why is atmosphere reentry such an issue? If it is just because of speed hitting the atmosphere why can’t the spacecraft just slow down before and synchronise with earth rotation?

Question

why is atmosphere reentry such an issue? If it is just because of speed hitting the atmosphere why can’t the spacecraft just slow down before and synchronise with earth rotation?

In: 384

Answer 1

This will change when we develop fusion power for spacecraft, then we can use fusion to create thrust from heating captured air on decent. We already understand the engineering, maths, gimballing, and control systems to land from orbital speeds. We just lack a fuel with high enough specific impulse / mass ratio to make it viable.
Of course, a fusion rocket is also a weapon, so I hope that humanity is not all dickheads in that possible future.