What material can survive multiple atmosphereic entries/exits

[Theory5]

I was watching Serenity (again!) and I thought about when they strapped the bodies and the ack-ack gun and spashed paint on ship to fool the reivers to get through to Miranda.

I dont think any of that stuff could survive multiple entries and exits (2 of each).

So I ask what semi-common material could survive 2 entries and exits?

[Moontanman]

I was watching Serenity (again!) and I thought about when they strapped the bodies and the ack-ack gun and spashed paint on ship to fool the reivers to get through to Miranda.

I dont think any of that stuff could survive multiple entries and exits (2 of each).

So I ask what semi-common material could survive 2 entries and exits?

 

Actually the tiles on the space shuttle survive many re-entries, a few are replaced each time but basically they stay on for multiple re-entries.

[max4236]

With engines as powerful as that ship has maybe they just coast into the atmosphere at a relatively low speed. Sometimes I try to do that in Orbiter so the ship's nose just glows redish orange rather than the whole ship barreling in as a blazing white fireball.

 

Thick silicone impregnated reusable ceramic ablator microweave fabric? They can probably buy it in bulk at local space ports. I'd imagine they'd have a duct tape version of the stuff too so they can slap it on wherever they need it. Also handy for deflecting micro meteriods, as well as for wrapping up space suits for edge-of-space emergency paracute decents.

[Moontanman]

Not only can a ship with powerful engines make multiple reentries with out burning up by making powered descents they can lug huge cargoes down to the Earth. Check out this hypothetical but really possible ship design at this link.

 

BRUCE BEHRHORST ARTICLE LIST

[modest]

I was watching Serenity (again!) and I thought about when they strapped the bodies and the ack-ack gun and spashed paint on ship to fool the reivers to get through to Miranda.

I dont think any of that stuff could survive multiple entries and exits (2 of each).

 

Being a Serenity fan, I'll add.. Don't forget the "primary buffer panel" fell off toward the start of the movie which was situated toward the nose of the craft. This happened as the craft was descending on a planet. As a response Wash said something like "we need to get some extra burn to offset..." meaning they needed more power from the engines. So, Serenity did have something like the shuttle tiles to protect it, and it also used powered descents as Moontanman says above. :)

 

~modest