This contractor's sample Space Shuttle tile (2 x 2 x 1.5 inches) is mounted atop a Lucite base in the same way as it is attached to the Orbiters themselves, using a special foam pad (barely seen under the white portion of the tile) and red adhesive substance (seen reflected). Each of the Space Shuttles are covered in about 25,000 black and white tiles (though many of the white version have been replaced with better white thermal blankets over the years) which protect the vehicle from the extreme heat of reentry, which can be as high as nearly 2300 degrees F.        The tiles are extremely lightweight, and are made up of white silica fibers and coated in a special durable black (or white) shell on the outside.