eli5: if space is virtually empty, does a space shuttle stay hot from when it exits the atmosphere because there’s less particles to absorb the heat? Or does it do the opposite and cool rapidly?

Question

I’m just curious as to the process and behavior of the surface temp of a shuttle once there’s virtually no particles in contact with the craft.

I’m aware space is cold due to the absence of matter,

But does a space shuttle take a much longer time frame to cool down with less matter available to transfer the heat of the craft to, or does the lack of matter cause the shuttle to cool rapidly?

In: 141

Answer 1

Losing heat is hard in space as you mentioned. Because of the heat from sunlight, electronics, propulsion and other spacecraft system, the spacecraft needs a way to lose the heat that accumulates, because there is no air to give that heat so it stays in the spacecraft.

All spacecrafts have radiators to lose the heat by radiation, they usually are white/grey panels. The American Space Shuttle had its cargo bays doors opened during the whole mission because its radiators are located on the inner part of the doors.

If these doors remained closed in space, the shuttle couldn’t lose enough heat compared to what it receives and produce, so everything would be cooked inside.