Numerical Investigation of Several Alkali Metal Addition Methods for the Forced Elevation of the Starting Altitude in the Electrodynamic Aerobraking Declaration

摘要

From our previous studies, we have found that the electrodynamic aerobraking in a hypersonic rarefied region has a critical altitude at which the electrodynamic force suddenly vanishes. To elevate the starting altitude of the electrodynamics aerobraking, we propose several alkali metal addition methods for forced-generating the electrodynamic force at altitudes over the critical altitude. The effect of the alkali metal addition methods are investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. As a result, the alkali metal addition method is found to be effective for the forced-generation of the electrodynamic force at an altitude over the critical altitude. Furthermore, the methods are found to be merely necessary to trigger a chain of the mechanisms for generating large electrodynamic force, and it is unnecessary after the mechanisms have been triggered. The methods are found to be applicable up to the altitude which is about 5 km higher than the critical altitude.