Saturn questions , in flight

[jamjammer53150]

What would a command module look like in flight ?
At launch it tends to be white ( some sort of insulation ) , and at splashdown it tends to be somewhat burnt up .
So while orbiting the moon , would it be a silverish metallic? I have seen some pictures with a gold tint . There is a reason for this question

[tbzep]

What would a command module look like in flight ?
At launch it tends to be white ( some sort of insulation ) , and at splashdown it tends to be somewhat burnt up .
So while orbiting the moon , would it be a silverish metallic? I have seen some pictures with a gold tint . There is a reason for this question
At launch it has a white blast protection shield. At altitude, this shield is pulled off when the escape tower is jettisoned. That allows us to see a really shiny silver mylar tape strips covering the full capsule. During re-entry, much of the mylar is burned away, leaving the resin honeycomb showing underneath. Look closely at the pictures and you can see where the mylar tape strips overlap. :cool:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/c/c0/20090626190712!Apollo_CSM_lunar_orbit.jpg

http://worldsofwallpapers.com/content/aviation/space/1024/Apollo-Command-Module.jpg

[jharding58]

In flight I will refer to launch, on orbit, and recovery. On launch the model would be a solid white BPC over the command module with no national markings on the BPC. On orbit the CM is overlaid with mylar as referenced. The SM is polished aluminum with white radiators as seen in the on orbit images already submitted.

[rocketguy101]

I read somewhere that the Skylab and ASTP CMs were not totally silver. I found this pic of the ASTP CM and it appears to be half white...it had something to do w/ thermal control in LEO vs. trans-Lunar ---
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/astp/AST-32-2691.jpg

[jharding58]

The ASTP CM survived with more of the mylar intact due to a lower re-entry speed than the lunar missions. I think you may be seeing the reflection of earthshine on the mylar. As for the Skylab CM I have seen a photo or two of the CM with a half white finish as opposed to the overall mirrored mylar. This approach was taken to place the white side away from the earth while docked to Skylab since the CM was unable to roll for passive heat management. Attached is the only image I have been able to find (internet or otherwise) of a docked CM at Skylab

This is a good link to the field guide to recovered Apollo capsules. There are some pretty definitive shots of the Skylab CM.

http://www.spaceflightonline.com/Apollo%20Command%20Modules

[jamjammer53150]

Thanks Guys , based on the info , I used come copper foil for the CM , and aluminum (sort of) monocote for the body of the SM .

Some people already know what im up to , Ill post pix ( and with luck ) a video ... if it works

[blackshire]

In flight I will refer to launch, on orbit, and recovery. On launch the model would be a solid white BPC over the command module with no national markings on the BPC. On orbit the CM is overlaid with mylar as referenced. The SM is polished aluminum with white radiators as seen in the on orbit images already submitted.Apollo 6 (the second unmanned Saturn V test flight) had a white Service Module (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_6 ), which would be easier to depict in a model.