It is axiomatic that the science of aerodynamics must be based on a good understanding of the atmospheric medium through which vehicles are to fly. It is well known that vehicles traveling at high speed excite the air to high temperatures, with the result that air properties deviate considerably from those of a simple gas which obeys the Ideal gas law and which has a constant specific heat. For example, figure 1 shows the major chemical reactions which are produced in the stagnation regions of vehicles traveling at high velocity through the atmosphere. At about 3,000 feet per second the vibrational energy of air molecules begins to become Important.
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