Heat reduction
Question: Spacecraft returning to Earth from orbit are subject to the intense
heat that is generated by the friction from re-entry into the atmosphere. Why is
it not possible for them to employ an opposing thrust to counteract the pull of
Earth’s gravity?
Answer: It is quite possible to employ an opposing thrust to counteract the
pull of gravity.
However, in practice this would need an immense amount of fuel, only a little
less than that needed to start the spacecraft from its launch pad. A spacecraft
would have to carry this fuel for braking throughout its whole…
