can be reattached end-to-end to construct long rigid tubes. The tank can be cut into 5 feet by 60-80 feet long strips using known cutting technologies and welded into any desired shape. Once again, welding is a known technology that has been tested in space. The ET can be completely melted using electrical or solar methods. The melt can then be used to extrude structural members such as channels, I Beams, or rods. It can be used to make thin metal films by vapor deposition processes. It can also be used to make thin metal shells by an inflation technique. The shells and other manufactured structural members can be used for construction. It can also be powdered and used for casting and forming operations. Another use of the ET is as a strongback or a testbed for the construction or anchoring of large structures. The advantage in doing this is that the ET is far more massive and structurally sound than planned space structures. This is because it is the structural heart of the STS during launch. A typical strongback use would be the construction of large antennas on the ET. The mass and stability of the tank is also an advantage. Due to gravity gradient effects, the ET will tend to stabilize with the long axis pointing to the center of the earth. Any structure that can use the ET as a base or an anchor will require less active attitude control systems and thus be cheaper to build, fly, and operate. V. Tethers The use of tethers with the ET also provide significant advantages to the future space program. These advantages include artificial gravity, momentum exchange, electrical power generation, electric propulsion, and significant enhancements in shuttle and space station missions. The physics of tethers allows artificial gravity to be generated in two ways. First, two tanks can be attached to each other by a tether and stored in a gravity gradient mode. This is useful in liquid storage applications. Second, the system can be made to rotate. Artificial gravity levels of 1 ’G’ can be induced by a system 200 meters in diameter rotating at 2-3 rpm. This artificial gravity will negate the undersirable effects of long term weightlessness on the body and lengthen crew stays on station.
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