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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Rockets & Spacecraft

Re-entry

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

/riˈentri/nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, re-entry means: The return of a spacecraft from space into Earth's atmosphere, when the air squeezed in front of it heats its outer surface to very high temperatures.

In Turkish: atmosfere yeniden giriş, atmosfere dönüş

How it is used

Used for crew capsules, returning rocket stages and old satellites. Controllers mention a short radio blackout during re-entry. American English often writes 'reentry'. Unprotected satellites and debris usually burn up on re-entry.

Example sentences

  1. During re-entry the capsule's heat shield reaches well over 1,000 degrees Celsius.

  2. The old satellite is expected to burn up completely on re-entry next week.

Common collocations

  • atmospheric re-entry
  • survive re-entry
  • burn up on re-entry
  • re-entry blackout
  • heat shieldA protective layer on a spacecraft that takes the extreme heat of entering an atmosphere, so that the crew or instruments inside stay safe.
  • crew capsuleThe small spacecraft that carries astronauts to and from space. It sits on top of a rocket for launch and returns to Earth under parachutes.
  • space debrisDead satellites, spent rocket stages and fragments from collisions or explosions that stay in orbit around Earth and can damage working spacecraft.
  • spacecraftAny vehicle designed to travel or operate in space, with or without a crew, such as a satellite, a probe or a crew capsule.

More terms: Rockets & Spacecraft

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