Talk:Aurora/@comment-75.73.171.22-20150327014539/@comment-153.91.133.115-20150414055433

You wouldn't need heatshields to leave an atmosphere. The reentry heat that necessitates the use of heatshields is due to friction between whatever object is entering an atmosphere and the gas comprising an atmosphere (due to the immense speeds you enter from compared to those you achieve going up through an atmosphere). While it is possible to experience heating by friction going up through an atmosphere, the object in question must be moving up at great velocities to actually achieve damaging heating effects, which wouldn't typically happen.