How come ISS space capsules for re-entry to earth don’t burn up in the atmosphere the same way comets and meteors do?
In: 3
Meteors come in much faster and uncontrolled. They are also unevenly made which creates added turbulence, friction, and pockets of extreme heat.
Re-entry capsules have heat shields that insulate the capsule. Some portions even burn off to carry the heat away. They are also smooth to transfer the air around as much as possible.
The modules are falling in from near Earth orbit. They come in carefully to bleed of there orbital velocity in the upper atmosphere.
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