2007-12-26 01:43:03 · 11 answers · asked by Tracy Terry 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Heat protection to the shuttle's bay IS the correct answer...
But imagine how cool the view is while flying that way!
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2007-12-26 01:53:55 · answer #1 · answered by Bobby 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Space Shuttle was designed to aim its payload bay toward Earth, the payload bay can contain observational sensors, missiles, weapons (remember the EXACT specification for the payload bay was specifically asked by the military), and other things.
As for protecting from the Sun.
No such thing was done the International Space Station, it had its radiators and pretty much of it exposed to the Sun.
Why should the Space Shuttle be protected? And also the Space Shuttle is not always facing down, so facing down is not always mandatory, it's just not optimal for the radiators.
Of course the International Space Station's radiators can be rotate to prevent too much sunlight hitting them, so that the radiators will work at its optimum, but don't you think that it's strange after around two decades of service they don't upgrade the Space Shuttle with International Space Station's capability?
As for orbiting with its main engines facing to the front.
It's done so that the Orbital Maneuvering System engines can be immediately fired to done a de-orbit maneuver.
Plus anything in front of the craft will not directly hit the crew's compartement, at its worst it will just damage the engines but leaving the crew alive.
It should be noted early plans (and even early missions?) have the Space Shuttle orbiting with its main engines facing backward.
2007-12-26 03:36:20 · answer #2 · answered by E A C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shuttle bay doors contain radiators that are used to cool the shuttle, after all that amount of electronic equipment generates a lot of heat. In order for the radiators to work they can not face the sun hence it is upside down.
Now for backwards it protects the leading edges of the shuttle from debris strikes. there is a lot of left over crap orbiting the earth at high speed and if some of that stuff hits the delicate and important leading edges of the heat shield it can easily doom the shuttle.
2007-12-26 01:59:12 · answer #3 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ripping about the globe at an incredible 'leventy-zillion-parsecs -per-nanosecond, the shuttle goes too fast to enjoy the ride much. Besides those stubby wings still block the view and the window seats aren't worth the price of the ticket in normal flight aspect.
So upside down and backwards means you can enjoy the view alla time and see more of where you've been.
And hey, that's 10 times better than what I can recall about where I was last night.
2007-12-26 01:55:10 · answer #4 · answered by Der Lange 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jerry is right. It orbits that way to protect the cargo bay from the Sun. Since there is no friction in space, it doesn't matter that the shuttle be streamlined like an airplane in our atmosphere.
2007-12-26 01:51:18 · answer #5 · answered by Curt 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no local vertical in space; which means there is no "up" or "down", and no gravity to force an arbitrary "down"; It orbits with the underside - where the high-temperature reusable surface insulation is located to protect the shuttle and its occupants from the sun's radiation.
2007-12-26 02:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by Theresa T 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The shuttle is right-side up and forwards. Everybody else is up-side down.
2007-12-26 03:08:52 · answer #7 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Protects the shuttle from the sun.
2007-12-26 01:46:11 · answer #8 · answered by Prophet 1102 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Astronauts like to see where's they've been (facing backwards). And they like to get new perspectives on things (upside down).
2007-12-26 02:17:30 · answer #9 · answered by elohimself 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not anymore.... they were careless, and the "special tonic" they used to launch with is now confiscated before every mission.
2007-12-26 03:42:55 · answer #10 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋