10 Aug
2009
10 Aug
'09
8:40 a.m.
Bob Bruninga wrote:
The difference is that going up, you are going slowly in the higher density atmosphere which is continually lessening as you go up letting you go faster and faster with less and less friction. THus, no multiplying build up of friction.
Bob,
I hesitate to say this, but I'm almost certain that re-entry heating is not caused by friction (well may be 10%). Most reliable sources, NASA included, attribute re-entry heating to shock wave compression of the air in front of the descending craft.
Sil ZL2CIA