AEROTHERMODYNAMIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT UNIVERSITY 'FEDERICO Ⅱ' IN SUPPORT TO THE SCIROCCO PROGRAM

摘要

The research activities performed at the Space Science and Engineering Department (DISIS) of the University of Naples "Federico Ⅱ" in relationship to the Scirocco program are reviewed and discussed. The role of the Small Planetary Entry Simulator (SPES) facility available at DISIS as a pilot facility for Scirocco is highlighted. A description of the numerical and experimental activities related to the aerothermodynamic heating of space probes entering the Earth and/or the Mars atmospheres is given. In particular, the effects of surface catalysis on heat fluxes and integrated heat loads, and the possibility to employ newly developed very high temperature materials as Thermal Protection System (TPS) are discussed.