Magnetic Shields to Protect Spaceships From Re-Entry Friction Heat [Space]

The Europeans are developing a magnetic shield that will protect spaceships when entering the Earth's atmosphere.

The new magnetic heat shield—developed by EADS Astrium, the German aerospace center, and the European Space Agency—is expected to complement or replace traditional ceramic heat shields entirely. The field will be generated by a super-conducting coil, deflecting atmosphere particles from the surface of the spaceship and, therefore, eliminating friction.
If everything goes as they expect, it will be tested with a Russian Volna launcher in the next decade, which will enter the atmosphere at Mach 21.
[Gizmodo]