DeJarnette Provides Valuable Research for NASA Space Shuttle Replacement

One of the most important features to consider when designing a spacecraft is its ability to withstand the tremendous heat and friction that occurs when the vehicle is returning to Earth from a space mission. Dr. Fred DeJarnette, professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, received a grant in 2001 from NASA Langley, and has been working to develop a computer code to calculate heating rates over hypersonic vehicles. These calculations will enable the development of predictive and uncertainty techniques to improve NASA's ability to design, test, operate and maintain future hypersonic vehicles. For example, Dr. DeJarnette's work will help NASA in designing future heat shields.

There is an urgent need for Dr. DeJarnette's research. NASA plans to retire the existing space shuttles in 2010, and replace them with new Crew Exploration Vehicles (CEVs) in 2012.

Dr. DeJarnette's research can be applied to other types of spacecraft. President Bush has requested that NASA build a version to go to the moon. This vehicle would be similar to the Apollo space capsule, but large enough to carry four astronauts.

Two former NASA Langley researchers, now MAE researchers, Harris Hamilton and Jim Weilmuenster, and a few NC State University graduate students are working with Dr. DeJarnette on this valuable project.

This picture shows streamlines and heating rates on the proposed X-33 space vehicle. The red region is the highest heating region and the blue is the lowest heating region.