Entry Flight Research and Experimentation

Abstract

For several years NASA has devoted a major effort to the study of aerodynamic heat transfer and methods for thermal protection. An important phase of this effort is through the use of rocket-propelled, free-flight models. Heat-transfer investigations are needed at high velocities with the high enthalpy conditions of flight in the real environment which rocket models provide. Rocket model investigations are therefore needed to confirm or evaluate heat-transfer formulae obtained from theoretical analysis or from ground facility experimental investigations. They are also needed to obtain data from which empirical relations can be developed for problem areas where theory is not well established. Although rocket models are poorly suited for parametric studies, they are valuable to proof-check the heat-transfer predictions for specific shapes and specific environmental flight conditions.