Atmospheric (Re)entry

[james123182]

If this has been posted before, tell me. Why is it that when large ships enter the atmosphere of a planet in all of the stargate they show significant burn up on their shields (if active), and yet you don't see this with the Puddle jumpers? It can't be because it's too small because anything on atmospheric entry has burn up. It's why the shuttle is black on the bottom, it has heat tiles to protect it. So why don't you see it with Puddle Jumpers?

[AlexanderD]

It could have something to do with the Jumpers cloaking system. Visible reentry is a result of heat and friction.

[Ouroboros]

They reenter the atmosphere at lower velocities, hence not enough friction for a heat wake.

The wizardly wonders of anti gravity floaty tech and arbitrary thrust direction engine "brakes".

[james123182]

but a shuttle enters at low velocities, and still has burn-up.

[ValaAeryn]

It could have something to do with the Jumpers cloaking system. Visible reentry is a result of heat and friction.

as well as what the Puddle Jumpers are made of?

[AlexanderD]

I don't see material composition of the Jumper's outer hull playing in role.

[james123182]

If it was some kind of ultra Teflon (Though admittedly there is little evidence or this) it might work. Maybe the patterns are also a part of this?

[AlexanderD]

No, it wouldn't. Material composition of an object reentering the atmosphere would have precisely zero effect. The viscosity of said material would also have zero effect.

[james123182]

so what would be the cause of the absence of burn-up?

[AlexanderD]

Either something to do with the cloaking system, some type of energy field, an amazingly slow descent speed, or a visual effects team directed to leave said effect out.

[james123182]

i'd say probably the last. the cloaking system idea wouldn't work if it wasn't on. an energy field might be it, but then why not put it on other ships? it is explicitly stated in season 1 (can't remember which ep) that they are going balls crushingly fast. all of which combine to make the last the most likely but least interesting.

[AlexanderD]

A dash of Ancient pixie dust makes everything possible

[james123182]

ahh yes, the infamous pixie dust. One of the rarest but most encountered things in the gateverse.

[AlexanderD]

It's wondrous, like bubble wrap.

[james123182]

or a banana phone

[james123182]

although we may be getting a bit off the point...

[AlexanderD]

Back on topic, nothing in modern science and technology can achieve this effect.

[james123182]

but that is (sort of) my point. MODERN science and technology. These are the Ancients we're talking about. They could make spontaneous wormholes. no burn up for them could (note the could) have been simple for small ships but difficult for big ships. Asgard ships definitely showed burn up.

[The Urban Spaceman]

Tis a mystery to be sure. Ancient pixie-dust aside, perhaps the Jumpers travel through/into an atmosphere at a controlled velocity, while the larger ships are in more of a descent-thruster-controlled free-fall?

I don't know. The Beliskner in SG1 isn't expected to survive un-controlled (re)entry, yet half of an extremely damaged hive (ships which have no shields, I might add) can not only survive (re)entry, but be landed gracefully on the ocean's surface?

I think it's just flawed continuity. If they need the ship to burn up on (re)entry, it does. If they don't, it doesn't. Either that or some of the planets out there have weird atmospheric composition.

[Ouroboros]

but a shuttle enters at low velocities, and still has burn-up.

Low isn't the word I'd use to describe shuttle reentry speeds.

Here, this link explains what's going on pretty well.

http://answers.google.com/answers/th...id/587531.html