Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 

About: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets is an academic journal published by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Spacecraft & Mach number. It has an ISSN identifier of 0022-4650. Over the lifetime, 9314 publications have been published receiving 132480 citations.

The Effect of Viscosity in Hypervelocity Impact Cratering

Abstract: Numerical method for time dependent compressible Navier-Stokes equations applied to axisymmetric flow field produced by hypervelocity impact, examining viscous effects

Nonlinear Longitudinal Dynamical Model of an Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle

Abstract: A nonlinear, physics-based model of the longitudinal dynamics for an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle is developed. The model is derived from first principles and captures a number of complex interactions between the propulsion system, aerodynamics, and structural dynamics. Unlike conventional aircraft, air-breathing hypersonic vehicles require that the propulsion system be highly integrated into the airframe. Furthermore, full-scale hypersonic aircraft tend to have very lightweight, flexible structures that have low natural frequencies. Therefore, the first bending mode of the fuselage is important, as its deflection affects the amount of airflow entering the engine, thus influencing the performance of the propulsion system. The equations of motion for the flexible aircraft are derivedusingLagrange’sequations.Theequationsof motioncaptureinertial couplingeffectsbetween thepitch and normal accelerations of the aircraft and the structural dynamics. The linearized aircraft dynamics are found to be unstableand,inmostcases,exhibitnonminimumphasebehavior.Thelinearizedmodelalsoindicatesthatthereisan aeroelastic mode that has a natural frequency more than twice the frequency of the fuselage bending mode, and the short-period mode is very strongly coupled with the bending mode of the fuselage.

Turbulent Boundary Layer in Compressible Fluids

Abstract: The continuity, momentum, and energy differential equations for turbulent flow of a compressible fluid are derived, and the apparent turbulent stresses and dissipation function are identified. A general formula for skin friction, including heat transfer to a flat plate, is developed for a thin turbulent boundary layer in compressible fluids with zero pressure gradient. Curves are presented giving skin-friction coefficients and heat-transfer coefficients for air for various wall-to-free-stream temperature ratios and free-stream Mach Numbers. In the special case when the boundary layer is insulated, this general formula yields skin-friction coefficients higher than those given by the von Karman wall-property compressible-fluid formula but lower than those given by the von Karman incompressible-fluid formula. Heat transfer from the boundary layer to the plate generally increases the friction and heat-transfer coefficients.

Mars Exploration Entry, Descent, and Landing Challenges

Abstract: The United States has successfully landed five robotic systems on the surface of Mars. These systems all had landed mass below 0.6 metric tons (t), had landed footprints on the order of hundreds of km and landed at sites below -1 km MOLA elevation due the need to perform entry, descent and landing operations in an environment with sufficient atmospheric density. Current plans for human exploration of Mars call for the landing of 40-80 t surface elements at scientifically interesting locations within close proximity (10's of m) of pre-positioned robotic assets. This paper summarizes past successful entry, descent and landing systems and approaches being developed by the robotic Mars exploration program to increased landed performance (mass, accuracy and surface elevation). In addition, the entry, descent and landing sequence for a human exploration system will be reviewed, highlighting the technology and systems advances required.

Ablation and Thermal Response Program for Spacecraft Heatshield Analysis

Abstract: An implicit ablation and thermal response program is presented for simulation of one-dimensional transient thermal energy transport in a multilayer stack of isotropic materials and structure which can ablate from a front surface and decompose in-depth. The governing equations and numerical procedures for solution are summarized. Solutions are compared with those of an existing code, the Aerotherm Charring Material Thermal Response and Ablation Program, and also with arcjet data Numerical experiments show that the new code is numerically more stable and solves a much wider range of problems compared with the older code. To demonstrate its capability, applications for thermal analysis and sizing of aeroshell heatshields for planetary missions, such as Stardust, Mars Microprobe (Deep Space n), Saturn Entry Probe, and Mars 2001, using advanced light-weight ceramic ablators developed at NASA Ames Research Center, are presented and discussed.