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172
SSI Report: Booster Tank Applications
Cover
1
Table of Contents
2
ET Project - Executive Summary
4
I. Tank Introduction
4
II. Tin Can Uses
5
III. ET as a Propellent Resource
6
IV. Structures
7
V. Tethers
8
VI. Miscellaneous
9
VII. Conclusions
10
VIII. Recommendations
14
Table of Knowns
15
1. ET Project - Introduction
18
I. Introduction
18
II. Why do we need the External Tank?
18
III. Current interest in the External Tank
19
IV. History
20
V. Costs and ramifications of ET applications
20
VI. Problems and Solutions
21
VII. Conclusions
22
2. ET Project - Tank Information
24
I. External Tank Description
24
II. Current ET Operations
24
III. The ET on Orbit - Problems and Solutions
26
IV. The Aft Cargo Carrier
32
V. Additional ET Enhancements
42
3. ET Project - Tin Can Uses
45
I. Storage containers
45
A. Cryogenic storage
45
B. Gas and Water Storage
47
C. Salvage Container
49
D. Storage of orbital assets before use
49
II. Space station applications
50
A. Habitations - ACC, Oxygen, and Hydrogen Tank
50
B. Hangar or servicing platform in the Hydrogen Tank
63
C. Corporate space stations or platforms
64
III. Miscellaneous Applications
73
A. Inflatables
73
B. Landing and Reentry modules
73
C. Spacecraft
76
D. Wake Shield
76
4. ET Project - ET as Propellant Resource
78
I. Scavenging of Residual Cryogenic Fuels
78
II. Reaction Mass
86
A. Aluminium Fuelled Rocket
86
B. Mass Driver Fuel
88
C. Reaction Engines
88
5. ET Project - Structures
92
I. Disassembly of the ET in orbit
92
A. SOFI
92
B. Major Pieces
97
C. Minor Pieces
97
II. Large Rigid Constructs
97
III. Cutting the ET
98
A. Melting Facilities
107
B. Factory Machinery
111
IV. Complete Melting and Refining
101
V. Strongback
113
6. ET Project - Tethers
119
I. Introduction
119
II. Tether History
120
III. Tether Physics
120
A. Gravity - Actual and Artificial
120
B. Momentum Exchange
124
C. Electromagnetic Effects
127
IV. Shuttle Mission Enhancements
129
A. Orbit Raising and Lowering With the ET
129
B. Shuttle to Station Advantages
131
V. Space Station Mission Enhancements
133
A. Liquid Storage
133
B. Tank Storage
133
C. Space Station Architecture
139
VI. Miscellaneous
139
7. ET Project - Applications - Mise
141
I. Observational Science
141
A. Large Deployable Reflector (LDR)
141
B. High Energy Observations
145
C. Low Energy Observations
145
D. Additional Observations
147
II. Biology and Life Sciences
147
A. Waste Management
147
B. Biology
147
C. Life Support
149
III. Military Applications
149
A. Military Space Station
153
B. Miscellaneous
155
IV. Orbital Cleanup
155
V. Future Resource
155
8. ET Project - Conclusions and Recommendations
158
References
160
Appendix A: List of Contacts
169
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