Ziay!

jp42420

...reference? (the earth, moon)?
the shuttle itself, not yourself in the shuttle. If two shuttles meet in space comming from two different directions, will they both be the same side up?

twertyto

On earth, there is a gravitational pull downward (i.e. toward the center of the Earth) which we feel as the normal force (or reaction force) of the ground pushing up on us. This is called static equilibrium and is the source of the "down" which you speak of. In a space shuttle in orbit there is still a gravitational pull such that the space shuttle is in a constant state of free fall (dynamics). In that case there is no "reaction force" to tell you which way the gravitational force is pulling without a reference. So there is no "up" and "down" in the context that you have described it.

blackhawk98011

There is no up or down. Just what your thoughts think as up or down. So, if you're talking about shuttles. I believe that the people in each shuttle would consider themselves right-side up.

That would be a weird argument in space if you ask me.

You should read "Ender's Game" by Orsen Scott Card. It's not about shuttles, but it has some interesting aspects of gravity and of the brain's perceptive of gravity.

the real me

Up or down inside the shuttle? Because you are used to the floor being down, the walls on your sides, and the ceiling being up, you would orient yourself in a familiar fashion. But if you were in a empty square I imagine it wouldn't matter.