<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>there's a few things that i'd like someone who's knowledgeable to answer for me (i would really appreciate it) 1. how cold the temperature in space when the astronauts are out side of the iss</DIV></p><p>Temperature is essentially the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance, in thermodynamics equilibrium. In particular the concept of temperature requires a large number of molecules to have any meaning.</p><p>Outside the ISS there is essentially a vacuum. A vacuum doesn't really have a temperature, because there are no molecules.</p><p>In a vacuum all heat transfer is by means of radiation. So outside the space station an astronaut would receive some thermal radiation from the Earth and some from the Sun, depending on what might be shading him and a miniscule amount from the stars and space. He in turn would re-radiate to the Earth, the Sun, the stars and deep space. For purposes of that re-radiation the most important receiver is deep space. Deep space can be considered as a black body at 2.73 K. That is very cold. </p><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>2. i remember reading on wikipedia that the iss moves at about 14,000 something mph, when the astronauts are working outside on the shuttle, how can they work at that speed ?</DIV></p><p>The speed that you are quoting is the speed of the ISS relative to the Earth (I have not checked your numbers but that sounds reasonable). Relative to the ISS itself the astronauts are essentially stationary. Since speed is relative, they can work on the ISS without any sensation of speed at all.</p><p>In fact both the astronauts and the ISS are in freefall around the Earth. That is what an orbit really is, a state of perpetual falling. It is simply that the velocity of the ISS and the astronauts is such that instead of falling back and hitting the ground, they literally fall around the Earth and never hit the ground. That is also why they have the sensation of being weightless -- just like you do on a roller coaster except that they never stop falling.</p><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>3. who's controlling the iss when it circling the earth (is there a pilot ?)</DIV></p><p>No pilot and no guidance are necessary. The ISS simply continues to fall in its orbit.</p><p>There is slight exception to what I said. There are a few molecules in space (nothing is perfect vacuum) and the ISS does experience a very very small drag, that slows it down slightly. So if needed it gets a small boost.</p><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>4. i know there's space junk in space, does the iss ever collide with them, if so would it be to bad or is it like some throwing a rock at a car</DIV></p><p>I don't know the details, maybe Shuttleguy does. But the shuttle does occassionally collide with very small pieces of space junk (like flecks of paint), but the damage is not catastrophic. If it hit a larger piece of junk there could be some bad damage because the closing velocities could be very high. The same situation would apply to the ISS. But the larger pieces of space junk are tracked. </p><p>5. is there terbulance in space and inside the iss</p><p>Turbulence is a phenomena exhibited by fluids, under conditions that allow approximation of the fluid as a continuum. Outside of the space station there is a very good vacuum, so there is not enough gass to permit any reasonable concept of fluid flow, so no turbulence.</p><p>Inside the ISS there is almost certainly some turbulence in the heating and air conditioning system. But turbulence does not entail any sort of damage or a rough ride for the ISS. It would not be turbulence at a magnitude such as that you might have experienced in an airplane. If you blow air through a straw there will be turbulence. </p><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> 6. do other countries astronauts who have capsules on the iss talk with other astronauts from different countries, or is it very secluded</DIV></p><p>This is another question where Shuttleguy could give a more informed answer. But as far as I know the astronauts on the ISS work together and are sufficiently multilingual that they can and do talk to one another and help one another in their work. Space is probably not a good place for lone wolves.</p><p>[QUOTE} 7. is it only testing that goes on in space ?, also what about garbage that collects on the iss is it tossed out into space ? sorry for so many questions, i'm just curious about all this stuff <br />Posted by science_newb</DIV></p><p>I'm not sure what you mean by "only testing". The ISS is basically a laboratory for experiments that cannot take place on Earth. It is not a factory if that is what you mean.</p><p>As far as I know (again a good question for Shuttleguy) the garbage from the ISS is discarded in such a manner as to re-enter the atmosphere of the Earth and burn up.<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>