Super Lightweight Tank
E684166
The Super Lightweight Tank is a refined version of NASA’s Space Shuttle external fuel tank, engineered with advanced aluminum-lithium alloys to significantly reduce mass and improve launch performance.
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Space Shuttle external tank variant
ⓘ
cryogenic propellant tank ⓘ |
| application | human spaceflight launches ⓘ |
| attachedTo |
Space Shuttle orbiter
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
solid rocket boosters ⓘ |
| belongsToProgram | Space Shuttle program NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| benefit |
higher payload capacity to the International Space Station
ⓘ
improved ascent performance ⓘ reduced structural mass ⓘ |
| contains |
liquid hydrogen tank
ⓘ
liquid oxygen tank ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| designFeature |
redesigned liquid hydrogen tank
ⓘ
refined structural design ⓘ use of advanced friction stir welding ⓘ weight-optimized intertank structure ⓘ |
| developedBy | NASA NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| developedFor | Space Shuttle program NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| disposalMethod | destructive reentry ⓘ |
| engineeringGoal |
maintain structural integrity under launch loads
ⓘ
maximize strength-to-weight ratio ⓘ |
| introducedInProgramPhase | International Space Station assembly era ⓘ |
| launchVehicleComponentOf | Space Transportation System NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| locatedDuringLaunch | between Space Shuttle orbiter and solid rocket boosters ⓘ |
| massComparedToPredecessor | significantly reduced ⓘ |
| material |
Al-Li 2195 alloy
ⓘ
aluminum-lithium alloy ⓘ |
| operationalEnvironment |
acoustic and vibrational loads
ⓘ
aerodynamic ascent loads ⓘ cryogenic temperatures ⓘ |
| predecessor | Lightweight Tank NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| propellantType |
liquid hydrogen
ⓘ
liquid oxygen ⓘ |
| purpose |
improve launch performance
ⓘ
increase payload to orbit ⓘ reduce mass of Space Shuttle external tank ⓘ |
| separatesFrom | Space Shuttle orbiter NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| separationPhase | after main engine cutoff ⓘ |
| status | retired with end of Space Shuttle program ⓘ |
| tankType | external fuel tank ⓘ |
| technologyAdvanceOver | standard external tank ⓘ |
| usedByAgency | NASA NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| usedForMissionType |
International Space Station assembly missions
ⓘ
Space Shuttle high-inclination missions ⓘ |
| usedOn | Space Shuttle NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| weightReductionMethod |
optimized structural design
ⓘ
use of aluminum-lithium alloys ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.