Viviani A., Pezzella G. Aerodynamic and Aerothermodynamic Analysis of Space Mission Vehicles

Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2015, 898 p. — ISBN: 978-3-319-13926-5, ISBN: 978-3-319-13927-2.This issue is very challenging for an entry vehicle: the spacecraft’s velocity is hypersonic while the atmosphere is essentially stagnant. Therefore, the substantial deceleration of the spacecraft causes a strong shock wave to form in front of it, with an intense heating and pressure increasing of the gases surrounding the space vehicle. As a consequence, upon entry into an atmosphere, a spacecraft encounters a highly complex thermochemical fluid environment where, due to flow temperatures reaching thousands of kelvin, convective and radiative heat transfer towards the spacecraft are very significant. Moreover, at super-orbital velocity, the radiative heat flux becomes greater than the convective one and ablation occurs on the heat shield.This required a detailed study of several disciplines such as, for example: aerodynamic loads, aerodynamic heating, vehicle stability, guidance, navigation and control, and landing characteristics.With that in mind, this book intends to provide a detailed state of the art on different themes of hypersonic aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics, by considering different space vehicle aeroshapes useful for different space mission objectives, e.g., Crew Return Vehicle (CRV), Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), Sample Return Vehicle (SRV), and Flying Test Bed (FTB).Basics of Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Aerothermodynamics
Fundamentals of Atmospheric Entry
Some Preliminary Considerations on Entry Vehicle Design
Analysis of an Apollo-Shaped Crew Return Vehicle
Lifting-Body Vehicles
Winged Re-entry Vehicles
Analysis of Sample Return Capsules
Launchers: Present and Future
A Manned Space Mission to Mars