Is Slow Travel Through Earth's Atmosphere Possible?

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SUMMARY

Traveling through Earth's atmosphere at low speeds, such as 20 MPH or even 10 MPH, significantly reduces the risk of burning up upon re-entry. The primary cause of heating during atmospheric entry is ram pressure, which increases with velocity, rather than friction alone. A meteoroid entering the atmosphere generates a shockwave due to the rapid compression of air, leading to heating. Therefore, slower speeds result in lower ram pressure and reduced thermal effects on the object.

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  • Understanding of atmospheric physics
  • Knowledge of ram pressure and its effects
  • Familiarity with the principles of aerodynamics
  • Basic concepts of thermal dynamics during re-entry
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  • Research the effects of ram pressure on atmospheric entry
  • Study the physics of meteoroid re-entry and thermal protection systems
  • Explore the principles of shockwave formation in fluid dynamics
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Aerospace engineers, physicists, students of atmospheric sciences, and anyone interested in the mechanics of re-entry and thermal protection systems.

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If you find a way to acctually travel (defining gravity of course) slowly like 20 MPH as you enter the Earth's atmosphere from space would you burn up? Is burning up just an effect because of the speed ships are coming in? Or, even if you were traveling at 10 MPH through the atmosphere would the gasses try to burn you up anyway?
 
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The burning is cause of friction. If you come in very slowly then you won't burn up.
 
The burning of meters is caused by ram pressure.

A meter traveling through the Earth's atmosphere produces a shockwave generated by *fast* compression of air in front of it. It is primarily this ram pressure (rather than friction) which heats the air which in turn heats the meteoroid as it flows around it.

Ram pressure increases with velocity. If you stick your hand out the window of a car on the autobahn, there's a lot of ram pressure pushing on your hand (actually you're pushing on the air). This is because your velocity is greater than if you were driving in a parking lot.

Or, even if you were traveling at 10 MPH through the atmosphere would the gasses try to burn you up anyway?
Really, those little mean gasses are trying to burn you up whatever speed you're going. The burn you up better the faster you go.
 
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