Aerothermal Heating Predictions for Mars Microprobe

Computational Aeroheating Predictions for Mars Lander Configurations

The proposed Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is intended to deliver a large rover to the Martian surface within 10 km of the target site. This paper presents computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions of forebody heating rates for two MSL entry configurations with fixed aerodynamic trim tabs. Results are compared to heating on a 70-deg sphere-cone reference geometry. All three heatshi...

Lava heating and loading of ice sheets on early Mars: Predictions for meltwater generation, groundwater recharge, and resulting landforms

Recent modeling studies of the early Mars climate predict a predominantly cold climate, characterized by the formation of regional ice sheets across the highland areas of Mars. Formation of the predicted “icy highlands” ice sheets is coincident with a peak in the volcanic flux of Mars involving the emplacement of the Late Noachian – Early Hesperian ridged plains unit. We explore the relationshi...

Assessment of Mars Pathfinder Landing Site Predictions

Rare ed Aerothermodynamic Predictions for Mars Global Surveyor

Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) successfully completed its rst phase of aerobraking in early 1998 and is the rst planetary mission to use aerobraking as a primary means of customizing its orbit to achieve its mission objectives [1]. The aerobraking requirements together with post-launch anomalies [2] presented a unique challenge to provide accurate predictions of the aerothermodynamic environment of...

Laminar and Turbulent Aero Heating Predictions over Blunt Body in Hypersonic Flow

In the present work, an engineering method is developed to predict laminar and turbulent heating-rate solutions for blunt reentry spacecraft at hypersonic conditions. The calculation of aerodynamic heating around blunt bodies requires alternative solution of inviscid flow field around the hypersonic bodies. In this paper, the procedure is of an inverse nature, that is, a shock wave is assumed a...