Coupled kinetic-continuum modeling of reentry vehicle plasma environment.

A new kinetic-continuum technique of the direct Monte Carlo simulation coupled with solution of the electron energy equation was applied to modeling of the high-enthalpyionized rare fied flow about are entry capsule. The new technique predict selectron temperature distributions completely different from those obtained with widely used approximation Te=Tv (N2). The technique was validated against the results of the RAM-CII flight experiment. More accurate prediction of electron temperature can improve validity of the studies of communucation black out phenomena and aerothermodynamics of super orbital entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]