Development of Aerothermal Database-In-The-Loop Capability with Flight Mechanics Simulations

Aerothermal databases are an emerging modeling approach for integration in aeroassist, entry, descent, and landing trajectory simulations. While existing integrated approaches either use engineering or empirical curve-fits, databases can provide the flexibility to mission designers for assessing aerothermal environments about different trajectory conditions. Computational Fluid Dynamics aerothermal solutions at different trajectory conditions are gridded to define the database and the trajectory is "flown" through the database in real-time to obtain aerothermal metrics. In this paper, the development of an integrated aerothermal database within a trajectory simulation is presented. Proof-of-concept results as applied to the Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System are presented.