SIMULATION OF HYPERSONIC FLIGHT - A CONCERTED EUROPEAN EFFORT

The aerothermodynamic design of vehicles that will enter or reenter a planetary atmosphere relies largely on information gathered in ground- based simulation facilities. Owing to the different natures of the flo w phenomena that occur along the flight path, different wind tunnels d edicated to particular phases of the flight are usually used. Ground s imulation of the so-called 'hot' or hypersonic phase is particularly d ifficult because of the high powers required to generate the wind-tunn el flow.