POLAR Code Calculations of the Shuttle Orbiter Plasma Wake and Direct Comparisons with Spacelab II Measurements.
Abstract
Prior to the 1985 launch of Spacelab II, arrangements were made to use the POLAR code to predict the wake of the shuttle orbiter which was to be measured by the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) satellite. This report describes the comparison of POLAR code calculations with the plasma density measurements made on the PDP. All calculations were made prior to the availability of any information on the measured results; there were no adjustable parameters. The overall qualitative features of the calculated wake agreed well with the experiment. For the four major wake transits, the measured depletions differed from the POLAR computer predictions by 15% or less. Keywords: Plasma Wake; Mesosonic Flow; Spacelab.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA181160
Entities
People
- G. A. Jongeward
- I. Katz
- J. R. Lilley Jr.
- M. J. Mandell