Shock Tube and Ballistic Range Facilities at NASA Ames Research Center

Abstract

The Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) facility and the Hypervelocity Free Flight Aerodynamic Facility (HFFAF) at NASA Ames Research Center are described. These facilities have been in operation since the 1960s and have supported many NASA missions and technology development initiatives. The facilities have world-unique capabilities that enable experimental studies of real-gas aerothermal, gas dynamic, and kinetic phenomena of atmospheric entry. Entry, descent, and landing systems enable a safe transition from orbital or superorbital velocities through a planetary atmosphere for landing and recovery. They are a critical enabling technology for human and robotic space exploration missions. An important and necessary component of an entry system is the spacecraft’s thermal protection system (TPS). Mission objectives and risk profile define the overall requirements for the