[net.columbia] Dumping Heat in Space

dad (11/12/82)

You only need some "thing" to tranfer heat to for convective heat loss.
Radiative heat loss works just fine in space as long as the stuff you
are radiating towards is cooler than you are.  In other words, you can
radiate towards "empty" space or even the Earth, but you can't radiate
towards the sun.  You are correct in saying that convective heat loss
does not work in space.  The insides of the payload bay doors have glossy
radiating surfaces.  You can see them in the pictures.
Doug Davey (longing to be up there too)
pyuxbb!u1100s!dad