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I always wondered why real-life space stations don't seem to have the sleek exteriors, pleasing or even consistent patterns, but seem to have a bunch of irregul
by zkhalique 12y ago
I always wondered why real-life space stations don't seem to have the sleek exteriors, pleasing or even consistent patterns, but seem to have a bunch of irregularities, and ugly-looking metal structures of different shades of beige protruding from the hull. How do you explain that?
- pchristensen 12y agoOff the top of my head: - no aerodynamic concerns - extreme weight concerns for launch - each component is a one-off custom module - it's a life support and research vessel - a smooth cover would make it harder to work on components during space walks
- jccooper 12y agoThe reason to have sleek exteriors or to look cool is because you need be aerodynamic (because you're in the air) or need to look cool (because you're in a movie, or you're a consumer good). Being neither in much air nor in a movie nor a consumer good, real spacecraft don't bother with expensive, constrictive, and (more importantly) heavy exterior shells. Instead, form follows function.