Ascent heat transfer rate distribution on the North American Rockwell delta wing orbiter and the General Dynamics/Convair booster at a Mach number of 8 (mated)

A wind tunnel test program to determine aerodynamic interference heating on the North American Rockwell orbiter mated with the General Dynamics Convair booster is discussed. The tests were conducted at the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) in Tunnel B of the von Karman Gas Dynamics Facility (VKF). The test period was June 1971. Heat-transfer rates were determined by the phase-change paint technique on 0.013-scale Stycast models using Tempilaq as the surface temperature indicator. The nominal test conditions were: Mach 8, free-stream unit length Reynolds numbers of 1.25 x one million and 2.55 x one million angles of attack of -5, 0, +5 deg. Model details, test conditions, phase-change paint photographs and reduced heat-transfer coefficients are presented.