Topic 5: Entry, Descent & Landing (POC: Ron Merski – n.r.merski@nasa.gov)
- Advanced EDL architecture approaches
- Advanced EDL vehicle concepts – small spacecraft
- EDL systems analysis (empirical performance assessment tools, packaging)
- Aero-assist technologies — Aerocapture concepts
- Aero maneuvering technologies – trim tabs, morphing, RCS, magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD)
- Decelerator technologies – ballutes, parachutes, supersonic retro-propulsion, hypersonic inflatable aerodecelerators (HIADs)
- High end computing for EDL modeling — GPUs
- Flight mechanics and GNC methods
- Atmospheric model development
- Computational fluid dynamics methods and modeling
- Rarefied flow computations — DSMC