A STUDY OF AERODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF ISOTHERMAL AND TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ATMOSPHERES ON RE-ENTRY TRAJECTORIES,
Abstract
The behavior of skip and impact trajectories of space vehicles entering an atmosphere in which temperature varies with altitude is studied. The atmosphere is divided into layers, each of which is characterized by an appropriate temperature gradient. Numerical results for heat transfer rates, relative decelerations and altitude as functions of flight time, and an altitude-range history for STD Day (ARDC Model Atmosphere, 1959) Hot and Cold Day, are presented for selected re-entry conditions. These results are compared with those obtained in an isothermal (exponential) atmosphere for the same re-entry conditions. The difference in peak heat transfer rates and maximum relative decelerations in the two atmospheric models is not significant for properly selected scale heights. However, the effect of temperature variation upon minimum elevation for the skip trajectory and upon range to point of impact for impact trajectories is noticeable. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0281765
Entities
People
- Leo Rute
Organizations
- New York University Tandon School of Engineering