The Space Shuttle, formally known as the Space Transportation System (STS), consisted of an aircraft-like orbiter, two boosters, and a large external tank. With a liftoff weight of 2000 tonnes and a height of 56 m, the Space Shuttle was an impressive feat of engineering.

Throughout its career, the Space Shuttle was responsible for launching numerous missions. The first flight took place in April 1981, with the final mission occurring in July 2011. The Shuttle was capable of transporting up to seven astronauts and approximately 24 tonnes of cargo to low orbit.

The Orbiter itself was comparable in size to an Airbus A320 airliner, but with the distinctive double-delta wings of a fighter aircraft. It featured a crew compartment in the nose section, a spacious payload bay, and three main rocket engines in the aft fuselage. The structure of the Orbiter was primarily made of aluminum alloy, with the engine structure consisting mostly of titanium alloy. Additionally, the entire underbelly was covered in ceramic tiles to protect it from the intense heat during re-entry. Each Orbiter was designed for 100 flights.

After completing a mission, Ground Crews were tasked with cleaning and unloading the Space Shuttle. According to Dave Mohr, a NASA contractor, the cabin air often had an unpleasant smell. Due to the reduction in the effectiveness of the Environmental Control System after landing, combined with the presence of “fresh food” and “wet trash” stored in the vehicle, the air quality inside the Shuttle quickly deteriorated.

It should be noted that the cooling system of the Shuttle was powered down within an hour after landing, contributing to the unpleasant odor. Despite these challenges, the Space Shuttle program achieved significant advancements in space exploration.

Sources:
– Quora – Dave Mohr (NASA contractor)

The post The Smell of the Space Shuttle: What Ground Crews Experienced after a Flight appeared first on TS2 SPACE.