Recent aerothermodynamic flight measurements during shuttle orbiter re-entry

All four Space Shuttle Orbiters, which are currently operational, have limited instrumentation packages that provide information about the aerothermodynamic environment. Heat transfer rates have been determined from the measured temperature histories using a simple technique. The experimental rates thus determined have been compared with previous flight data and with existing computations. The comparisons were used to evaluate the data in general, to study viscous-inviscid interactions such as those due to body-flap deflections, and to evaluate possible flight anomalies.