Aerospace Vehicle Development Applications of Atmospheric Thermodynamic Inputs

Aerospace engineering has always had the need for various natural environment parameters to be used as inputs in research and engineering analyses used in the design and development of aircraft and launch/reentry vehicles. Although winds are indeed the main natural environment parameter used as inputs in vehicle design, the thermodynamic atmospheric parameters and models are also of great value and much needed as inputs. This paper will help the design engineer, chief engineer, or project manager understand the role that these thermodynamic parameters/models play.