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They are going so fast that the force of the drag from the molecules in the atmosphere is so great that the friction heats up the shell of the spacecraft

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Why do space vehicles heat up as the enter the atmosphere?

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Why do space vehicles heat up when they enter the earth's atmosphere?

The Space vehicles heat up when they enter the earth's atmosphere because the tendency of the air is to compress quickly when the space vehicle hits the atmosphere. When the gasses compressed the temperature also rises which causes the heat.


What enters our atmosphere from space?

Various objects enter our atmosphere from space, primarily in the form of meteoroids, which are small rocky or metallic bodies. When these meteoroids enter the atmosphere, they experience intense friction, causing them to heat up and often disintegrate into meteors or "shooting stars." Additionally, larger objects, such as asteroids or comets, can also enter the atmosphere, and if they survive the descent, they may land on Earth as meteorites. Cosmic dust and tiny particles from space also continuously enter our atmosphere, contributing to the background of extraterrestrial material on Earth.


The heat trapping ability of some gases in the atmosphere can be compared to?

The heat trapping ability of some gases in the atmosphere can be compared to a greenhouse, where they allow sunlight to enter and heat the Earth, but trap some of that heat from escaping back into space.


What stops a space shuttle burning up?

The space shuttle is protected from burning up during re-entry by its heat shield, made of materials that can withstand the intense heat generated by friction with the Earth's atmosphere. This heat shield dissipates the heat away from the shuttle, allowing it to safely re-enter the Earth's atmosphere without burning up.


What is the process of trapping heat by gases in the earths atmosphere?

The process of trapping heat by gases in the Earth's atmosphere is known as the greenhouse effect. Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere but trap heat, preventing it from escaping back into space. This leads to an overall warming of the Earth's surface temperature.


Are rock from space that burn up as they enter the earth's atmosphere?

Yes, rocks from space that burn up as they enter Earth's atmosphere are called meteoroids. As they travel through the atmosphere at high speeds, they encounter friction with air molecules, causing them to heat up and create a bright streak of light known as a meteor or "shooting star." If any part of the meteoroid survives the intense heat and reaches the Earth's surface, it is then classified as a meteorite.


Why do space shuttles heat up when they re-enter into the earths atmosphere?

When the shuttle goes from the vacuum of space and enters the earths atmosphere, it heats up because of simple friction. The friction is from the shuttle going so fast and hitting the atmosphere. Same reason you sometimes see meteor showers.


What protects satellites from intense heat of space?

In space there is no heat. Only when a satellite enters the atmosphere is there heat because of the friction and it begins to burn. Spacecraft have tiles on them to shield from the heat. Most satellites burn up in the atmosphere once they are done or become "space junk."


What happens to objects that enter the earths atmosphere?

the objects which enter the earths atmosphere are being pulled down towards the earths surface due to the earths gravity. And so it leads to falling falling of large objects from the space on the surface of the earth.


Is the heat in space the same as the heat on earth?

No, the heat in space is very different from the heat on Earth. In space, there is no atmosphere to trap heat, so objects in direct sunlight can become extremely hot while those in the shade can become very cold. On Earth, the atmosphere helps regulate the temperature and distribute heat more evenly.


How do astronauts keep their spaceships from melting in space?

Space is cold - colder than you can possibly imagine. Their spaceship is in no danger of melting in space. The danger arises when they re-enter the earth's atmosphere. Then they need either a heat-shield or, on the space shuttle, special tiles which are heat-resistant.