What are two characteristics of the thermosphere that make it necessary for us to use a space shuttle to get through it?

UV radiation, extreme temperatures and low density of gas.

Explanation:

The thermometer is a layer of the earth that is directly found over the mesosphere and is has an atmosphere of the UV rays and the photoionization of the molecules that leads to the creation of the ionosphere. Here the temperatures are severed and vary with the solar activity and despite the high temperature it has a low density of the gas. The presence of the Thermospheric storms that occur in the high altitudes is a giant storm and is due to the impulsive form of disturbance, with the respect to the magnetosphere disturbance.

Sequoia national park  /  inyo national forest, california, u.s. mount whitney is the tallest mountain in california, as well as the highest summit in the contiguous united states and thesierra nevada—with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).