[ewing]

What about the pilot module? Could it survive breakup at 200,000 feet and Mach25?

[VadeRetro]

What about the pilot module? Could it survive breakup at 200,000 feet and Mach25?

Apparently it's only going Mach 7 or so by the time you're down to 200K feet. Doesn't matter. It would have to be a lot slower than that and it isn't. You're a meteor, and the thickest part of the atmosphere is still below. When those tiles are gone from around you, you're going to burn.