Eli5: why do all objects entering the earths atmosphere from space catch fire?

Question

Jus wondering like why asteroids and those detachable things from spaceships catch fire when entering earth

In: 5

Answer 1

When an object moves through the air, it pushes against the air particles and creates a force called drag. The faster an object moves, the more drag it experiences. As an object enters the Earth’s atmosphere from space, it is moving at a very high speed and encounters a lot of drag. This causes the object to heat up, which can sometimes cause it to catch fire. This process is called re-entry. The heat and fire caused by re-entry usually only last for a short time and will not cause any damage to the object as long as it is designed to withstand the heat.