DOWNWARD-DEPLOYED TETHERED PLATFORMS FOR HIGH-ENTHALPY AEROTHERMODYNAMIC RESEARCH

The data describing aerothermodynamic and aerodynamic interactions at altitudes above SO km are extremely limited because of the relative inaccessibility of the region to research vehicles of any sort. This paper addresses the practicality of using downward-deployed satellites tethered to an orbiting host vehicle to obtain steady-state data in the upper continuum as well as the transition and molecular flow regimes. Recent studies predict that altitudes as low as 90 km can be achieved with aerodynamically shaped satellites, and that tether temperature will be the altitude-limiting parameter. © 1988 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. All Rights Reserved.