Two chemical kinetics models by Park, Dunn and Kang are implemented with the options of gasdynamic-radiation coupling and two nonequilibrium dissociation assumptions. A series of systematic simulations have been successfully conducted in examining these effects on the total heat transfer rates, standoff distance, and temperature profiles along the stagnation streamline. For the first time, an ab-initio quasi-classic and quantum mechanical approach is used to generate the optical properties including the radiative properties at the spectral level for atoms and ions. An increased radiative heat transfer rate of more than a factor of two is realized at trajectory points1634