Why is the United States space shuttle white, and not black?...

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Question by Nicole
Submitted on 11/26/2003
Related FAQ: Space FAQ 10/13 - Controversial Questions
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Why is the United States space shuttle white, and not black?

Answer by badwolf
Submitted on 8/9/2004
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so it can be seen against the black background of space when light is reflected off it. Black will reflect no light, therefore it would not be visually practical to paint it black. Did you think it was racial? lol.

Answer by Billy
Submitted on 3/16/2006
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The heat shield on the belly and nose are black . I figure it is a component in the way the heat shield works since black absorbs more energy than other colors. Likewise, the crew and payload area are white to keep heat absorption down. This is just a guess though.

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