3 ms·
It completes a cycle of heating and cooling every 90 minutes as it orbits. The temperature differential between sunlit/shaded is quite large, so even though it
by vaduz 6y ago
It completes a cycle of heating and cooling every 90 minutes as it orbits. The temperature differential between sunlit/shaded is quite large, so even though it certainly does not heat to +120C / cool down to -100 C as there is just not enough time, it would still put some stress on it.
- joe-collins 6y agoOr simple mechanical stress when the ISS raises its altitude. The thrusters cause vibration, and are not applying a uniform force across its surface.
- rtkwe 6y agoThe hull where they're able to manually inspect it shouldn't be going through quite that extreme of a temperature differential because it's wrapped in insulation and protective layers. But it's also almost 21 years old so even the smaller actual cycle is probably getting to it combined with all the other mechanical stresses from equipment and thruster firings.
- Out_of_Characte 6y agoI was curious so I checked what temparature the sun exposed parts reached and what the shadow side reaches; 121c to -157c a temparature difference of over 278 degrees. Your remark was almost spot on. https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast21mar_1/ https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/a...