![]() Seven astronauts were killed, and ET-94 was studied extensively to try and figure out if it contributed to the disaster in any way, according to the California Science Center. ![]() ET-94’s sister tank, ET-93, was involved with that mission. However, Columbia ended up being destroyed in 2003 on its return to Earth for its 28th and final flight. He told LAist this tank is “very special” because it was built to fly to the International Space Station on the Columbia space shuttle, but it didn’t end up being used because those missions started requiring the newer super lightweight tanks. Larry Clark is a retired space shuttle engineer who worked on all 135 missions at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They all look the same on the outside, but their internal construction and materials vary. Three types of tanks were used for the Space Shuttle Program: standard-weight tanks, lightweight tanks, and super lightweight tanks. It would then fall back toward the ground on a planned path over the Pacific Ocean or the Indian Ocean, almost completely disintegrating on its way through the atmosphere. The tank also worked as a structural support for the entire stack and is the only piece that was not reusable.Įach time a shuttle was sent out into space on a mission, its empty external tank would detach about 70 miles above the surface of the Earth. It carried all the propellants, such as liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, that flowed into the main engines to help push the space shuttle into orbit, according to the California Science Center. Jeff Rudolph, the president and CEO of the California Science Center, told LAist this is the last flight-ready external tank left in the world.ĮT-94 worked like your car’s gas tank, but for the space shuttle orbiter that's about 30 times heavier.
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