The aerodynamics of descent modules that enter dense atmospheric layers at a superobital velocity is studied using the Non-Equilibrium Radiation Aero Thermodynamics (NERAT) code and several models of the chemical kinetics of partially ionized air. The conditions of the Fire-II flight experiment are considered. It is shown that the Park, Dunn-Kang, and Martin-Bortner models extensively used in aerophysics provide satisfactory agreement between the calculated convective flux densities and those measured in the flight experiment. These models, however, predict different temperature levels in the shock layer, which can be of importance for correct calculations of radiation heat flux densities.
