2007-08-15 12:14:27 · 7 answers · asked by r d 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The tiles on the space shuttle are insulation on the parts of the shuttle that encounter the most friction upon entering the atmosphere. If not insulated the heat generated by the friction would burn up the shuttle.
2007-08-15 12:21:47 · answer #1 · answered by DaveSFV 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The tiles were the best solution to the re-entry problem. The Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury capsule were pretty small, so they could use a single, ablative heat shield. The Shuttle, by comparison, is huge - it's 100 feet long, and a single shield couldn't cover that much area without cracking from the wide temperature ranges it experiences. (The nose & leading edges of the wings hit 4000 degrees, the belly of the shuttle around 2200.) The answer was to cover it with thousands of small heat shields, each protecting a small portion of the ship. Supposedly, tiles were easily replacable (A one-piece heat-shield would've been very expensive to replace trip after trip), and also lighter (ever held a shuttle tile? It's like styrofoam).
2007-08-15 13:56:14 · answer #2 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
When the Apollo spacecraft hit the Earths atmosphere coming back from the Moon at 25,000.00 mph the heat shield was designed to burn and in the process shed the heat that was building up. When designing the much larger Shuttle they knew that same system would not be practical because they couldn't replace the whole underside of the vehicle every time. Any metal that could have stood the heat like titanium would have had to be too thick and would have been too heavy. The tiles which are lite as a feather but shed heat like nothing ever developed are fragile and prone to damage.
2007-08-15 12:47:15 · answer #3 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Martha Stewart was on the design panel. No, I'll tell ya the truth. Expansion and Contraction from the tempatures they endure. And also, so repairs can be isolated to a smaller area. Kinda stupid to have to change out a 4' by 8' sheet when it needs fixed. Besides, the shipping cost on a 6" by 6" square is alot cheaper than the 4' by 8' sheet. UPS.COM
2007-08-18 23:01:36 · answer #4 · answered by Felipaa' 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tiles are there to insulate the orbiters internal capsule and disperse the heat upon re-entery.
They are a silica based title that is able to absorb and deflect temperatures up to 2,300* F.
They tend to break when they are hit by an object or due to the hull of the orbiter expanding and contracting from the extreme temperature change.
Endeavour has about 26,000 tiles.
2007-08-15 13:08:33 · answer #5 · answered by ItsMeTrev 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The tiles are composed of a ligt-weight carbon composite that is very heat-resistat--they form the Shuttle's heat sheild for re-entry.
2007-08-15 15:01:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
They tried carpet, and it just didn't look right.
2007-08-15 12:27:14 · answer #7 · answered by drunkandisorderly 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋