Editing Atmospheric entry (section)

===Thermal soak===
Thermal soak is a part of almost all TPS schemes. For example, an ablative heat shield loses most of its thermal protection effectiveness when the outer wall temperature drops below the minimum necessary for pyrolysis. From that time to the end of the heat pulse, heat from the shock layer convects into the heat shield's outer wall and would eventually conduct to the payload.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} This outcome can be prevented by ejecting the heat shield (with its heat soak) prior to the heat conducting to the inner wall.