Dynamics of Atmospheric Re-Entry (Aiaa Education Series)

Hankey addresses the kinetic theory of gases and the prediction of vehicle trajectories during re-entry, including a description of the Earth's atmosphere. He discusses the fundamentals of hypersonic aerodynamics as they are used in estimating the aerodynamic characteristics of re-entry configurations, re-entry heat transfer for both lifting (space shuttle) and ballistic (Apollo) configurations, thermal protection systems, and the application of high-temperature materials in design.

this Text Presents A Comprehensive Treatise On The Dynamics Of Atmospheric Re-entry. All Mathematical Concepts Are Fully Explained In The Text, So That There Is No Need For Any Additional Reference Materials. The First Half Of The Text Deals With The Fundamental Concepts And Practical Applications Of The Atmospheric Model, Earth's Gravitational Field And Form, Axis Transformations, Force And Moment Equations, Keplerian Motion, And Re-entry Mechanics. The Second Half Includes Special Topics Such As Re-entry Decoys, Maneuvering Re-entry Vehicles, Angular Motion, Flowfields Around Re-entering Bodies, Error Analysis, And Inertial Guidance.

Presenting comprehensive coverage of the dynamics of atmospheric re-entry, this text details fundamental concepts and practical applications such as the atmospheric model and re-entry mechanics, and goes on to discuss specific topics such as re-entry decoys, flow fields and error analysis.