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Space Shuttle: Difference between revisions
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The propellant for the SSMEs is carried in the ET. The tank has a liftoff weight of approximately 1,680,000 lb (760 tons) and a dry weight of about 66,000 lb. The ET is the only expendable component of the launch stack, it is dropped after MECO upon almost reaching orbit and then the shuttle uses the OMS to attain orbit while the tank re-enters the atmosphere half an orbit later and breaks up during entry. | The propellant for the SSMEs is carried in the ET. The tank has a liftoff weight of approximately 1,680,000 lb (760 tons) and a dry weight of about 66,000 lb. The ET is the only expendable component of the launch stack, it is dropped after MECO upon almost reaching orbit and then the shuttle uses the OMS to attain orbit while the tank re-enters the atmosphere half an orbit later and breaks up during entry. | ||
In FG, the tank is normally separated using | [[File:Shuttle-ETsep01.jpg|600px| External tank separation]] | ||
In FG, the tank is normally separated using {{Key press|d}}. This is vetoed if the Shuttle has unsafe yaw, pitch or roll motion in which case the RCS should be used to stabilize the orbiter before ET separation. If an emergency separation needs to be performed, {{Key press|Control}} + {{Key press|d}} overrides the veto. At separation, a translational RCS burn will automatically push the shuttle away from the tank. | |||
After separation, the ET will approximately co-orbit with the OV, i.e. unless the Shuttle ignites the OMS engines, the tank will be visible for a long time, slowly drifting off, and it is quite possible to use the Shuttle's RCS engines to do a visual inspection of the tank. | |||
[[File:Shuttle orbit02.jpg|600px| The ET seen from the Shuttle]] | |||
=== A note on aerodynamics of the mated vehicle === | === A note on aerodynamics of the mated vehicle === | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| '''OV''' || Orbiter vehicle | | '''OV''' || Orbiter vehicle | ||
|- | |||
| '''OMS''' || Orbital Maneuvering System | |||
|- | |||
| '''RCS''' || Reaction Control System | |||
|- | |- | ||
| '''SRB''' || Solid rocket booster | | '''SRB''' || Solid rocket booster | ||