Shuttle Landing

[Maj. Stress]

Originally Posted by Jim

Here is what I don't get. During reentry it gets really hot from friction going so fast (17,000 MPH). So, why can't they take it slow? There must be some reason but I just can't figure it out.

Burt Rutan figured it out. I couldn't find the article that shows exactly how he did it but this article has some info on his spaceship that won the prize for the first privately funded vehicle to go into space.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077811/