Launch Vehicle Propulsion and High Enthalpy Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics – Selected Research Activities at the DLR Spacecraft Department

After an introduction of the DLR TAU/THETA Code to solve the incompressible and compressible Navier-Stokes equations, the research activities conducted in the DLR Spacecraft Department related to launch vehicles and rocket propulsion are outlined. Further an introduction to the High Enthalpy Shock Tunnel Göttingen, HEG and selected research activities conducted in HEG during its 25 years of operation are presented including fundamental studies to quantify the influence of high temperature effects on the external aerodynamics of re-entry vehicles ,investigations of supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) flow paths and research related to the laminar to turbulent hypersonic boundary layer transition process and the possible damping of second mode instabilities by ultrasonically absorptive surface materials.