Buy this STS122 External Tank Separation space photo. High quality Space Shuttle picture, slide, or Duratrans backlit transparency. NASA photograph STS122-E-005032 . Wide variety of sizes. Backdropped against the blackness of space, the STS-122 external fuel tank (ET) begins its relative separation from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. An STS-122 crewmember recorded the scene with a digital still camera. The fan-shaped bright area is the result of ET venting after orbiter separation. What happens in this nominal occurence is that the residual cryogenics in the tank heat up to some extent and the pressure increases, popping the relief valve. The residual LOX and LH2 spray out of the tank and are quite noticeable with the light reflection. Date: February 7, 2008. Credits: Johnson Space Center NASA |
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