Editing Spaceflight (section)

=== Reentry ===
{{Main|Atmospheric reentry}}
Vehicles in orbit have large amounts of kinetic energy. This energy must be discarded if the vehicle is to land safely without vaporizing in the atmosphere. Typically this process requires special methods to protect against [[aerodynamic heating]]. The theory behind reentry was developed by [[Harry Julian Allen]]. Based on this theory, reentry vehicles present blunt shapes to the atmosphere for reentry. Blunt shapes mean that less than 1% of the kinetic energy ends up as heat reaching the vehicle, and the remainder heats the atmosphere.