Most of the surface of the orbiter is covered with tiles made of silica of very high purity. These tiles are classified into two groups. One for high temperature and the other for low temperature, and these are used accordingly. Parts which become extremely hot such as the nose and the front edge of the wing are covered with heat resistant material of reinforced carbon. These heat resistant materials protect the orbiter from heat of friction which exceeds 1,400 degrees celcius in some parts at the time of launching or reentry into the atmosphere. Thus, they make it possible to use the orbiter no less than 50 or 100 times.
The fuselage of the orbiter is partitioned into the cockpit and crew compartment in front, payload compartment at the center for carrying cargo, and engine room at the rear. The crew are four to seven. In addition to two pilots and one mission controller who controls the flight plan, the orbiter can carry four scientists and payload controllers who load and unload cargo for operation and experiments in space. This is a characteristic feature of the orbiter not ever seen in conventional spaceships. Furthermore, the scientists need only a few weeks training before getting in the orbiter. No space suit is needed inside it and they can act in ordinary clothes.
The payload compartment is of a cylindrical shape 4.5 meters in diameter and has a cargo rack 18 meters long. Its top consists of large doors which open right and left from the center. Various things are put in this compartment. the maximum capacity is 29.25 tons.
NASA&39;s spacecrafts are currently used for human spaceflight missions. The Orbiter is commonly used as a means of transportation for astronauts and is also used for delivery of scientific equipment, satellites, and so on. The Space Shuttle is well-known around the world, and gets plenty of attention in Japan thanks to the exploits of Japanese Astronauts Mr. Mamoru Mori and Ms. Chiaki Mukai. Mr. Mori is a veteran of two space flights and trained and worked as a Payload Specialist. Ms. Mukai has also taken part in two space flights as a Payload Specialist, and is famous for being the first Japanese woman to go into space.
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