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Hokulewa t1_j5x1h2j wrote

Reply to comment by 17934658793495046509 in Why do sample return missions such as OSIRIS-REx use their own reentry vehicles instead of just going to the space station for pickup and return with ISS equipment? by PromptCritical725

You could really improve your payload mass margin by using aerobraking to match velocity with the Earth, but you would need a shielding device of some kind to protect you from the heat. That would weigh a lot less than the propellant you'd need to use, otherwise.

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