Re-entry scenario

Scenario for a novel:

1. Earth mass planet (say between 0.8 and 1.4 Earth masses) captured as moon by migrating gas-giant (say 5 Jupiter masses) (not wedded to this setting, moon can be bigger or smaller, or I can jettison the gas-giant altogether, I just like the trope).

2. Vehicle in orbit suffers unplanned re-entry.

3. Vehicle is more or less without power/mechanics to effect normal re-entry. Maybe minimal thrusters for trajectory correction. Diameter of vehicle is approximately 30-meters. Poor drag coefficient. Sufficient shielding or other futuristic gizmos to protect passengers from heating.

I'm trying to figure out the timeline of initial velocity, deceleration, aerodynamic heating, and breakup, and whether the scenario I have in mind for getting characters off the vehicle before impact is at all plausible. Is any one here able to explore this idea with me, or signpost me on?

N.B. This is a science fiction setting, so while I'm looking for realistic physics, I have enough flexibility in the setting to "fudge" extremes that would otherwise kill ordinary people.

posted over 7 years ago

scicurious‭

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