Aerothermodynamics – A critical review at DLR

The paper presents the results of a study done for the German Aerospace Center, DLR.1 The goal of the study is to identify the required design capabilities in external hypersonic aerothermodynamics for future space transportation vehicles. Lessons learned from the latest German program on Technologies for Reusable Future Space Transportation Systems, TETRA, as well as experiences collected from past European technology programs and flight vehicles are taken into account. The study does not go in to details since it pretends to be a reference for future research programs in aerothermodynamics. The potentials and shortcomings of the major prediction tools for aerothermodynamics, i.e., computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnels are shortly highlighted. Overviews of the most relevant external flow problems encountered during the design of space vehicles are presented. Research fields that require serious improvements are also identified.