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Hello, No I don't think so ! Foam used on the external tank, whose flight lasts a few minutes, does not get out of the atmosphere and thus does not need to reenter the atmosphere... so does not experience the thousand of degrees seen by the Shuttle when getting back at Mach 25 or more. The foam is a polyurethane foam, which as far as I know, is good for up to 180 or 200°C for short durations. This is the kind of foam typically used to feel the hollow panels and door of refrigerators. Never mind, the external tank is reused but after a refurbishment during which the foam or what remains of it is first eliminated, to be replaced later. So this is a rather low-tech material, but it still managed to shoot down the Shuttle Columbia a few years ago... Polyurethane foams had undergone a change in the 90's with the elimination of the Halon ( a CFC) used as a foaming agent with good results before. Using a substitute foaming agent seemingly produced a more brittle material, no problems as long as it was for filling hollow fridge parts... but as applied on the Shuttle the foam became to shed bigger and bigger parts at launch, until in 2003 they bore a big hole in the Thermal Protection System and you know how it ended... Claude
Space shuttle foam is not designed to withstand temperatures as high as 1400°C. At that temperature, the foam would likely begin to degrade and lose its structural integrity, becoming a fire hazard. It is important to handle space shuttle foam with care and avoid exposing it to extreme heat.
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What is the space shuttle external tank made of?
The space shuttle external tank was made primarily of aluminum with a foam insulation layer applied to its exterior surface. The aluminum provided structural strength while the foam insulation helped regulate the temperature of the propellants inside the tank.
What happened on February 1 2003?
On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the tragic loss of all seven crew members on board. The accident was caused by damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system, which was sustained during launch when a piece of foam insulation struck the shuttle's wing.
What was the cause of the Columbia space shuttle disaster?
The Columbia space shuttle disaster was caused by damage done to left wing of the Columbia. It occurred only 81.9 seconds after the departing. The culprit was a separation of insulation foam.
What causes the space shuttle Columbia disaster?
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 was primarily caused by damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system during launch. A piece of foam insulation broke off from the external fuel tank and struck the left wing, creating a hole that allowed hot gases to penetrate the shuttle upon re-entry, leading to its disintegration.
Why did Columbia space shuttle blow up?
The Space Shuttle Columbia did not actually blow up. Rather, it was torn apart and disintigrated. The Columbia disaster was caused as a result of foam on the space shuttle's external fuel tank (ET). The ET is covered in insulating foam to prevent ice from forming from the cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. During launch, aerodynamic forces pulled a large piece of the foam off of the ET, and it impacted some of the space shuttle's Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels on the left wing, causing a hole. The RCC panels are used to protect the space shuttle from the violent heat of re-entry. However the hole allowed hot gases to melt the inside of the shuttle's wing, which destroyed it structurally. As Columbia's structure melted and fell apart, aerodynamic forces broke up the vehicle into hundreds of thousands of pieces, killing the crew.
What is the space shuttle external tank made of?
The space shuttle external tank was made primarily of aluminum with a foam insulation layer applied to its exterior surface. The aluminum provided structural strength while the foam insulation helped regulate the temperature of the propellants inside the tank.
What happened February 1 2003?
Space Shuttle Columbia, the first space worthy Space Shuttle, broke apart over East Texas due to a hole in it's left wing caused by foam from the ET during launch.
What happened on February 1 2003?
On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the tragic loss of all seven crew members on board. The accident was caused by damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system, which was sustained during launch when a piece of foam insulation struck the shuttle's wing.
What was the cause of the Columbia space shuttle disaster?
The Columbia space shuttle disaster was caused by damage done to left wing of the Columbia. It occurred only 81.9 seconds after the departing. The culprit was a separation of insulation foam.
What causes the space shuttle Columbia disaster?
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003 was primarily caused by damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system during launch. A piece of foam insulation broke off from the external fuel tank and struck the left wing, creating a hole that allowed hot gases to penetrate the shuttle upon re-entry, leading to its disintegration.
Why did Columbia space shuttle blow up?
The Space Shuttle Columbia did not actually blow up. Rather, it was torn apart and disintigrated. The Columbia disaster was caused as a result of foam on the space shuttle's external fuel tank (ET). The ET is covered in insulating foam to prevent ice from forming from the cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. During launch, aerodynamic forces pulled a large piece of the foam off of the ET, and it impacted some of the space shuttle's Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels on the left wing, causing a hole. The RCC panels are used to protect the space shuttle from the violent heat of re-entry. However the hole allowed hot gases to melt the inside of the shuttle's wing, which destroyed it structurally. As Columbia's structure melted and fell apart, aerodynamic forces broke up the vehicle into hundreds of thousands of pieces, killing the crew.
What are the names and years of the space shuttles that crashed?
None of them crashed. Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart in 1986 due to a SRB explosion. Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry in 2003 due to a whole in it's left wing from foam from the ET hitting it during launch.
How did the space shuttle colubia happen?
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in 2003 due to damage sustained to its thermal protection system during launch. A piece of foam insulation struck the shuttle's left wing, causing critical damage that led to the shuttle breaking apart. Tragically, all seven crew members on board lost their lives in the disaster.
Facts about Kennedy space center?
Northern Flicker Woodpeckers stopped the space shuttle from launching because they were trying to make a nest in the spray on-foam installationThe Kennedy Space Center shares its property with the Merritt Island
Why is foam necessary to build the space shuttle?
The external fuel tank (the large orange tank the space shuttle orbiter is mounted on for launch) is insulated due to the extremely cold liquid hydrogen it contains. This insulation is required to prevent the formation of ice which would be a danger to the orbiter.
When did the Columbia Space Crew notice the damage?
The Columbia Space Shuttle crew noticed the damage to the spacecraft during re-entry on February 1, 2003. The damage was caused by a piece of foam insulation that struck the shuttle's wing during liftoff.
What are the names of the space shuttles that blew up?
Challenger (January 28, 1986). Columbia (February 1, 2003) broke up in the atmosphere because of a hole in the wing made by a piece of foam at launch.
