Atmospheric reentry?

Question

Would an object with large surface area and low volume like a fether or a baloon be subject to atmospheric reentry heating to the same exstent as for example a rock or similarly dense objects?

Answer 1

No. There is a life-boat re-entry vehicle suggested for the space station that consists only of the heat shield - lifting body and parachute. They said that it would not face the same frictional heating effects as a larger heavier object because its lower density would allow it to slow down and survive re-entry without needing retro-rockets.

Answer 2

My best guess is as follows;
- Such an object is assumed to be a non-rigid structure.
- The gravitational force might assist the object to sort of collapse into a smaller volume.
- A smaller volume, with same matter of content, with a more defined centre of gravity may assist its travel back to earth.
- Soon the object will gather momentum and it may actually travel at speed that might create enough of friction upon atmospheric reentry and burn up harmlessly.

This is a only guesstimate. Good question, and all the best!!

Answer 3

Guess it would depend on the speed of the object, because most things in space are moving a thousands of miles per hour. An airplane just going 700 mph heats up allot so something going 20,000mph well burn up fast. even a feather. Actually a dense object like a Cannon ball would last longer, and possibly some of it make it to the ground.

Answer 4

you will need to look at the aerodynamic properties too. balloon and feathers have rather low terminal velocity that the friction between the air and the surface of the object is not sufficient enough to heat up the object. Unless you just take the rubber of the ballon, and compact it to make it denser, then the terminal velocity would be higher.

terminal velocity depends on the surface of the object, the mass, and the coefficient (that i don't remember the name) of the object.

Answer 5

it has to do with friction. if there is enough friction, anything will burn up. in the case of asmospheric re-entry, speed of the object is the most important factor. we must assume that it has enough speed to burn up because to enter orbit from the earth, any object must travel more than 25,000 miles per hour.

Answer 6

a ballistic re-get right of entry to does not use aerodynamic outcomes to alter the trajectory of the spacecraft. an atmospheric re-get right of entry to does. evaluate the form of a soyuz pill (ballistic) with that of a holiday (atmospheric). nasa are certain to have information on the subject.

Answer 7

It would burn up in the atmosphere, just like meteorites, most meteorites are tiny grains like sand and they burn up. but I guess that didnt really answer your question, my guess is unless they have the momentum and speed they would just stay in orbit. you know what nevermind, I dont know, good question.