Shuttle Tank

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Model: Shuttle Tank. Gross Mass: 750,975 kg (1,655,616 lb). Empty Mass: 29,930 kg (65,980 lb). Thrust (vac): 0 N ( lbf). Isp: 455 sec. Burn time: 480 sec. Propellants: Lox/LH2. Isp(sl): 363 sec. Diameter: 8.40 m (27.50 ft). Span: 8.70 m (28.50 ft). Length: 46.88 m (153.80 ft). Country: USA. No Engines: 0. Motor: None. Status: Study 1989. Cost $ : 29.000 million. First Flight: 1993. Last Flight: 1993. No Launched: 1. Used as: Shuttle Orbiter. Other designations: External Tank.

Original version.

Model: Shuttle Super Lightweight Tank. Gross Mass: 748,000 kg (1,649,000 lb). Empty Mass: 27,000 kg (59,000 lb). Isp: 453 sec. Burn time: 522 sec. Propellants: Lox/LH2. Isp(sl): 361 sec. Diameter: 8.40 m (27.50 ft). Span: 8.70 m (28.50 ft). Length: 47.00 m (154.00 ft). Country: USA. No Engines: 0. Motor: None. Status: In production. Used as: Shuttle Orbiter. Other designations: Super Lightweight External Tank.

The Super Lightweight Tank used 2195 Aluminium-Lithium alloy as the main structural material in place of the 2219 aluminium alloy of the original design. This saved 3,500 kg in empty mass, increasing shuttle payload by the same amount. This change was made in anticipation of Shuttle-Mir and Shuttle-ISS flights to high inclination 51.6 degree orbits. The tank was first used on STS-91 in June 1998.

Used on Launch Vehicles:

Shuttle.

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