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Perhaps more important than keeping the solar arrays pointed at the sun is keeping the radiators out of direct sunlight. The problem in space isn't so much fre
by jandrese 5y ago
Perhaps more important than keeping the solar arrays pointed at the sun is keeping the radiators out of direct sunlight. The problem in space isn't so much freezing as cooking because there is no atmosphere between you and the sun and the only way to vent heat is inefficiently as radiation.
If the radiators started cooking in direct sunlight the station would get uncomfortably hot in a hurry.
- ericbarrett 5y agoI believe the ISS also orients its solar panels edge-on to prograde (direction of orbit) at night to minimize drag, so that’s another consideration of attitude control failure. Still second order to the radiators, though.
- ithinkso 5y agoI love the fact that 'at night' is still a correct term but it's only 45 min for ISS.