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The space shuttle heats up when it enters the atmosphere because it encounters friction from the atmosphere. This is why the space shuttle is covered with special tiles that dissipates heat very quickly. You can hold a red hot one with the tips of your fingers. At the time of the deorbit burn the space shuttle is going 14,500 miles an hour. The atmosphere friction slows it down slow enough it open it's parachutes.

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Q: Why does the space shuttle get very hot when entering the earth's atmosphere?
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Related questions

What space shuttle disintegrated upon re-entering the earths atmosphere?

Space Shuttle Columbia


Why does a space shuttle need to travel so fast when entering earths atmosphere?

Although it reaches incredible speeds, a Space Shuttle is not going fast when it enters the atmosphere. The gravitational pull of Earth, or just gravity, are pulling down on the space shuttle with immense force.


How high in the earths atmosphere does a space shuttle travel?

230 miles out into space


What space shuttle exploded in 2003 february 1st?

The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated while re-entering the atmosphere; it did not explode.


How hot does a space shuttle get when re enters earths atmosphere?

3,000+ F


Why is the nose of the space shuttle painted black?

it is not painted black its a reinforced carbon carbon (RCC) , in order to withstand a high temperature while entering into earths atmosphere it is used .....


How hot does a space shuttle get when re-enters earths atmosphere?

The leading edges of the Space Shuttle's wings get to almost 3000 deg F during a normal reentry into earth's atmosphere.


Why doesn't the space shuttle burn up upon entering the eath's atmosphere?

The shuttle spacecraft does nort burn up at all when it does reenters the earths atmosphere, even of the heat. The reason is that there are all heat preventing tiles on the spacecraft from burning, and keeping the astronauts safe.


What does it feel like when a space shuttle break through earths atmosphere?

it feels good


How fast does a space shuttle need to be traveling when it leaves the earths atmosphere?

It has to travel at least 17,000MPH.


How do you get food on a space station?

The space station is not too far out of the Earths atmosphere so they just send up a space shuttle!


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.