A range safety system provides for dispersing tank propellants if necessary. It includes a battery power source, a receiver/decoder, antennas and ordnance.

Various parameters are monitored and displayed on the flight deck display and control panel and are transmitted to the ground.

The contractor for the external tank is Martin Marietta Aerospace, New Orleans, La. The tank is manufactured at Michoud, La. Motorola, Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz., is the contractor for the range safety receivers.