Trajectory based, 3-dimensional heating and ablation calculations for the Apollo Lunar/Earth return capsule

Abstract

Three dimensional (3-D) surface heating and ablation rate distributions have been obtained based on the geometry of the project Apollo Lunar/Earth return capsule and high Reynolds number inviscid/boundary layer methods. This application is based on the principles of the pseudo-three dimensional axisymmetric streamline analogy. Inviscid surface streamlines are determined for the forebody portion of the Apollo capsule using a CFD solver. Streamlines are obtained for the 20 deg angle-of-attack flight case, and the associated streamline metrics are determined. Boundary layer heating and ablation calculations are performed along selected Apollo forebody streamlines using the non-similar boundary layer code. Surface radiative heating estimates were obtained and the validity of the streamline tracing analogy is examined. These comparisons and the Apollo trajectory heating results are discussed.