> They seem very fragile?
They're extremely fragile. In fact, they're stored pressurized because laying on their side would damage them without the pressure keeping the walls rigid.
They're extremely fragile. In fact, they're stored pressurized because laying on their side would damage them without the pressure keeping the walls rigid.
Of course I can't find any authoritative source on this, although there are a lot of random internet folks like myself repeating the claim. And I guess I'm throwing one more on the pile here.
I recall reading that they have equipment to maintain pressurization while the boosters are trucked to the launch site as well, so it's not just flight loads, in any case.