A review of the Grumman orbiter wind tunnel heat transfer tests

Tests were conducted in the NASA Langley continuous flow, variable density and Mach 20 helium tunnels. The orbiter was tested alone and with various side and tandem mounted tanks. Test conditions spanned a Reynolds number range which resulted in both laminar and turbulent flows. Experimental studies also examined the heat transfer problems associated with integration of the auxiliary propulsion system into the orbiter. Tests in the hypersonic shock tunnel investigated heating to cavities and heating from single and multiple hydrogen-oxygen plumes while tests, run as part of the configuration evaluation, examined the heating to wing pods.