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Flying the Shuttle - Entry: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with " {{Note|This article refers to the Space Shuttle in the FGAddon repository. }} This mission phase can directly be started using <b>--aircraft=SpaceShuttle-entry</b> on the c...") |
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This is accomplished by maintaining a high AoA, i.e. during the hot entry phase, the Shuttle is flown in what is technically close to a stall condition - pitched up at 40 degrees. | This is accomplished by maintaining a high AoA, i.e. during the hot entry phase, the Shuttle is flown in what is technically close to a stall condition - pitched up at 40 degrees. | ||
[[File:Shuttle entry01.jpg|600px|Pitch up attitude of the Space Shuttle on entry]] | |||
As the lift/drag curves of the Shuttle show, at hypersonic speeds, even in that regime, the glide ratio is still about 0.8, so the shuttle will produce lift even at such high AoA. | |||
[[File:L-D-mach.gif|600px|Lift/Drag of the Space Shuttle]] | |||
The density of the ambient atmosphere largely sets the deceleration force and thermal load, and the altitude determines the atmosphere density, hence to manage the deceleration force and thermal load, the vertical speed needs to be controlled. As soon as the transition to aerodynamical flight is made, aerodynamical lift provides the means to do so. | |||