How do astronauts survive reentry through Earth’s atmosphere?
Quick Answer
A spacecraft uses a heat shield to absorb or deflect the extreme heat of reentry. Then parachutes or other landing systems slow it down for landing or splashdown.
The Full Story
Reentry is dangerous because a spacecraft hits the atmosphere at orbital speed, creating intense compression and frictional heating. The front of the vehicle is protected by a heat shield made of materials designed to char, ablate, or otherwise carry away heat. The Apollo capsules used blunt shapes and returned by splashdown, while modern crew vehicles such as SpaceX’s Crew Dragon use a heat shield and parachutes for ocean landings. The heat generated can reach thousands of degrees Celsius, even though the cabin remains protected.
Key Facts
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