Loren Booda said:Aside from combustion (oxidation?) of the noxious fuel from the exploded spy satellite, will most of the remaining fuel eventually burn up due to friction with the atmosphere, or will it fall unaltered as precipitation?
russ_watters said:It will probably just evaporate, though.
Fuel burns upon re-entry due to the intense heat generated by friction between the spacecraft and the Earth's atmosphere. This heat causes the fuel to ignite and burn.
The type of fuel used in a spacecraft can greatly impact its burning during re-entry. For example, solid fuels like those used in solid rocket boosters tend to burn more consistently and at a higher temperature compared to liquid fuels.
Fuel consumption during re-entry is greatly affected by the angle of the spacecraft's trajectory and the amount of friction it experiences. If the spacecraft has a steeper angle of re-entry and experiences higher levels of friction, it will consume more fuel to maintain its trajectory and slow down for a safe landing.
To prevent fuel explosions during re-entry, spacecrafts are equipped with special heat shields that protect the fuel tanks from the high temperatures. Additionally, fuels are designed to have a high flashpoint, meaning they are less likely to ignite from high temperatures alone.
While fuel is used to slow down and control the descent of a spacecraft during re-entry, it is not typically used as a source of energy. Most spacecrafts are equipped with alternative sources of energy, such as solar panels or batteries, for their operations during re-entry and landing.