshall, Stennis and Kennedy space centers.

The STA ET is now at the Wings of Dreams Aviation Museum in Starke, Fla., awaiting the funding for its horizontal display to be created.

JBoe
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posted 02-09-2014 12:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Again Robert my thanks! I looked at the article you linked and found that Sims contracted the Terex Crawler provided lifting support to Discovery last year.
Mobro Marine, Inc. and Sims Crane and Equipment donated their services to the Wings of Dreams Aviation Museum to transport the space shuttle artifacts, including one of NASA's original external tanks, the Structural Test Article (STA) built in 1977.

All times are CT (US)

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