What happens to the Space Shuttle's external tank after it disconnects? Is it just floating around as space trash, or is it being sent back to earth, or does it fall into
![reuse - Were Space Shuttle External Tanks recoverable and reusable? - Space Exploration Stack Exchange reuse - Were Space Shuttle External Tanks recoverable and reusable? - Space Exploration Stack Exchange](https://i.stack.imgur.com/SAM29.jpg)
reuse - Were Space Shuttle External Tanks recoverable and reusable? - Space Exploration Stack Exchange
![A replica of the space shuttle fuel tanks and solid rocket motors displayed at the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida Stock Photo - Alamy A replica of the space shuttle fuel tanks and solid rocket motors displayed at the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/P445T8/a-replica-of-the-space-shuttle-fuel-tanks-and-solid-rocket-motors-displayed-at-the-visitor-complex-at-nasas-kennedy-space-center-florida-P445T8.jpg)
A replica of the space shuttle fuel tanks and solid rocket motors displayed at the Visitor Complex at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida Stock Photo - Alamy
![LEGO MOC NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) - External Fuel Tank & SRB Addons by TheBrickFrontier | Rebrickable - Build with LEGO LEGO MOC NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) - External Fuel Tank & SRB Addons by TheBrickFrontier | Rebrickable - Build with LEGO](https://cdn.rebrickable.com/media/thumbs/mocs/moc-76210.jpg/1000x800.jpg)
LEGO MOC NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) - External Fuel Tank & SRB Addons by TheBrickFrontier | Rebrickable - Build with LEGO
![NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) - External Fuel Tank & SRB Addon MOCBRICKLAND C9312 Space with 7669 Pieces - MOC Brick Land NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) - External Fuel Tank & SRB Addon MOCBRICKLAND C9312 Space with 7669 Pieces - MOC Brick Land](https://mocbrickland.com/wp-content/uploads/C9312-3.jpg)
NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) - External Fuel Tank & SRB Addon MOCBRICKLAND C9312 Space with 7669 Pieces - MOC Brick Land
![Space Shuttle Fuel Tank and Rocket Set (Realistic Version) - NASA - Realistic Crafts/Space - Paper Craft - Canon Creative Park Space Shuttle Fuel Tank and Rocket Set (Realistic Version) - NASA - Realistic Crafts/Space - Paper Craft - Canon Creative Park](https://creativepark.canon/images/contents/CNT-0024521/CNT-0024521_detail-03_s@2x.jpg)
Space Shuttle Fuel Tank and Rocket Set (Realistic Version) - NASA - Realistic Crafts/Space - Paper Craft - Canon Creative Park
![Space Shuttle Fuel Tank and Rocket Set (Realistic Version) - NASA - Realistic Crafts/Space - Paper Craft - Canon Creative Park Space Shuttle Fuel Tank and Rocket Set (Realistic Version) - NASA - Realistic Crafts/Space - Paper Craft - Canon Creative Park](https://creativepark.canon/images/contents/CNT-0024521/CNT-0024521_detail-01_s@2x.jpg)