09. How do we survive leaving and entering the atmosphere? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

Leaving the atmosphere is easy for astronauts. All they need is a space capsule to protect them, maintain a safe temperature and provide oxygen. An astronaut's space vehicle starts slowly and gradually increases to more than 14,000 mph, which it needs to maintain orbit around the Earth. Coming back down is much harder because all that speed and energy has to be shed quickly. When the Shuttle drops back into the atmosphere at that high speed it generates enormous heat. That's why the Space Shuttle needs a heat shield to protect it on re-entry.

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Answer provided by Robert P. McCoy, Ph.D.

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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