Why is it on re entry to the earths atomsphere space craft and objects burn up but dont when leaving the earth and passing through the earths atomshpere ???
2006-11-17 21:34:54 · 9 answers · asked by thirtymick 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As others have said, it's all about speed.
It's a minor point really, but it's a common misconception that it is the friction with the air that causes objects hitting the Earth's atmosphere at high speed to heat up. Actually it's not friction. The heating up is caused by the fact that the air in front of the object cannot get out of the way fast enough, so it's gets compressed in front of the object. As the air gets compressed the pressure rises and as the pressure rises so does the temperature. This is what causes the burning up effect.
When a space craft is blasting off into orbit, as its speed rises it's also gaining altitude. At higher altitudes the atmosphere is less dense, so this compression of the air in front of the space craft never becomes a problem.
If a space craft used its rockets to slow its decent back to Earth then it wouldn't have any problems with burning up on re-entry. The reason they don't do this is because of the weight of the fuel that would be needed to do it. With current technology, no spacecraft could carry that amount of fuel and still be able to get into orbit.
2006-11-18 00:20:58 · answer #1 · answered by amancalledchuda 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When the rocket leaves the atmosphere it's not flying fast enough to cause the burning.
A spacecraft that is returning to earth has been orbiting it at insanely high speed (not noticeable in vacuum) and even thought it decelerates as it re-enters the atmosphere, the speed is so high that it causes the air to compress so much that it turns to hot plasma.
2006-11-18 02:51:53 · answer #2 · answered by wilde_space 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space craft are not going fast enough upon exit. Its the return home gravity takes over and the space craft reaches almost impossible speeds. very hot from the friction
2006-11-17 21:38:21 · answer #3 · answered by The Truth 2.0 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think maybe it has something to do with th atmousphere getting thinner as you go up and denser as you come down?
also they goin LOT faster on way back orbit at approx 17000 miles per hour prob take off speed of about 1000
2006-11-17 21:36:52 · answer #4 · answered by reevesy314 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rocket gas contains its personal oxygen, or extremely an oxidizer. now and again that oxidizer is liquid oxygen; different cases that's a chemical compound wealthy in oxygen, alongside with ammonium perchlorate in reliable rocket gas. And to be really pedantic, a "booster" is often the first level of a launch motor vehicle. that is previous ICBM terminology, and prime rocketry right now derives from missile practice contained in the Fifties and Sixties. Boosters do maximum of their artwork even as the rocket continues to be contained in the ambience, in spite of the actuality that they do carry their personal oxygen clone of the different rocket.
2016-11-25 02:10:31 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speed. They are going MUCH faster on re-entry. So more friction.
2006-11-17 21:36:40 · answer #6 · answered by Ian69 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Speed and Friction have a lot to do with it dude. And they do when 'passing through' as well
2006-11-17 23:45:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speed. so only minimal impact.
2006-11-17 21:37:23 · answer #8 · answered by Lilu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they do ==>Discovery!
2006-11-17 21:42:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋