Preliminary Analysis of STS-3 Entry Heat-Transfer Data for the Orbiter Windward Centerline

A preliminary analysis of heat transfer data on the space shuttle orbiter windward centerline for the STS-3 mission entry is presented. Temperature-time history plots for each measurement location and tabulated wall temperature and convective heating rate data at 21 selected trajectory points are included. The STS-3 flight data are also compared with predictions by two approximation methods for computing convective heat transfer rates in equilibrium air.