Author Topic: Sunlight in Space Flight  (Read 2680 times)

Offline kenbb

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Sunlight in Space Flight
« on: 08/20/2011 04:20 pm »
I'm wondering when a shuttle is in flight or in space in general, when say the shuttle is in direct view of the sun is it as bright as day through the shuttle window and around them, thank you.

Online edkyle99

  • Expert
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15391
    • Space Launch Report
  • Liked: 8566
  • Likes Given: 1356
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #1 on: 08/20/2011 04:54 pm »
I'm wondering when a shuttle is in flight or in space in general, when say the shuttle is in direct view of the sun is it as bright as day through the shuttle window and around them, thank you.

Here are some images of astro/cosmonauts looking out of spacecraft windows in space.
There are many other examples.
http://astrobob.areavoices.com/2010/11/21/faces-of-astronauts-in-space/

 - Ed Kyle

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #2 on: 08/20/2011 07:25 pm »
I'm wondering when a shuttle is in flight or in space in general, when say the shuttle is in direct view of the sun is it as bright as day through the shuttle window and around them, thank you.

Brighter

Offline kenbb

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #3 on: 08/23/2011 03:37 am »
i found the answer. "it's dark and transparent"

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/542013

thank you for your replies.:)

Offline Garrett

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1134
  • France
  • Liked: 128
  • Likes Given: 113
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #4 on: 08/23/2011 05:48 am »
i found the answer. "it's dark and transparent"

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/542013

thank you for your replies.:)

The Sun itself is brighter from orbit.
When they look "up" away from the Earth, the view is black, unless looking directly at the Sun.
When they look "down" towards the Earth during daytime, then it can be quite bright especially if there are a lot of clouds reflecting sunlight.

So the answer to your question is of the "it depends" type. "Up" is dark, "down" is bright. The question is not simple to answer because you often cannot compare in a meaningful manner experiences in space with those on the ground.
« Last Edit: 08/23/2011 05:49 am by Garrett »
- "Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist." - Indiana Jones

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #5 on: 08/23/2011 08:58 am »
i found the answer. "it's dark and transparent"

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/542013

thank you for your replies.:)

That is a bad answer and not applicable to your question wrt the shuttle.

Offline kenbb

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #6 on: 08/23/2011 05:35 pm »
my question is about not necessarily a shuttle in flight. its about the conditions around the shuttle. im guessing if space is tranparent light does flow through the shuttle window yet when they look out the astronauts see darkness. is that correct? maybe i should have posted in a space forum instead of a shuttle flight forum.

Offline go4mars

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3748
  • Earth
  • Liked: 158
  • Likes Given: 3463
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #7 on: 08/23/2011 05:40 pm »
I'm wondering when a shuttle is in flight or in space in general, when say the shuttle is in direct view of the sun is it as bright as day through the shuttle window and around them, thank you.

Here are some images of astro/cosmonauts looking out of spacecraft windows in space.
There are many other examples.
http://astrobob.areavoices.com/2010/11/21/faces-of-astronauts-in-space/

 - Ed Kyle

I have a new desktop background now.  Thanks!
Elasmotherium; hurlyburly Doggerlandic Jentilak steeds insouciantly gallop in viridescent taiga, eluding deluginal Burckle's abyssal excavation.

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #8 on: 08/23/2011 09:56 pm »
my question is about not necessarily a shuttle in flight. its about the conditions around the shuttle. im guessing if space is tranparent light does flow through the shuttle window yet when they look out the astronauts see darkness. is that correct? maybe i should have posted in a space forum instead of a shuttle flight forum.

These is the correct forum and it is not just a shuttle forum.

You are correct.  Your sentence is a better way to state it.

Offline kenbb

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Sunlight in Space Flight
« Reply #9 on: 08/23/2011 10:27 pm »
That's very interesting. Thank you for all your replies:)

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0