Rarefied aerodynamics of a deployable re-entry capsule

This work is intended to provide a systematic overview of the aerodynamic behavior of a deployable capsule in the rarefied regime, where the differences between the re-entry trajectories from Low-Earth-Orbit and suborbital flight conditions are more evident. Particular focus is given to the longitudinal stability analysis, which demonstrates that, as the continuum hypersonic regime approaches, the capsule could show a stable equilibrium condition in the unfavorable reverse attitude. This unwanted equilibrium condition could be counteracted by moving the center of gravity out of the symmetry axis.