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Astronomy/a special orbit of earch

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Expert: - 8/3/2009


Question
Is it possible to create an entery into earth's atomosphere in such a way that the object just falls straight down without creating great friction with the atomosphere.  Is there an possible orbit that accomplishs this.

Answer
Hello,

No such re-entry is possible, because of the density of the atmosphere. One would be literally inviting burnup. The inescapable fact is that with an atmosphere like our Earth's one is obliged to use a very shallow angle on re-entry. Even then, the skin of the craft can heat to 3,000 F or more.

It is simply impossible- certainly at the present time- to manage a steep re-entry of the type you suggested without catastrophic results.

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Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

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