Tangki luaran pesawat ulang-alik

Tangki luaran pesawat ulang-alik (ET) ialah komponen kenderaan pelancaran pesawat ulang-alik yang mengandungi bahan api hidrogen cecair dan pengoksida oksigen cecair. Semasa angkat dan naik ia membekalkan bahan api dan pengoksida di bawah tekanan kepada tiga enjin utama RS-25 dalam pengorbit. ET telah dibuang hanya lebih 10 saat selepas pemotongan enjin utama (MECO) dan ia memasuki semula atmosfera Bumi. Tidak seperti Penggalak Roket Pepejal, tangki luaran tidak digunakan semula. Mereka berpecah sebelum kesan di Lautan Hindi (atau Lautan Pasifik dalam kes trajektori pelancaran sisipan terus), jauh dari lorong perkapalan dan tidak dipulihkan.

Rujukan

Bacaan lanjut
 "External Tank Thermal Protection System" NASA Facts Return to Flight Focus Area, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama (Pub 8-40392, FS2005-4-10-MSFC, April 2005)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Booster Systems Briefs. Basic, Rev F, PCN 1. April 27, 2005.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Shuttle Systems Design Criteria. Volume I: Shuttle Performance Assessment Databook. NSTS 08209, Volume I, Revision B. March 16, 1999.

Pautan luar

Space Shuttle Propulsion and External Tank Photo Gallery

Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report, Volume 1, Chapter 3, "Accident Analysis," August 2003

Spherical panorama of the bottom of ET-122 in its scaffolding at Michoud Assembly Facility
Spherical panorama of the top of ET-122 in its scaffolding at Michoud Assembly Facility
Spherical panorama of the top of ET-138 in its scaffolding at Michoud Assembly Facility; this is the last tank scheduled to fly
Spherical panorama along the centerline of the bottom of ET-138 near the feedlines in its scaffolding at Michoud Assembly Facility; this is the last tank scheduled to fly
"Space Shuttle External Tank Used as a Space Station - Study Project Perun" Award-winning student paper from 1979 about building a space station from the External Tank

Program Pesawat Ulang-Alik