<P> For Earth , atmospheric entry occurs above the Kármán line at an altitude of more than 100 km ( 62 mi . ) above the surface , while at Venus atmospheric entry occurs at 250 km ( 155 mi . ) and at Mars atmospheric entry at about 80 km ( 50 mi . ) . Uncontrolled , objects accelerate through the atmosphere at extreme velocities under the influence of Earth 's gravity . Most controlled objects enter at hypersonic speeds due to their suborbital ( e.g. , intercontinental ballistic missile reentry vehicles ) , orbital ( e.g. , the Space Shuttle ) , or unbounded ( e.g. , meteors ) trajectories . Various advanced technologies have been developed to enable atmospheric reentry and flight at extreme velocities . An alternative low velocity method of controlled atmospheric entry is buoyancy which is suitable for planetary entry where thick atmospheres , strong gravity or both factors complicate high - velocity hyperbolic entry , such as the atmospheres of Venus , Titan and the gas giants . </P>
<P> For Earth , atmospheric entry occurs above the Kármán line at an altitude of more than 100 km ( 62 mi . ) above the surface , while at Venus atmospheric entry occurs at 250 km ( 155 mi . ) and at Mars atmospheric entry at about 80 km ( 50 mi . ) . Uncontrolled , objects accelerate through the atmosphere at extreme velocities under the influence of Earth 's gravity . Most controlled objects enter at hypersonic speeds due to their suborbital ( e.g. , intercontinental ballistic missile reentry vehicles ) , orbital ( e.g. , the Space Shuttle ) , or unbounded ( e.g. , meteors ) trajectories . Various advanced technologies have been developed to enable atmospheric reentry and flight at extreme velocities . An alternative low velocity method of controlled atmospheric entry is buoyancy which is suitable for planetary entry where thick atmospheres , strong gravity or both factors complicate high - velocity hyperbolic entry , such as the atmospheres of Venus , Titan and the gas giants . </P>
what speed does the space shuttle re-enter earth
what speed does the space shuttle re-enter earth
100 km
100 km