Direct simulation of rarefied high-enthalpy flow around the RAM C-II capsule

Abstract

An ionized flow around the RAM C-II space vehicle is studied by the direct simulation Monte Carlo method in the range of altitudes of 73 to 81 km. It is shown that the predicted value of the plasma density in the shock layer essentially depends on the approach to simulation of high-temperature nonequilibrium dissociation. Good agreement of the results of numerical simulation with flight experiment data is obtained.