As I understand it, the Space Shuttle used cryogenic fuel in its main engines and it kept a supply onboard for the duration of its mission for a deorbit burn. Since Space Shuttle missions often lasted upwards of a week, how was this kept cold?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
-
2$\begingroup$ The shuttle doesn't have fuel for the main engine inside at all - it's only in the external fuel tank. Once you detach the external fuel tank, the main engines have nothing to run on - and the tank is thrown off before the shuttle attains orbit (in part because that allows it to burn up in the atmosphere, rather than cluttering Earth's orbit). $\endgroup$– LuaanCommented Mar 23, 2016 at 9:32
-
7$\begingroup$ It may be of interest to note that the Orbiter carried cryogenic oxygen and hydrogen for use by the fuel cells. $\endgroup$– DiggerCommented Mar 23, 2016 at 17:28
-
1$\begingroup$ @Luaan The shuttle couldn't even bring the tank into orbit if it wanted to. The shuttle had no means of lighting it's main engines. Once the engines shut down that was it. Since the orbital insertion burn must be completed at the orbital altitude that requires a coast phase and then firing engines again unless the performance of your rocket works out perfectly that you can do one burn all the way to orbit (most rockets don't work this way--they attain the needed velocity before reaching the desired altitude.) $\endgroup$– Loren PechtelCommented Mar 26, 2016 at 2:01
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
2
The fuel used in the shuttle's Orbital Maneuvering System engines and used for the deorbit burn was not cryogenic; it was storable hypergolic fuel.
The cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen fuel burned by the main engines was used only during the ascent, which took only about 10 minutes.
answered Mar 23, 2016 at 4:38
-
$\begingroup$ Yes - and the cryogenic propellants were loaded into the tank just prior to launch. $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 23, 2016 at 11:31
-
$\begingroup$ Additionally, the deorbit burn $\Delta v$ was comparatively trivial. $\endgroup$– userCommented Mar 29, 2016 at 15:27