The shuttle needs some color. Why doesn't NASA paint it pink, or maybe yellow would be nice?

Answer 1

they used to paint the fuel tank white, but it saved time and money to not paint it so they don't anymore.

as for the rest of the shuttle. the rocket boosters could be painted some other color.

the shuttle itself is white and black for thermal reasons. white reflects most of the radiation that hits the shuttle and then black is for when it enters the atmosphere, black gives off heat faster than white does, it heats up faster but it also cools off faster.

maybe when there are more grass roots space flights will you be able to see more colorful space craft.

Answer 2

It is an interesting notion that the white color of the shuttle is used to reflect heat off of the shuttle. But incorrect. If you notice the white area of the shuttle is on top (black on the bottom). During a shuttle mission the orbiter's top is angled toward the Earth not the sun (the black tiles are directed toward the sun). The colors of the tiles determine their function; grey tiles are used on the leading edges (nose, wingtips) where the heat of reentry is the greatest. Black tiles are used along the bottom, they don't get as much heat as the leading edge tiles but can take much more heat than the white tiles that cover the rest of the shuttle.
Also, paint is very heavy. For the first two shuttle missions (STS-1 and STS-2) the external fuel tank was painted white (where now you see the external tank unpainted and appears rust colored from the insulation foam that is used). This added about 600 pounds to the launch weight. I costs nearly $10,000 per pound and NASA found that the paint too costly to launch (an extra $6,000,000 just to launch, plus the cost of the paint and the labor to apply the paint).
Now, I have my own theory about painting the external tank. I wonder if that paint would help to hold the insulation foam to the tank, and if so, had the tank been painted would Columbia still be flying (and not damaged during launch and destroyed during reentry due to the foam insulation striking the orbiter).
I hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 3

Pink would look horrible, I think something like blue would be better. However, there is a good reason why the space shuttles are painted white, aside from aesthetics: White paint reflects light more effectively than other colors (which is what makes it white), and spacecraft always need to be able to stay cool in space.

Answer 4

As dark colors absorb lights better, and consequently absorb more heat from Sun rays than bright color, they would increase the temperature inside the shuttle, damaging the engines and astronauts. Therefore, the brighter the color of the shuttle, the less expense be spent on cooling equipment, and the less weight of the shuttle, too. White is the brightest color of all, so it's most suitable.

Answer 5

NASA has more important things to do than paint the shuttle a color you like. Personally, I like it the way it is.

Answer 6

Unfortunately those colours may cause the shuttle to overheat and make life uncomfortable for astronauts inside.

White is primarily used as it is the most effective reflector of light (hence less heat transferred to the shuttle interior) and the least effective emitter of thermal energy via radiation (hence less heat is transferred from the shuttle interior to space).

Hence the shuttle interior is neither too hot or too cold.

Answer 7

the shuttle is basically white, silver & black because of it's environment. White is the best color for reflecting light and heat - which is important in space. The tiles are white or black depending on their location; black (I believe) has an additional layer of silica for dispelling the heat of reentry. The silver/black on the leading of the wings edges & nose are the Carbon-carbon composites used because of the very high heat intensity experienced in those areas because of re-entry.

Answer 8

The paint would just burn off during launch and re-entry.

Answer 9

Tsumego is correct, however I like this question, and think that it would be a good idea to make it nicer looking.

Answer 10

paint adds mass ... very costly in re fuel required

color adds heat-absobtion from photoelectric effect ...
very costly to "remove heat"