Can someone look at these pictures and the circles I made on them. The white meterial on the nose before liftoff and then none after landing. What is the purpose of this material that they put on the nose of the shuttle? And why is it not there after landing? 
2006-07-17 13:31:34 · 6 answers · asked by dna_man 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Those are protective covers for the maneuvering thrusters. Since there's no air in space, the wings are useless, so they have "tiny" rocket motors to turn the shuttle this way and that. The white material protects the rocket nozzles during lift off and the initial flight through the atmosphere.
("Tiny" compared to the main engines, that is.)
2006-07-17 13:37:31 · answer #1 · answered by Berry K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The propelleant used to maneuver the shuttle in space is very dangerous to humans. They leave the white covers on until they get to space to keep them safe. After landing they have a special team of people whose job it is to "safe " the shuttle and make sure that none of the chemicals used to maneuver the shuttle on orbit leak out. The covers cover the OMS (Orbital Maneuvering System) Engines
2006-07-18 11:48:40 · answer #2 · answered by Ryan P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It looks like an intake, it is not needed during liftoff, but it is used for landing the shuttle when it is working as a "glider".
They are covered during takeoff so nothing gets inside.
2006-07-17 20:35:56 · answer #3 · answered by Christopher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now i am no expert but I think those white bits are plugs and they are there for either streamlining or to prevent intake of stuff like water vapour or heat during take off . now they are probably placed in the little thruster jets that the shuttle has to manover itself into position. and when the jets are fired then the ``packing`` is ejected am I making sense?
2006-07-17 20:41:26 · answer #4 · answered by Bren0 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
prabably manuvaring thrusters covers
2006-07-17 21:11:09 · answer #5 · answered by hkyboy96 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you sure that is the same shuttle?
2006-07-17 20:35:26 · answer #6 · answered by kcracer1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋