Editing Space Shuttle external tank (section)

===Orange color===
The external tank's orange color is the color of the spray-on foam insulation. The first two tanks, used for [[STS-1]] and [[STS-2]], were painted white to protect the tanks from [[ultraviolet light]] during the extended time that the shuttle spent on the launch pad prior to launch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Columbia's White External Fuel Tanks|date=April 12, 2006 |url=http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/060412_sts1_whitetank.html|publisher=Space.com}}</ref> NASA engineer Farouk Huneidi told the agency that the paint did not actually protect the foam.<ref name="vogt20110728">{{Cite news |last=Vogt |first=Tom |date=2024-04-04 |title=Local man takes first-hand pride in space program |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/28/salmon-creek-resident-reflects-first-hand-pride-in/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Columbian |language=en-US}}</ref> Martin Marietta (now part of [[Lockheed Martin]]) reduced weight by leaving the rust-colored spray-on insulation unpainted beginning with [[STS-3]], saving approximately {{convert|272|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on}}.<ref name="et_paint">National Aeronautics and Space Administration [http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news/news/releases/1999/99-193.html "NASA Takes Delivery of 100th Space Shuttle External Tank."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311004932/http://www.msfc.nasa.gov/news/news/releases/1999/99-193.html |date=March 11, 2007 }} Press Release 99-193. August 16, 1999.</ref>