Aerodynamic Characteristics, Database Development, and Flight Simulation of the X-34 Vehicle

摘要

An overview of the aerodynamic characteristics, development of the preflight aerodynamic database, and flight simulation of the NASA/Orbit X-34 vehicle is presented. To develop the aerodynamic database, wind-tunnel tests from subsonic to hypersonic Mach numbers, including ground-effect tests at low subsonic speeds, were conducted in various facilities at the NASA Langley Research Center. Where wind-tunnel test data were not available, engineering level analysis was used to fill the gaps in the database.