Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Merak on December 10, 2003 at 18:55:46

In Reply to: Sure it would, but... on what purpose? posted by orejones on December 10, 2003 at 08:08:25:

A low Earth orbit (as originally described) need not be out in 'Space'. If the craft is disabled after it began to slow down on its own, then the orbit can be only a few 10's of miles high. This would place it low enough for atmospheric friction to keep it from unlimited acceleration but not enough to burn it up, at least until a few orbits have been traveled. Also, at that low altitude the heat energy would be severely felt at the surface. The space shuttle can withstand the heat generated upon re-entry, so it would not be a far stretch to imagine a better material able to withstand several orbits at the altitude described.