Struts & Interfaces

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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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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.