Spacecraft can skip across the atmosphere like a stone across a pond
Modern spacecraft use a 'skip-entry' technique to bounce off the Earth's atmosphere like a stone on water, allowing for a safer and more controlled return from deep space missions.
The Artemis II Orion spacecraft utilizes a sophisticated maneuver known as skip-entry to return to Earth safely. By hitting the atmosphere at a specific angle, the craft experiences aerodynamic lift that bounces it back into space briefly before it re-enters for a final descent. This 'roller-coaster' path allows the vehicle to shed its incredible speed of 24,500 mph gradually rather than all at once.
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