atmospheric re-entry
Spacecraft coming home
Atmospheric re-entry is the return of a spacecraft or object into Earth's atmosphere from space.
The process generates extreme heat from air compression and friction, requiring heat shields on crewed vehicles.
The capsule survived re-entry and splashed down in the Pacific.
Re-entry is the critical final phase of any space mission returning to Earth.
- angle of attackWing-to-airflow orientation
- heat shieldBarrier against extreme temperatures
- dragResistance through fluid
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- space shuttleReusable crewed orbital vehicle
lift · troposphere · capsule · Mach number · shock waves · boundary layer · ceramic tiles · turbulence · satellite · ablation · parachutes · lunar module · orbital decay · terminal velocity · deceleration · Apollo 13 · Columbia disaster · splashdown
atmospheric re-entrylaunch
Set into motion
liftoff · takeoff · ascent · rocket launch · space launch
atmosphere, atmospheric, atmospherics, atmospherically, entry, entries, reentry, reenter, reentering