Seenitdunit t1_ix5qxf7 wrote on November 20, 2022 at 11:19 PM

What's with them dents in the front on the shuttle? Why's it so dirty? What's it worth?

PhoenixReborn t1_ix6leal wrote on November 21, 2022 at 3:18 AM

By dents you mean these two things? Openings for the star trackers to support navigation.

https://twitter.com/kavanagh/status/1284339746651672576

Launches and reentry scorch the surfaces of the craft. Panels didn't get replaced unless they were too damaged.

https://www.space.com/9397-mystery-solved-nasa-space-shuttles-dirty.html

NASA says Endeavor, a similar shuttle, cost about $1.7 billion. They're priceless now.

Seenitdunit t1_ix6m0fo wrote on November 21, 2022 at 3:24 AM

Christ so 1.7 BILLION?! I'm guessing this isn't the cost of the equipment and training for the crew? Makes sense you wouldn't replace the panels after use since it is so costly. Why would they paint the shuttle though? Why spend the money on paint and painters just so it'd be scorched off?

PhoenixReborn t1_ix6p27n wrote on November 21, 2022 at 3:50 AM

It's not really painted. The black sections are tiles designed to handle the heat of reentry. The white areas are either white tiles to reflect the heat of the sun, or white insulating fabric blankets.