Anybody know what that shiny silver stuff is on the outside of space ships? What is it for?

Question

Anybody know what that shiny silver stuff is on the outside of space ships? What is it for?

Answer 1

gold plated foil to reflect radiation, simple as that :)

Answer 2

insulation, used to control the spacecraft temperature.

they generate heat internally from their various systems, including about 150 watts per person. most of the time they are more concerned with getting rid of it. by controlling how much heat they absorb from teh sun (this is why so many spacecraft are painted white) they can control the thermal balance of the spacecraft.

thermal design of spacecraft is really hard.

Answer 3

it is a foil used to reflect the radiation from the sun's ray, since the spaceship is not protected by an atmosphere or an ozone layer. this foil is attached to the body of the spaceships covered with ceramics which is extremely heat resistant and able to handle the sun's heat and the air resistance friction heat energy when landing.

Answer 4

It's a thin metallised foil used to reflect incoming solar radiation. In simpler terms, it's a temperature control material. Reflective surfaces absorb less heat that dark ones.