by Qev » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:47 pm
I believe the visors are tinted to protect the astronauts from glare and direct solar radiation. In fact, I think they're coated in a very thin layer of gold, but I could be mistaken (gold is an excellent reflector of infrared radiation, ie. heat). This would also make the interior of the helmet dark.
I'd imagine everything is wrapped up like that for thermal and micrometeorite protection.
The whisp on the left looks like it could be a tether line playing out someplace behind the camera. If you look on the larger image, the other blobs and whisps appear to be specular reflections from the camera light off of the astronaut's visor (you can see diffraction colours).
I believe the visors are tinted to protect the astronauts from glare and direct solar radiation. In fact, I think they're coated in a very thin layer of gold, but I could be mistaken (gold is an excellent reflector of infrared radiation, ie. heat). This would also make the interior of the helmet dark. :)
I'd imagine everything is wrapped up like that for thermal and micrometeorite protection.
The whisp on the left looks like it could be a tether line playing out someplace behind the camera. If you look on the larger image, the other blobs and whisps appear to be specular reflections from the camera light off of the astronaut's visor (you can see diffraction colours).