Abstract:A review is made of the low-density gas flows that are associated with the operation of current and projected spacecraft. Typical applications are related to orbital contamination studies, the early stages of re-entry, high-altitude aerobraking, the interaction of rocket plumes with vehicles and with the atmosphere, and the orbital drag problem. Criteria are established for determining whether a continuum or a particle model is appropriate in particular cases. It is shown that satisfactory procedures now exist… Show more
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