On a lighter note, a 1983 TV movie [1] follows events on an high-speed passenger airplane accidentally launching into LEO and being rescued by two space shuttle

On a lighter note, a 1983 TV movie [1] follows events on an high-speed passenger airplane accidentally launching into LEO and being rescued by two space shuttle missions. Concepts shown included transfering passengers and crew through space by improvised means [2] and using a shuttle as sort of heat shield in front of the plane; one character realizes a shuttle could drop into the atmosphere ahead of Starflight, with Starflight riding the plough-wave; the wingtips would burn a little. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starflight:_The_Plane_That_Couldn't_Land https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starflight:_The_Plane_That_Cou... [2] among them, a coffin.