Subject: Would an object burn up if dropped at the top of the atmosphere with zero velocity?

Let's say an object "materialized" into existence at the top of the Earth's 
atmosphere and dropped from there, beginning at zero speed. Would it gain 
enough speed to burn up, or would the atmosphere slow its descent enough to 
prevent this? (this object could be an iron rock, a bowling ball, or a person)

The ring of a space rocket seems to burn up when dropped, but I believe this is 
due to it already have been "pre-heated" by rocket fuel burning AND from space 
heat. Such preheating might cause it to heat up much faater than if it had been 
dropped cold. Is it correct to assume this, or that a cold object dropped from 
a standstill would not burn in the Earth's atmoshere?

Thanks.

Re: Would an object burn up if dropped at the top of the atmosphere with zero velocity?