Radiative relaxation rates and intensities during outer planet entries

Gas properties which can affect outer planetary entry probe radiative heat transfer are reviewed in order to predict the effect of processes such as radiative relaxation, radiative cooling, and equilibrium radiation intensities on entry. These processes are quantified in order to avoid overestimating the radiative transfer by an over simplified approach to the problem. By reducing the uncertainties in the knowledge of these processes, the heatshield weight is minimized by reducing safety factors and performance limits.