STUDY OF SOFT RECOVERY FROM TWO-STAGE VEHICLES.PART II. VERTICAL DESCENT TRAJECTORIES INCLUDING AERODYNAMIC HEATING
Abstract
Vertical descent trajectories are presented in graphical form for bodies entering the earth's atmosphere starting at an altitude of 320,000 ft. with entry speeds varying from 35,000 to 7,500 fps. Two sets of trajectories were computed: one with fixed drag-area-to-weight ratios ranging from 10 to .001, and one set, where the drag-area-to-weight ratio is varying to achieve reentry with decelerations limited to 75, 30 and 15 g. The variation of the drag-to-weight ratio during descent was expressed in terms of a dragarea factor C. The computations were performed on an analog computer. Presented are graphs for velocity, deceleration, dynamic pressure, heating rate, total heat, temperature, and, for the limited deceleration case, the drag-area factor, plotted versus time and/or altitude. The physical equations are presented and their analog computer mechanization is discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0277911
Entities
People
- F.p. Ehni
- W.f. Haldeman
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory