Experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate high-altitude viscous effects on Gemini and Apollo entry vehicles; tests, using free-flight technique, were carried out in Ames 1-ft shock tunnel at Mach 14 and Reynolds number based on freestream conditions and maximum body diameters from 800 to 12,000; lift-drag ratio, lift and drag coefficients, and trim angle of attack were measured; significant reductions in lift-drag ratios with decreasing Reynolds number were observed; it is shown that viscous effects can have significant effect on entry trajectories.
Free-flight measurements of aerodynamic viscous effects on lifting re-entry bodies
J Spacecraft Rockets
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets ; 4 , n 8
1967
6 pages
Article (Journal)
English
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