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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