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17934658793495046509 t1_j5wpij1 wrote

Reply to comment by odddutchman 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

Also you would need a heat shield to slow down in the atmosphere. It’s heavy but weighs less than the fuel you would need to do the same thing.

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Hokulewa t1_j5x1h2j wrote

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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