Aerodynamics of trans-atmopsheric vehicles : a non-dimensional approach

The non-dimensional approach to aerodynamics of trans-atmospheric flight is discussed, which explicitly takes into account the vertical span of the atmosphere as well as atmospheric mass load (atmospheric pressure) at the current flight level. As an example, a simple analytic model of the dynamics of trans-atmospheric flight is considered for both powered boost and non-powered glide of a trans-atmospheric vehicle, and the applicability to more general, numerical models of atmospheric flight is discussed.