Aerodynamic Performances of Lifting-Body Configurations for a Reentry Vehicle

Aerodynamic characteristics of four lifting-body-type configurations for a reentry vehicle, namely, a baseline configuration, a fin-off configuration, a 45-deg canted fin configuration and an upswept upper-aftbody configuration, are investigated by wind-tunnel tests and compared, focusing on aerodynamic performance aspects such as longitudinal trim capability, longitudinal and lateral/directional static stability, and subsonic lifting surface loading. The upswept upper-aftbody configuration showed the best performance from longitudinal trim, and longitudinal and lateral/directional static stability points of view, which suggests that modifying the upper aft part of the fuselage of the baseline configuration is the most promising approach to improving its characteristics.