SG-1 confirm with Thor that his ship will completely burn up entering Earth's atmosphere. This is only the case for this episode's plot convenience as Thor's ship has previously entered a planet's atmosphere where the ship clearly appears coming through cloud level making it well within the atmosphere. It would be illogical to say those planets have a different atmosphere from Earth, and that the ship should not be able to enter or burn up in any planet's atmosphere no matter which way it's looked at.
Yet it is made clear that the ship will only burn up because it is entering uncontrolled, which is also true of real-life space shuttles. They have to enter at a certain angle and speed to withstand the friction.
Yet it is made clear that the ship will only burn up because it is entering uncontrolled, which is also true of real-life space shuttles. They have to enter at a certain angle and speed to withstand the friction.
The Asgard ship is said to be entering the atmosphere on a heading of 196 but on screen is heading north east.