For the first two missions, STS-1 and STS-2, the external tank was painted white to protect the insulation that covers much of the tank, but improvements and testing showed that it was not required.
Za prve dvije misije, STS-1 i STS-2, vanjski tank bio je bijele boje radi zaštite izolacije koja prekriva većinu tanka, ali poboljšanja i testiranja pokazala su da to nije potrebno.