2006-12-14 12:32:36 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The bottom of the orbiter is black for better heat dissipation during re-entry. The top is white for better reflectivity when sun hits it while on orbit.
2006-12-14 12:36:46 · answer #1 · answered by Otis F 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Space Shuttle Is not Painted, It Is Tiled.
The Tiles Are Designed To absorb The Heat Of Reentry OF the atmosphere (The Earths Protective Barrier) The Atmosphere Causes Friction when The shuttle Goes though It.
The tile's Different Color Represents How Much Heat It Can absorb, For Example...
The Black Tiles On the Bottom Take About 75% of the Heat, The Grey Tiles Take Almost The Full Blow Of the Heat, And The Rest of the Shuttle Is covered By The white Tiles, That take About 30% Heat and are put on as Back up Heat Protection.
These Tiles Are Essential To The Shuttle, With Even the slightest misplacement of a tile, The shuttle Will Bur up(As we have seen In the Unfortunate Disaster A few years Ago)
-Josh
2006-12-14 12:51:30 · answer #2 · answered by Joshua K. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd go for a nice Scotch plaid.
2006-12-14 12:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋