AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAGELLAN SPACECRAFT IN THE VENUS UPPER-ATMOSPHERE

The aerodynamic flight characteristics of the Magellan spacecraft in t he Venus atmosphere are computed at a nominal altitude of 140 km over a wide range of incidence angles and roll angles. Computational method s are described that can be used to simulate flowfields in the transit ion and free-molecule domains over vehicles of arbitrarily complex geo metry. Values of the drag, lift, and transverse forces and of the pitc h, yaw, and roll moments are given for incidence angles of -60 to 60 d eg and roll angles of 0 to 360 deg. Transitional-flow effects are quan tified and shown to be small, but not negligible and should be account ed for if high accuracy is required.