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The speed of reentry combined with air friction creates a massive amount of heat at the point of entry.

Heat shielding allows the craft to survive the high temperatures intact, but even a small defect in shielding can be catastrophic.

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What does the heat shield do on the command module?

As the module reenters earth's atmosphere the leading edge where the heat sheid is located gets very hot, red hot in fact. The ehat shield keeps the heat from penetrating the module to protect the electronic gear and passengers from the extreme heat. If the heat shield were not used the module would literally melt on reentry.


What was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft to return to earth?

The command module was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft to return to Earth. It was designed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, withstand the heat of re-entry, and splash down safely in the ocean.


What is the part of the spacecraft that protects from high temperatures of re entry?

The heat shield is the part of the spacecraft that protects it from the high temperatures experienced during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. It is designed to withstand the intense heat generated by friction as the spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere at high speeds.


What protects the spacecraft when it enters atmosphere from space?

A heat shield protects the spacecraft when it enters the atmosphere from space by absorbing and dissipating the intense heat generated due to atmospheric friction. The heat shield helps prevent the spacecraft from burning up during reentry by creating a layer of hot and ionized gas, or plasma, around the spacecraft that acts as a barrier.


How do spacecraft land back on earth safely?

Spacecraft land back on Earth safely by using a combination of parachutes, heat shields, and sometimes thrusters to slow down their descent. The heat shield protects the spacecraft from the intense heat generated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, while parachutes help to further slow down the descent before touchdown. Additionally, some spacecraft may use retro rockets or airbags to cushion the landing impact.

Related Questions

What does the heat shield do on the command module?

As the module reenters earth's atmosphere the leading edge where the heat sheid is located gets very hot, red hot in fact. The ehat shield keeps the heat from penetrating the module to protect the electronic gear and passengers from the extreme heat. If the heat shield were not used the module would literally melt on reentry.


What does the heat shield do on a spacecraft?

As the name implies, a heat shield shields something from heat. In the case of a spacecraft heatshield, it shields and protects the craft itself from the tremendous amount of heat created by air friction due to the extremely high speed of the craft during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.


What was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft to return to earth?

The command module was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft to return to Earth. It was designed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, withstand the heat of re-entry, and splash down safely in the ocean.


What does a heat shield do on a spacecraft?

A heat shield on a space craft protects the craft from burning up or malfunctioning from over heating.


When a space vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere energy is turned into energy?

When a spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere, the kinetic energy from its high speed is converted into heat energy due to air resistance. This process causes the spacecraft to heat up and create a fiery trail as it descends. The heat shield protects the spacecraft from burning up completely during re-entry.


What is the part of the spacecraft that protects from high temperatures of re entry?

The heat shield is the part of the spacecraft that protects it from the high temperatures experienced during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. It is designed to withstand the intense heat generated by friction as the spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere at high speeds.


What protects the spacecraft when it enters atmosphere from space?

A heat shield protects the spacecraft when it enters the atmosphere from space by absorbing and dissipating the intense heat generated due to atmospheric friction. The heat shield helps prevent the spacecraft from burning up during reentry by creating a layer of hot and ionized gas, or plasma, around the spacecraft that acts as a barrier.


What is return capsule?

A return capsule is a component of a spacecraft that is designed to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and return astronauts, scientific samples, or other payloads safely to the ground. It protects its contents from the intense heat and forces experienced during re-entry.


How do spacecraft land back on earth safely?

Spacecraft land back on Earth safely by using a combination of parachutes, heat shields, and sometimes thrusters to slow down their descent. The heat shield protects the spacecraft from the intense heat generated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, while parachutes help to further slow down the descent before touchdown. Additionally, some spacecraft may use retro rockets or airbags to cushion the landing impact.


What term describes the process of returning astronauts to earth from space?

Reentry describes the process of returning astronauts to Earth from space. During reentry, the spacecraft passes through the Earth's atmosphere, experiencing high temperatures due to friction with the air. The spacecraft's heat shield helps protect it from burning up during this phase.


How do astronauts return to earth?

Through a slow and controlled descent.During the space programs Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, astronauts returned to Earth through a sort of crash landing. They fell through the atmosphere using a heat shield to deflect the massive amounts of heat built up do to the friction of the Earth against the spacecraft. When they were nearing the Earth's surface they deployed a parachute to slow them down. They then fell into the ocean, the spacecraft floated, and they were retrieved by a Navy rescue team. Then the spacecrafts could not be reused, they were a once only deal. Now the Shuttle lands much like an airplane does. It reenters the atmosphere and uses a heatshield of its own to deflect the heat. It has wings on the side which allow it control over its decent and it lands on a runway, also using parachutes to slow it down after it has touched down. The benefit of this style of landing is that the spacecraft is reuseable and can fly several missions.


What problem did john glenn encounter on his flight back to earth?

John Glenn encountered an issue with the spacecraft's heat shield during his flight back to Earth. This caused concerns about the safety of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Ultimately, he safely landed in the Atlantic Ocean.