Heat-transfer and Flow-field Tests of the McDonnell Douglas-Martin Marietta Space Shuttle Configurations

Book excerpt: Aerothermodynamic tests of Phase B space shuttle configurations proposed by McDonnell Douglas--Martin Marietta were conducted at Mach numbers 8 and 10.5. Test conditions provided both Mach number and Reynolds number simulation for typical ascent and reentry trajectories. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the major test results and also presents data comparisons with theoretical calculations. Specific areas covered are ascent heating and shock interference, booster reentry heating and flow fields, and orbiter reentry analysis which includes leeside heating, windward shock angles and flow fields, windward surface heating, and boundary-layer transition.