A review is presented of the experimental research and supporting numerical activities to examine key problems in supersonic and hypervelocity flows in the LENS shock and expansion tunnels. A description is presented of the basic operation and performance of the LENS shock and expansion tunnels and the test conditions which can be obtained in them. Experimental studies performed to examine viscous interaction phenomena and non-equilibrium flow chemistry in hypervelocity low density and laminar flows are reviewed together with the results of a "blind" validation/ evaluation study to compare the results of experimental studies in high temperature separated shock interaction regions with CFD predictions using state of the art chemistry models. We then summarize the studies being conducted to examine the characteristics of boundary layer transition and transitional flows over blunt and slender re-entry vehicles. A summary is presented of experimental research to examine the characteristics of regions of shock wave/ turbulent boundary layer interactions at flight Reynolds number and velocities and comparisons with CFD predictions using state of the art turbulence models are discussed. We review the programs at CUBRC in support of NASA's Space Program. Finally, some of the experimental studies being conducted in the LENS facility to examine the combusting flows associated in dual-mode ram/scram air breathing engines are presented.
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