If the melting point of plastic is 212°F in space in sunlight is 270°F why isn’t the cockpit melting into space

952 views • 4 upvotes • Made by NothingSirius 7 years ago in fun

9 Comments

Wienerdawg
3 ups, 7y, 1 reply
There's different formulations of plastics, with very different melting points.
NothingSirius
1 up, 7y, 1 reply
Highest melting point for the most durable plastic is 255°C (491°F) the problem is Elon Musk states the csr was NOT space hardened prior to decoupling. The roadster uses standard automobile plastics which melt at 100°C

the cockpit should literally be melting away into space

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FIjNzHDFHpA
CR01
1 up, 6y
Not if it reaches an equilibrium at which it reradiates the heat nearly as fast as it absorbs it.  Space is a vacuum and therefore does not exactly have a "temperature", that starts to depend on things like the proximity to the sun, the albedo, etc.  I'd try to explain the difference between convective transfer, but 'm not really sure you'd understand... :-/
[deleted]
2 ups, 7y
Space is extremely cold even though the sun is hot. This is because there is almost nothing in space. However, there is some heat in space because of very small amounts of atoms found in space. Space is only about 3 degrees Kelvin because of the small amounts of atoms. Therefore, the car would not melt.
[deleted]
2 ups, 7y
Read here for more information: https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/1125696/if-the-sun-is-so-hot-why-is-space-so-cold/amp/
Bonzenz
2 ups, 7y, 1 reply
It’s nots just plastic
NothingSirius
1 up, 7y
Yes, it’s standard, non-space hardened automobile plastic as per Elon Musk
PraytheReyAway
2 ups, 7y, 1 reply
Never thought of that. I'm sure they figured out an answer to it though.
NothingSirius
1 up, 7y
No, they didn’t. It’s a mass delusion! A hoax filmed in a CGI studio

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WHY ISN’T THE COCKPIT MELTING AWAY INTO SPACE?