Expert: Tom Whiting - 11/17/2010

Question
QUESTION: ''The orange suits they wear for launch and landing are
called Launch and Entry Suits (LESs), which are different
from the "Spacesuit" (which is white) that they wear when
doing a spacewalk. The LESs aren't really made for going
into a vacuum.''. From this I would like to know what is
difference between 'LES' and 'Spacesuit'?Is there any reason
behind preferring orange color?

ANSWER: Hi Genny,
LES suits are probably a lot cheaper to make, but more comfortable to wear... also I believe they have a built in g-suit (using air pressure) whereas the regular spacesuit does not need it in zero g's.
I've read (or heard somewhere) that orange is the single color wavelength that can be seen at the farthest distance, given the same intensity of light emission/reflection. That's why orange (or orange-yellow) is the most popular color for traffic light control out on the highways at night, and why hunters in our USA woodlands are required by law to wear an orange vest. Also, when fishing, all emergency rafts, life preservers, and survival suits are orange for the same reason.
In fact, it's called "International Orange".
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA USA  


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: today i saw a news about 'leonid meteor show' which will be
visible today midnight(Nov.17)So since i live in India,I want
to know whether I'll be able to see it or not.

Answer
Hi Genny,
Yes, BUT... the Leonid meteor shower currently only produce about 15-20 meteors per hour, and Leo (the constellation that the meteors come from) doesn't rise in the east until about midnight local time. So the shower runs from midnight until the crack of dawn.  And this year, we have a bright moon in the sky until it sets around 3 am... that, and city light pollution takes a horrible toll on all meteor/sky watching, so this year it's just not worth the effort, in my opinion.  (These conditions apply to anywhere on the Earth).
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA USA