STS-125 - Space Shuttle Atlantis Shuttle Water Dump
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4982
I would just like to add my thanks for the videos. 
A question if I may.
Water Dump, where does all this water come from and what quantities are we talking about?
There are supply water dumps and waste water dumps. Supply water is generated by the orbiter's fuel cells. They generate more than the crew can use, so some gets dumped. Waste water is self-explanatory. There are also "simo" dumps in which both tanks are dumped at the same time. Don't know the quantities.
There are supply water dumps and waste water dumps. Supply water is generated by the orbiter's fuel cells. They generate more than the crew can use, so some gets dumped. Waste water is self-explanatory. There are also "simo" dumps in which both tanks are dumped at the same time. Don't know the quantities.
So this water that is dumped - I take it it just freezes instantaneously once it hits space?
So this water that is dumped - I take it it just freezes instantaneously once it hits space?
It vaporises mainly, ie, boils. Some water around the nozzle can freeze as the enthalpy of vaporisation of causes its temperature to drop. There is a heater at the nozzle to help prevent that happening since the frozen water can clog the nozzle. This happened on STS-41-D and resulted in the crew needing to use bags for waste water collection - read about it here:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19920075376_1992075376.pdfRegarding quantities, that mission report mentions dumping 80% from tank A and 20% from tank B on dump 3. Each tank has a capacity of 165 lbs (75 L).
Jorge & tblaxland:
Thanks for the explanations regarding the water dump.
Thanks much for all the videos, your hard work is amazing, and much appreciated!
I was specially looking forward to the MSB after all the comments it motivated in the FD thread. Interesting speech by Mr Lackrone, so different to the encorseted "all-is-fine" NASAese speeches we're so used to hearing.
thanks for the videos! much appreciated