Radiation Modeling for the Reentry of the Stardust Sample Return Capsule

A high-fidelity three-dimensional approach is developed to simulate emission signatures from the shock layer around the Stardust sample return capsule at several points on its best-estimated trajectory. Calculations are performed with various gas chemistry, thermodynamic, and radiation models. Results are compared against calibrated imaging data acquired by a slitless echelle spectrometer. The present analysis is based on flowfields computed without the inclusion of ablation products, and the comparison is focused on radiation from atomic oxygen and nitrogen lines. The purpose is to apply and improve, if necessary, the current models used in nonequilibrium atmospheric entry simulations.