Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
External Tank
Liquid Propellent Supply for Space Shuttle Main Engines
The External Tanks fuels the Orbiters Main Engines during the first eight and a half minutes of flight with 550,000 gallons of liquid propellant. When the Shuttle nears orbital velocity at just over 70 miles above the Earth, the tank is jettisoned and tumbles back to Earth. The External Tank is the only major part of the Space Transportation System that is nor reused.
External Tank Data
Length: 153.8 ft
Diameter: 27.6 ft
Gross Lift-Off Weight: 1, 655,000 lbs.
Propellent Liquid Oxygen: 1,361,000 lbs
Propellent Liquid Hydrogen: 227,000 lbs
Prime Contractor: Martin Marietta Manned Space Systems
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1977.
Location. 34° 42.652′ N, 86° 39.15′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. Marker can be reached from Tranquilty Base, half a mile west of Madison Pike, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Tranquilty Base, Huntsville AL 35805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Main Engines (a few steps from this marker); Pathfinder (within shouting distance of this marker); T-38 Talon (within shouting distance of this marker); Pathfinder Orbiter (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Army/NASA Juno II (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); NASA / U.S. Geological Survey (about 600 feet away); U.S. Army PGM-11 Redstone (about 600 feet away); Ms. Baker: Monkeynaut (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.
Also see . . . U.S. Space & Rocket Center. (Submitted on September 27, 2016.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 590 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.