Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Epsilon Launch Vehicle Aerodynamics at Mach 1.5

The Epsilon launch vehicle, successor of the M-V rocket, which conveyed “Hayabusa” is currently under development in Japan. The Epsilon is also designed for sending scientific satellites to outer space, and its first flight is scheduled to be in 2013. In this study, by conducting both numerical simulations and wind-tunnel tests, the aerodynamic characteristics and associated flow features of the Epsilon launch vehicle are extensively investigated at Mach 1.5. The results provided are axial/normal/side forces, pitching/yawing/rolling moments, detailed three-dimensional flow structure, along with effects of the Reynolds number (between wind-tunnel and flight conditions), skin stringers (small devices on the main body), and the difference from another configuration called “NextGenEpsilon”. This set of data includes unavailable ones at either the experiment standalone or the actual flight. Magnitudes of computed aerodynamic coefficients are in good agreement with the experiment and within the design criteria....