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Struts & Interfaces

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Photos in other folders also may have good views of struts, but weremore suitable to their topic (i.e. ET, SRB, Stack Close-up, STS-47,etc.).

 


8114209_STS1_SRBsep.jpg

 


bolt_big.jpg

 


etmate3_STS-103.jpg

 


etmate4_STS-103.jpg

 


forwardattach.JPG
STS-1

Fiber-optic cable camera image from Orbiter umbilical door before SRB sep.

A recent mission after ET sep. Attachment bolts are supposed to retract inwards after the frangible nut shears. Engineers found it was protruding due to the shadow.
This view shows the ET oriented with the nose to the right, aft dome (with typical charring) to the left. Looking at the right strut.
Attachment of the orbiter to the bipod strut of the ET.

The red parts are protective covers.

The dark pink bipod strut seems to be on the more recent light ET's. Older ET's such as used by STS-47 in 1992 were yellow-orange similar to the ET colors.

 


go23STS-95_ETstruts_RH.jpg

 


go21_%20STS-95_ETstruts_LH.jpg

KSC-99PP-1290-ET-SRBattach.jpg
The bases of the Bipod strut allows it to pivot fore and aft. When filled for flight, the extreme cold causes the Liquid hydrogen portion of the tank to shrink about 5.5". In some photos you can see the bipod tilted back before fueling, but perpendicular when fueled.

 


Shuttle_Forward_Attach.jpg
SSME's ignited
SSME's ignited

 


Shuttle_Umbilical_LOX.jpg

 


Shuttle_Umbilical_Hydrogen.jpg

 


STS-36_ETAR_LH2%20detail.jpg

 


STS57-ET_Lines.jpg

hydumb.JPG
Also see
ET and SRB

Photo from ET folder
Close-up of left ET aft strut
Close-up of left aft strut interface with Orbiter. Don't know if the transparent red plastic is removed before launch.

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Struts & Interfaces

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