In the photograph, the contour lines indicate temperature at Mach 19 around a generic vehicle similar to the X-30. Because of high pressure and skin friction, the temperature is highest on the surface of the model. The vivid blue color indicates temperature 18 times hotter than the atmosphere, requiring active cooling from within the aircraft to control temperature on the planes surface. Pink color on the outer rings is much cooler than the blue near the body, but is still 2 times hotter than the environment in which the plane travels.
