I disagree. He did the math assuming all the energy would be dissipated but that’s assuming it came to a stop which is the whole debate. Essentially a mathy begging the question.

The jet of hot gasses coming up around and with the cover could’ve provided a good bit of protection from friction for the first bit (where the atmosphere would have the greatest effect) and ablative effects and the short travel time though the atmosphere could’ve been enough for a likely slightly smaller and very hot cover to blast into space.