Does anything coming from outer space to earth have to enter the earths atmosphere?

Question

And how is it that the space shuttle can glide into the earths atmosphere upon returning from outer space, does it use any engine power?

Answer 1

Yes everything has to go thru the atmosphere. The shuttle gets in because its covered with high temp ceramic tiles that can insulate the inside of the craft and yet take the frictional heat of reentry.

Answer 2

You know, you really need to do some independent reading here. You can't just want people to do all the research for you.

Engage your brain. It will be refreshing.

Just try to imagine how you would stick your finger inside a soap bubble without sticking it through the soapy membrane. Is a concept coming to you? I just knew it would. The atmosphere completely surrounds the Earth. Now tell me if you can come from space and land on the Earth without going through the Earth's atmosphere? Hmmm?

Regarding the Shuttle, it comes into the Earth's atmosphere at a very high rate of speed. Once it has slowed to a speed that it no longer needs to worry about the enormous heat of friction entering the atmosphere, it has plenty of forward motion to pitch forward and glide to a landing.

Answer 3

Statistically, only three people have died in space. But 12 others died in Earth's atmosphere, and three more died prior to launch of a spaceflight. So, 18 space-related deaths in a couple hundred missions... most of which had between 3-6 flight members. Per mission, that's a higher fatality rate than automobile accidents. Per km traveled, its not too bad, although commercial airliners have this beat by a large margin. The problem is, most 'accidents' are close to 100% fatal. You have to recognize the disaster before it happens, once something goes terribly wrong, there is no 'coma,' or 'broken legs' ...just a coffin. On paper, everyone on the ground is supposed to be responsible for the lives of the people on the mission. The Challenger and Columbia disasters, after closer review, don't seem bear that level of responsibility by flight control, mission administrators and such, listening to the concerns of engineers and the like who have posed concerns for both of these missions prior to the actual disasters. It *appears* that safety regulations are more stern, and there hasn't been a disaster since Columbia, which occurred 8 years ago this month. As far as your specific concerns, the danger is zero. Reentry by itself, and engineering issues have never been the problem. A launch on a too cold of a day caused an O-Ring to fail, despite the fact people opposed to launch, and the reentry problem with Columbia *could* have been avoided (debatable) if people wold have taken the collision of foam into the left wing more seriously when identified. Several days before re-entry. The Columbia might have been doomed anyway, if I recall correctly, it was a Hubble servicing mission. There was nowhere else they could go, and no 'rescue Shuttle/Capsule' were available for them. I am uncertain if a spacewalk to repair the damage was even possible, but the danger *was* identified and ignored.

Answer 4

The Earth lives in Space.The mass of the Earth as well as the atmosphere is contained by the Subtance of Space.
The Space shutlle, when returning to earth from Space station, has to use reversed power thrust to enter a lower orbit till the Gravity field is strong enough so that the Space shuttle falls to Earth. In the atmosphere of the Earth it encounter air molecular friction which slows down its speed and makes the vehicle surface very hot. It has to be insulated other wise it would burn up due to friction ,and gravity would bring it down as a lump of burned metal. We have already experienced such scenario. The shuttle is designed with wings so it normally can fly and land just like a regular airplane. It can glide or use power to fly.

Answer 5

Since the atmosphere completely surrounds the Earth, yes, everything coming to Earth from outer space must enter the atmosphere.

The shuttle uses no power at all during entry and landing. It is slowing down all the time, from the moment it enters the upper atmosphere at 17,500 MPH until it stops on the runway. It is just a glider with no engine power being used at all. Just like a paper airplane, it gets lower and slower until it lands.

Answer 6

NO. Objects coming this way may pass by harmlessly and never enter the Earth's atmosphere.

The Space Shuttle, when it is up in Space, is already flying at somewhere around 20,000 Miles Per Hour. All it needs is a small burst of power to change its angle of flight to begin entering the Earth's atmosphere. The shuttle uses the friction of re-entry to slow down to a reasonable speed for flight within the atmosphere.

Answer 7

Well, since the atmosphere lies between the surface of the Earth and outer space, then yes, anything coming from outer space must pass through the Earth's atmosphere.

I don't understand the second question. No glider uses engine power.

The shuttle does use a small amount of rocket thrust to change its orientation and to lower its orbit into the atmosphere when it's ready to come home.

Answer 8

The atmopshere surrounds the earth completely so yes to the first part of your question.

The shuttle's descent is calculated to enter the atmosphere at a particular angle and speed such that it will glide in. It uses no engine power at all other than to setup the angle of attack and position itself. After that it just glides in with a small amount of control available to the pilot from the wing control surfaces.

Answer 9

Yes freind any thing that is near to earth approaches to earth due to its heavy gravitational field but the frictional force destrys the object by burning it bcoz when it enters earth atmosphere it enters at very high speed so it experiences air resistance and burns. While some big objects remainings exist in form of small stones.

Answer 10

well every where around earth has the earth's atmosphere. a space ship does use the engine power.