AmericaJR’s Jason Rzucidlo recently visited the California Science Center near the USC campus in Los Angeles. The museum is known for hosting Space Shuttle Endeavour, but also houses an External Tank. It carried propellants—liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen—that flowed into the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs), where they combined and ignited to produce almost one and a half million pounds of thrust to help push the space shuttle to orbit. The external tank destined for display at the California Science Center is ET-94, the last flight-qualified external tank in existence. This lightweight tank (LWT)—donated to the Science Center by NASA—was ordered to support science missions for space shuttle Columbia.
Map of the External Tank’s journey from New Orleans to Los Angeles 
ET-94 made its way through the Panama Canal 
Map of it’s travel from Marina del Rey to Los Angeles 
Crowds gathered to watch ET-94 pass by 
ET-94 is now located at the California Science Center 
ET-94 weighs about 65,000 pounds when its empty or 1.6 million pounds when its filled with propellant. 
Attendees can step outside to view the external tank 
ET-94’s total diameter is 27.5 feet 
However, the external tank’s length is 154 feet 
The External Tank, also known as the ET, was like the “gas tank” for the space shuttle orbiter. 
It carried propellants—liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen—that flowed into the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs), where they combined and ignited to produce almost one and a half million pounds of thrust to help push the space shuttle to orbit. 
This lightweight tank (LWT)—donated to the Science Center by NASA—was ordered to support science missions for space shuttle Columbia. 
After Columbia was destroyed on its return back through the atmosphere following STS-107 in 2003, ET-94 was studied extensively to try to assess whether the “deferred-build” tank contributed to the accident in any way. 
AmericaJR’s Jason Rzucidlo poses in front of the external tank 
ET-94 as viewed from the second floor of the science center 
The California Science Center also houses Space Shuttle Endeavour 
Endeavour successfully completed 25 missions into space, including the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as the first mission to add a U.S. component to the International Space Station. 
The Nose Cone 
Space Shuttle Endeavour’s heads to the Kennedy Space Center 
Many of Endeavour’s components were actually built in California 
Astronauts used this special kitchen to prepare meals in space. 
Astronaut Garrett Reisman’s patch 
Rocketdyne Operations Support Center 
Mission Control 
This large piece of aluminum-lithium metal called an orthogrid makes up part of the wall inside the external tank. 
Mission Control 
The waffle pattern in the orthogrid helped to keep the external tank strong while making it light enough to launch. 
Space Shuttle simulator ride 
Seismic Isolators 
Miniature model of Space Shuttle Endeavour 
Recent missions 
NASA merchandise for sale 
Outside the California Science Center in Los Angeles
Visit the California Science Center following the COVID-19 pandemic at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. General admission is free. Special exhibits required a paid ticket. More info at: https://californiasciencecenter.org/visit