well the funny thing is, if you go into a planet's atmosphere, ure dead within 2-3 secs if u go closer after the warning(that is if ure in a fighter). if ure in bigger ships, u bounce off, but u still take alot of damage. i had to ram a planted thrice with my huntress to commit suicide...
but, then when i went into a star in omicron alpha, it took me approx 7 mins to lose my health. and to add to insult, i was stuck in the star, and i was getting shot at by outcast destroyers...