I. INTRODUCTION................................................... 1-1 Why We Need the External Tank................................ 1-1 Current Interest in the External Tank........................ 1-2 History...................................................... 1-3 ET Applications.............................................. 1-3 Costs and Ramifications.................................... 1-3 Problems and Solutions .................................. 1-4 Conclusions.................................................. 1-5 II. TANK INFORMATION............................................... II-l ET Description................................................ II-l Current ET Operations ........................................ II-l ET On Orbit - Problems and Solutions........................... II-3 Aft Cargo Carrier............................................ II-9 Additional ET Enhancements.................................... 11-19 III. ET TIN CAN USES.............................................. III-l Storage Containers............................................ III-l Cryogenic Storage.......................................... III-l Gas and Water Storage...................................... III-3 Salvage Container.......................................... III-5 Storage of Orbital Assets.................................. HI-5 SS Applications.............................................. III-6 Habitations - ACC, L02 Tank and LH2 Tank..................HI-6 LH2 Tank Hangar or Servicing Platform........................ HI-19 Corporate Space Stations/Platforms ........................ III-20 Miscellaneous Applications.......................................III-29 Inflatables...................................................HI-29 Landing and Reentry Modules...................................III-29 Spacecraft ................................................ III-32 Wake Shield...................................................III-32 IV. ET AS PROPELLANT RESOURCE..................................... IV-1 Scavenging of Residual Cryogenic Propellant .................. IV-1 Reaction Mass................................................ IV-9 Aluminum Fueled Rocket ................................... IV-9 Mass Driver Fuel.......................................... IV-11 Reaction Engines .......................................... IV-11 V. STRUCTURES..................................................... V-l Disassembly of ET on Orbit.................................... V-l SOFI...................................................... V-l Major Pieces.............................................. V-6 Minor Pieces.............................................. V-6 Large Rigid Constructs........................................ V-6 Cutting the ET................................................ V-7 Melting Facilities ........................................ V-16 Factory Machinery.......................................... V-20 Strongback.................................................... V-22
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