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CThey aren't just any ceramic tiles; they are made of a special synthetic material similiar to ceramic. Their purpose is to prevent the heat from reentering the earth's atmosphere from getting in the shuttle and basically melting the whole thing; kinda like insulation. The Columbia disaster in 2003 was cause by broken tiles.

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Does ceramic tiles on the space shuttle reflect the heat or conduct it?

They block heat from entering the shuttle.


What color is a space shuttle?

A space shuttle is typically white to help reflect heat from the sun. The white color helps to maintain a stable temperature for the spacecraft and protect it from extreme heat during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.


Temperature where space shuttle of a space shuttle flies in orbit?

The exterior of a space shuttle in orbit can experience extreme temperatures that range from about -250°F in the shade to over 250°F in the sun. This is due to the vacuum of space and the unfiltered exposure to the intense solar radiation. As a result, the shuttle's thermal protection system is critical for managing these temperature differentials and keeping the internal systems safe.


The first space shuttle?

The first space shuttle developed by NASA was the Space Shuttle Enterprise, which never flew in space and was used for atmospheric flight tests. The first space shuttle to reach space was the Space Shuttle Columbia, which launched on April 12, 1981.


Why is there only tiles on the bottom of the space shuttle?

There are tiles on the entire space shuttle. Every square inch is covered in tiles. The nose, bottom and leading edges of the space shuttle have black tiles while the rest of the space shuttle has white tiles. The nose leading edges and the bottom of the shuttle are the portions of the shuttle that get the most friction/heat from the atmosphere during re-entry.

Related Questions

How many ceramic tiles are on the exterior of a space shuttle?

approximately 30 000.


Does ceramic tiles on the space shuttle reflect the heat or conduct it?

They block heat from entering the shuttle.


What color is a space shuttle?

A space shuttle is typically white to help reflect heat from the sun. The white color helps to maintain a stable temperature for the spacecraft and protect it from extreme heat during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.


What is ceramic good for?

Ceramics are very effective as insulators. In fact, they're used on the underside of the space shuttle's body.


How do you make a sentence with insulation?

Insulation has fibers that get under my skin. Is the space shuttle losing it's ceramic insulation panels?


Why does the space shuttle need tiles?

The tiles on the space shuttle form a heat shield. The shuttle enters the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, which creates very high temperatures that would burn up the vehicle if it was not protected.


How ever have a wrong in the discovery space shuttle maintainenance's?

due to prolong use, it was had a belching & shuttle's foundations faced a very highest burn then there ceramic parts were consist condemned condition


How the space shuttle tile is able to protect the shuttle?

The black tiles underneath the space shuttle are made of ceramics. Ceramics are already fired and thus able to withstand very high temperatures. The ceramic tiles do oxidize (which means material is lost) and are replaced between missions. The failure on Columbia was due to some of those ceramic tiles having fallen off during take off.


Temperature where space shuttle of a space shuttle flies in orbit?

The exterior of a space shuttle in orbit can experience extreme temperatures that range from about -250°F in the shade to over 250°F in the sun. This is due to the vacuum of space and the unfiltered exposure to the intense solar radiation. As a result, the shuttle's thermal protection system is critical for managing these temperature differentials and keeping the internal systems safe.


What are two characteristics of the thermosphere that make it necessary for us to to use a space shuttle to get through it?

Thermosphere is the atmosphere's outermost layer with a very thin air and no definite outer limit. The reason why a space shuttle gets through it is because shuttle orbiters used ceramic tiles and heat protection.


What are the two characteristics of the thermosphere that makes it necessary for us to use a space shuttle to get through it?

Thermosphere is the atmosphere's outermost layer with a very thin air and no definite outer limit. The reason why a space shuttle gets through it is because shuttle orbiters used ceramic tiles and heat protection.


What are two characteristics of the thermosphere that make it necessary for use to use a space shuttle to get through it?

Thermosphere is the atmosphere's outermost layer with a very thin air and no definite outer limit. The reason why a space shuttle gets through it is because shuttle orbiters used ceramic tiles and heat protection.