Speed during descent

[The Space Dino]

So i had a craft that was doing tourist contracts (basically a mk 1 command pod with a science jr under it and a heat shield) and i noticed that if i managed to keep the craft upright, after the reentry effects fizzle out, i would be going slow enough to deploy the chutes, however, if my craft flipped over during descent i could not slow down fast enough to deploy chutes before becoming fireworks. Why is that so? I'm guessing its something to do with the heatshield having higher drag than the top of the spacecraft.

[Geonovast]

Are you asking why it doesn't slow down enough with the pointy end first, or why it flips?

[bewing]

It flips and it doesn't slow down as fast -- because aerodynamics depends on shape. Pointy things have lower drag than blunt things. And flipping and slowing down depends on drag.

[Guest]

Also the stability of the craft during re-entry (unwanted flippyness)can be effected by weight distribution  

[Foxster]

Why bring the science jr back at all? 

[Aegolius13]

3 hours ago, bewing said:

It flips and it doesn't slow down as fast -- because aerodynamics depends on shape. Pointy things have lower drag than blunt things. And flipping and slowing down depends on drag.

Further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_coefficient

I love the comparison chart.  Today I learned Usain Bolt has a higher drag coefficient than a coffee filter.

[The Space Dino]

14 hours ago, Geonovast said:

Are you asking why it doesn't slow down enough with the pointy end first, or why it flips?

Sorry if I did not phrase it properly but its the former, but the next reply has already answered it

[Kryxal]

I had (have?) a craft that tended to do the same thing, but I was able to get by with body lift.  It was a bit better balanced than the Mk1 with a science jr, though.

[cantab]

If I have to re-enter stuff like that, I've had good results from putting a few basic fins on the capsule, sort of like the tailfins on a bomb.