Atmospheric entry

Atmospheric entry is when something like a space shuttle enters our Earth's atmosphere from outer space. When the space shuttle enters the atmosphere, it will get hit by air and cause the air to heat up, which is called friction. Friction is like when you rub your hands together and the heat you feel is friction. The air around the space shuttle gets heated up, causing the air to move around it very quickly. This creates a pocket of air so the space shuttle won't hit the ground. This pocket of air is called a shockwave, and it cushions the space shuttle as it comes back down to the Earth.