Recent lunar and planetary return vehicle studies have stimulated interest concerning the effect upon stagnation point heating due to electronic heat conduction associated with re-entry at speeds greater than 30,000 ft./sec. In order to provide experimental data for comparison with theory, a series of experiments was undertaken in which shock tube techniques were utilised for the measurement of the stagnation point heating of a blunt body over a stagnation enthalpy (Hst/RT0) range of 650 to 900, corresponding to velocities between 32,000 ft./sec. and 39,000 ft. /sec. respectively. The tests were performed in a 1·5 inch diameter shock tube with 3 foot length driver and 16 foot length driven section.

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