4 ms·

I've noticed in several videos that the crew member appears sweaty or shiny. Is this due to the temperature/humidity in the ISS or because the moisture doesn't

by nutmeg 13y ago

I've noticed in several videos that the crew member appears sweaty or shiny. Is this due to the temperature/humidity in the ISS or because the moisture doesn't evaporate the same way? I'd be interested to know if anyone has an answer.

adimitrov 13y ago
It might (this is conjecture) also just be because they're not wearing any makeup. Absolutely everybody you see on TV is wearing tons of makeup, because cameras paired with artificial flourescent spotlight just seem to exaggerate this nasty shiny effect.
- crazygringo 13y ago
  Interesting fact: in the recent Louis CK interview in Rolling Stone, he states that he uses absolutely zero makeup on himself on his show "Louie", which is pretty unusual.
  - rquantz 13y ago
    His show also benefits when he is portrayed unflatteringly.
- corin_ 13y ago
  TV makeup is split into two types, 1) getting people looking good (same reason people wear makeup any time - but if you're being filmed, more people will see you, so you care more) 2) preventing the shine While it's true that the lighting often doesn't help, the biggest problem is that the lighting can produce a lot of heat, so it's actually the lights making people sweat, not just making sweat show up more. Not sure lighting on the ISS is likely to do that, but could be wrong.
  - DanBC 13y ago
    Alexandr Laveikin (cosmonaut) spent time on the Mir (Мир) spacestation in 1987. He said it was "very noisy, very hot." (This is from 'Packing for Mars' by Mary Roach) I guess heat conduction is difficult if your spacecraft is in a vacuum.
    - NegativeK 13y ago
      > I guess heat conduction is difficult if your spacecraft is in a vacuum. Very much so. Search for "heat" in this SVG and you'll see the giant accordion radiators: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Iss027e036656-commented-20110608.svg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Iss027e03... When the Space Shuttle was in orbit, it kept its giant bay doors open to expose its radiators. If you'd like, I can dig up some extensive articlage written for hard sci-fi writers about dealing with heat for engines and for life support.
      - TeMPOraL 13y ago
        Do dig up those articles please, I'd be interested.
        NegativeK 13y ago
        Here's the one with lots of basic math around the subject: * http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/basicdesign.php#radiators http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/basicdesign.php... These next two are in regards to dealing with heat in space warfare: * http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewarship.php#radiators http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewarship.ph... * http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewardefense.php#radiators http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewardefense...
        TeMPOraL 13y ago
        Thanks! Awesome stuff.
  - sigkill 13y ago
    This leads to another question. Do they (in space) have standard 50Hz/60Hz CFLs? That might be unsafe because of the flicker, right?

by nutmeg 13y ago

adimitrov 13y ago

It might (this is conjecture) also just be because they're not wearing any makeup. Absolutely everybody you see on TV is wearing tons of makeup, because cameras paired with artificial flourescent spotlight just seem to exaggerate this nasty shiny effect.

crazygringo 13y ago
Interesting fact: in the recent Louis CK interview in Rolling Stone, he states that he uses absolutely zero makeup on himself on his show "Louie", which is pretty unusual.
- rquantz 13y ago
  His show also benefits when he is portrayed unflatteringly.
corin_ 13y ago
TV makeup is split into two types, 1) getting people looking good (same reason people wear makeup any time - but if you're being filmed, more people will see you, so you care more) 2) preventing the shine While it's true that the lighting often doesn't help, the biggest problem is that the lighting can produce a lot of heat, so it's actually the lights making people sweat, not just making sweat show up more. Not sure lighting on the ISS is likely to do that, but could be wrong.
- DanBC 13y ago
  Alexandr Laveikin (cosmonaut) spent time on the Mir (Мир) spacestation in 1987. He said it was "very noisy, very hot." (This is from 'Packing for Mars' by Mary Roach) I guess heat conduction is difficult if your spacecraft is in a vacuum.
  - NegativeK 13y ago
    > I guess heat conduction is difficult if your spacecraft is in a vacuum. Very much so. Search for "heat" in this SVG and you'll see the giant accordion radiators: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Iss027e036656-commented-20110608.svg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Iss027e03... When the Space Shuttle was in orbit, it kept its giant bay doors open to expose its radiators. If you'd like, I can dig up some extensive articlage written for hard sci-fi writers about dealing with heat for engines and for life support.
    - TeMPOraL 13y ago
      Do dig up those articles please, I'd be interested.
      - NegativeK 13y ago
        Here's the one with lots of basic math around the subject: * http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/basicdesign.php#radiators http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/basicdesign.php... These next two are in regards to dealing with heat in space warfare: * http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewarship.php#radiators http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewarship.ph... * http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewardefense.php#radiators http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/spacewardefense...
        TeMPOraL 13y ago
        Thanks! Awesome stuff.
- sigkill 13y ago
  This leads to another question. Do they (in space) have standard 50Hz/60Hz CFLs? That might be unsafe because of the flicker, right?