PPG helped the California Science Center Foundation pre- pare the final space shuttle external tank for a six-week ocean voyage by donating a military-grade paint matching the tank’s foam covering to enhance appearance and protect against elements during its journey by barge from NASA’s
Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to Los Angeles.
Upon arrival in California, ET-94 – the only existing flight-qualified external tank – will undergo cosmetic restoration for
display at the California Science Center along with the space
shuttle Endeavour.
DESOTHANE HS/CA 8211 series military and defense
topcoat manufactured at PPG’s Mojave, California, plant was
tinted to match the burnt-orange foam by PPG aerospace coatings color experts. Loose foam was removed from ET-94 at
Michoud, and the PPG topcoat was applied by roller and brush
to cover gaps for a consistent appearance.
According to Duane Utter, PPG global segment manager for
space and defense coatings, PPG was asked to supply the paint
by Dennis R. Jenkins, project director overseeing the science
center’s new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center who was a
contract engineer for the shuttle program and knew PPG was
the original primer supplier.
“PPG was a proud partner in the space shuttle program
as the supplier of the only primer qualified for the external
tanks,” Utter said. “This primer passed cryogenic and corro-
sion testing and met requirements for foam adhesion. After
accepting the opportunity to supply the topcoat for the his-
toric ET-94 journey, we matched the color of the foam, and our
sample was approved by the science center. We recommended
Desothane HS/CA 8211 series topcoat because of its matte ap-
pearance and durability.”
PPG’s primer, applied to the metal tanks for corrosion resis-
tance and enhanced topcoat adhesion, was DESOTO 515x346
epoxy primer, Utter said.
Jenkins said it was important for ET-94 to look as nice as
possible. “We wanted ET-94 to be protected from water on its
voyage and to look good during its long journey to the Samuel
Oschin Air and Space Center. The California Science Center is
very grateful for the support provided by PPG, one of the original external tank suppliers, in helping us with our work that will
enable people to see an important part of the shuttle program.”
The 65,000-pound, 154-foot-long ET-94 was loaded onto a
barge in New Orleans and transported through the Panama Canal
for delivery to Marina del Rey, California, riding its last leg through
the streets of Los Angeles to the California Science Center.
Lockheed Martin built the external tanks, which carried propellants to power the shuttle’s main engines. Lockheed Martin
delivered ET-94 in 2001 to NASA, where the tank was stored.
The original standard-weight tanks were replaced by lightweight tanks and then super-lightweight tanks.
For more information about the Endeavour exhibit and
California Science Center, visit www.californiasciencecenter.org. CW
PPG Donates Paint for Final
Space Shuttle External Tank Journey
PPG helped the California Science Center Foundation prepare ET-94, the
space shuttle program’s only remaining external tank, for its final journey from
New Orleans to Los Angeles by donating a color-matched military and defense
topcoat to enhance aesthetics and provide protection. ET-94 will undergo cosmetic restoration for display alongside the shuttle Endeavour at the California
Science Center in Los Angeles. (Photos courtesy of Dennis R. Jenkins)
