[snopercod]

What keeps this craft from burning up on re-entry like the last Space Shuttle did?

I wish I knew. That orange stuff on the underside of the nose and leading edges was supposed to be special paint which changes color in response to heat so they could see how hot it actually got.

[Robert A Cook PE]

The SS-1 uses what Rutan calls a "supersonic feathering" at high speeds to slow down from "space" speeds (though he does NOT get to orbital speeds yet!) down to near-supersonic speeds (mach 1.5 or so), then "conventional" supersonic flight (gliding) down to land.

The tail and aft wings tilt to about 35 degrees from the body, and the spacecraft (still supersonic) slows in the ultra-high vacuum of 130,000+ feet to use air drag. not sure of his actual speed at that time:

Sabertooth, do you recall?

Not as much heat as the shuttle or satellites that are colliding from orbit speeds.