Prediction of the flow field over an orbiter entering the Mars atmosphere

This paper presents the methodology and the physical models implemented in our computational code to predict the flow field over a Mars Sample Return Orbiter entering a Mars-like atmosphere. Because no validation against flight data or experiments can be done at present, the results obtained here are compared to other computed results for verification purpose. The predicted flow fields show that the chemical species CO and CO₂, that are highly radiative species, are present in a large amount and at high temperature in the shock layer and in the wake of the flow past the orbiter.