How does re-entry passive braking contrast with the active process of launch?

Answer

Launch uses powerful, sustained thrust to fight gravity; re-entry uses the atmosphere to convert orbital energy into heat and drag.

The energy management strategies for ascending and descending are fundamentally opposite. During launch, a rocket employs powerful, sustained thrust, which is an active process, explicitly working against gravity to push through the atmosphere. Re-entry, conversely, is a passive process where the vehicle utilizes the atmosphere itself as the required braking mechanism. The immense kinetic energy the vehicle possesses from orbit is converted directly into thermal energy (heat) and aerodynamic drag, which serves to slow the vehicle down without the need for added propulsion.

How does re-entry passive braking contrast with the active process of launch?

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