Shuttle TPS mass

[JonClarke]

I am trying to find out the mass of the shuttle TPS as a percentage of the overal launch mass of the spacecraft. Without any success. Does anyone know?<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

30,000 tiles at (IIRC, and that's the rub of course) 4 ounces a shot . . . .<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

"only"<br /><br />LOL, funniest thing today, thanx for the chuckle!<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[mlorrey]

HRSI tiles on the Orbiter ~19,700 (9 lb), 525 (22 lb)<br />TUFI tiles on the Orbiter 306 (8 lb)<br />FRCI tiles on the Orbiter 2,950 (12 lb)<br />LRSI tiles on the Orbiter 725 (9 lb), 77 (12 lb)<br />FIB blanket area on the Orbiter 2,123 sq ft<br />FRSI sheet area on the Orbiter 2,024 sq ft<br /><br />As I recall, the RCC mass is somewhere about 1400 lb<br /><br />Here's a reference on TPS material specs:<br />http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts-tps.html<br />

 

[JonClarke]

Thank you, I am in your debt. Just to clarify, when you say "HRSI tiles on the Orbiter ~19,700 (9 lb)" that means each tile weighs 9 lb? Do you have a weight per sqaure foot for the blankets?<br /><br />Best wishes<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[barrykirk]

Wow, That's really heavy stuff.<br /><br />No wonder the shuttle has such a low payload.

 

[CalliArcale]

It may help to put "low payload" in perspective. No other launch vehicle currently in operation can touch it (assuming comparable orbits) -- even if you don't count mass of crew and consumables but strictly mass of stuff in the payload bay. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

I'm waiting........ <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[tap_sa]

While waiting, here's a link to an informative image at Wikipedia.<br /><br />Total Orbiter TPS weight 8.6 tonnes.

 

[JonClarke]

Thank you most kindly sir!<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>