An aluminum salvage station for External Tanks of the Space Shuttle

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to show that the External Tanks of the Space Transportation System, when carried into low Earth orbit, can be reduced economically to a form of readily usable construction material. A scenario is assumed in which the first tank is partially dismantled and then becomes the facility for dismantling additional tanks, storing product and constructing space structures. A set of tools is identified to autonomously accomplish the tasks of cutting, transport of crude stock, removal of spray-on foam insulation, and product storage. Based upon reducing four tanks per year, more than 52,000 lb of structural aluminum can be salvaged annually, primarily in the form of I-beams and strip. The concept is cost competitive when compared to equivalent products delivered as orbiter payload and can be accomplished concurrent with other mission objectives.