Why is the bottom of the Space Shuttle black in color but the top of the Space Shuttle white?

For surfaces exposed to more heating, the white color was sacrificed to get the needed performance. Black tiles were High Temperature Reusable Insulation, and were coated with “Reaction Cured Glass” containing tertrasilicide and borosilicate glass.

How hot did the Space Shuttle get on reentry?

3000 degrees Fahrenheit
During re-entry, the shuttle is going so fast, it compresses the air ahead of it. The compression of the air layers near the leading edges of the shuttle is quick, causing the temperature of the air to rise to as high as 3000 degrees Fahrenheit! Being in contact with the shuttle, it heats the shuttle’s surface.

Can Columbia have docked ISS?

Nasa said Columbia could not have docked with the space station, so the crew would have had to make the crossing inside their spacesuits, protected by huge fabric “balls” developed for such contingencies.

Why was the space shuttle retired?

While reentering Earth’s atmosphere, Columbia broke apart, killing the entire crew. All of these factors — high costs, slow turnaround, few customers, and a vehicle (and agency) that had major safety problems — combined to make the Bush administration realize it was time for the Space Shuttle Program to retire.

Could the space shuttle fly again?

7 Answers. Buran and the Space Shuttle will not fly again. Both projects have ended, and the orbiters have gone to museums (or have been destroyed). Reactivating these programs would be enormously expensive at this point.

Why does the Space Shuttle have such short wings?

The high forces and high heat dictate that the Shuttle has short, blunt wings. The Shuttle flies at a high angle of attack during re-entry to generate drag to dissipate speed. It executes hypersonic “S-turn” maneuvers to kill off speed during re-entry. The lift of the wings is only important in the final flare maneuver at touchdown.

What happens to the Space Shuttle during re-entry?

The figure shows the Shuttle after it has passed through the re-entry regime. The Shuttle uses a rocket propulsion system to get into orbit, but during re-entry the aircraft is actually an un-powered glider.

Where do shock waves come from in a Space Shuttle?

Strong shock waves are generated on the lower surface of the spacecraft. The only manned aircraft to currently fly in this regime are the American Space Shuttle, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, and the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft. The figure shows the Shuttle after it has passed through the re-entry regime.

What materials are used to make the Space Shuttle?

On the Shuttle, special silicon tiles are placed on the aluminum skin to insulate the skin. On the leading edge of the wings, carbon-cabon composite material is used to withstand the heat. The high forces and high heat dictate that the Shuttle has short, blunt wings.