wrote in message ...

Been meaning to ask this for a while. While sitting on the pad, the Apollo
command module is white. When you see pictures of it in space, it's silver,
almost chrome looking. Is that white a shroud over the entire command
module
that's jettisoned when the escape tower is jettisoned? If so, why? Seems
like
it's a lot of extra weight at launch. Just been wondering.


It's called the Boost Protective Cover. It was used to protect the command
module.

http://www.apollosaturn.com/boost.htm

You can actually note this in the movie Apollo 13, but they get the sequence
messed up.

They mention "BCP Clear" and then a few minutes later you see an exterior
shot of it being jettisoned.

(I believe you see it from the interior at the BCP Clear call when the other
windows suddenly allow light in)


--
Greg D. Moore http://greenmountainsoftware.wordpress.com/
CEO QuiCR: Quick, Crowdsourced Responses. http://www.quicr.net