The whole subject of heat shielding is fasicnating. Your example (and Larrys follow up) of wood as a shield was unexpected. Like the maget example, the gemini capsules took advantage of the shock wave to steer the "plasma" around the craft. Last night I lay awake thinking about sheilding. I wondered if pumping air in a system somewhat like an air hockey table could keep the heat away. I wonder if this is at all similar to what Tom is talking about.

(Ramble--I see Jacob and Larry beat me to this)

When you think about it, it boils down to what we learnd in high school physics- the law of conservation of energy. The kinetic enegry of the shuttle has to be converted to heat just like when you hit the brakes on your car the friction between the brake pads and the rotors transfer the foward motion of your vehicle into heat. The rotors get hot and the brake pads ash-over in an 'albative' process leaving the rudy brown dust on you front wheels.