(Christopher) wrote in
:

I know that the plasma halo cause by atmospheric friction cuts out
radio contact from a returning space craft i.e. the Shuttle, Apollo
Comand module, Gemini/Mercury/Suyous capsule...,

It only blocks comm in the downward direction (spacecraft-to-ground). The
shuttle can communicate fine during entry by relaying through TDRSS. STS-
107 had intermittent comm dropouts, possibly due to vaporized aluminum from
the left wing getting into the plasma "tail".

--
JRF

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