In a strange new world where hot air doesn't rise and heat doesn't conduct, the International Space Station's thermal control systems maintain a delicate balance between the deep-freeze of space and the Sun's blazing heat. The first examined the Station's architecture and structural design. Future installments will explore the power, plumbing, and ergonomics of the Station.
Human life tends to flourish in the balance.
Most of our planet fits that description. As long as you stay away from the South Pole and don't fall into a volcano, Earth is a pretty comfortable world. Space is a radiation-dominated environment. Objects heat up by absorbing sunlight and they cool off by emitting infrared energy, a form of radiation which is invisible to the human eye. As a result, insulation for the International Space Station doesn't look like the fluffy mat of pink fibers you often find in Earth homes.