The tumbling motion of aerodynamically stable bodies entering planetary atmospheres is analyzed considering that the tumbling, its arrest, and the subsequent oscillatory motion are governed by the equation for the fifth Painleve' transcendent. Results based on the asymptotic behavior of the transcendent are applied to study (1) the oscillatory behavior of planetary probe vehicles in relation to aerodynamic heating and loads and (2) the dynamic behavior of the Australian tektites on entering the Earth's atmosphere, under the hypothesis that their origin was the Moon.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Theory of Tumbling Bodies Entering Planetary Atmospheres with Application to Probe Vehicles and the Australian Tektites


    Contributors:
    M. Tobak (author) / V. L. Peterson (author)

    Publication date :

    1964


    Size :

    44 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English