Thermophysics of Atmospheric Entry

Thermophysics denotes a blend of the classical sciences of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, materials, and electromagnetic theory with the microphysical sciences of solid state, physical optics, and atomic and molecular dynamics. All of these sciences are involved and interconnected in the problem of entry into a planetary atmosphere at spaceflight speeds. At such high speeds, the adjacent atmospheric gas is not only compressed and heated to very high temperatures, but strongly reactive, highly radiative, and electronically conductive as well. At the same time, as a consequence of the intense surface heating, the temperature of the material of the entry vehicle is raised to a degree such that material ablation and chemical reaction become prominent. This volume deals with all of these processes, as they are viewed by the research and engineering community today, not only at the detailed physical and chemical level, but also at the system engineering and design level, for spacecraft intended for entry into the atmosphere of the earth and those of other planets. The twenty-two papers in this volume represent some of the most important recent advances in this field, contributed by highly qualified research scientists and engineers with intimate knowledge of current problems.