EPSS Mission Areas
Mission Area I: Plume/Wake/Hypersonic Flow Field Analysis
Papers submitted should be concerned with basic definitions of nozzle and exhaust plume flow fields as well as wake and hypersonic flows. Solid propellant, liquid rocket, and ramjet exhaust plumes will be considered. In addition, plume/wake/hypersonic flow fields at all altitudes will be addressed. Some typical problem areas relating to low/mid-altitude exhaust plumes include external aerodynamic-plume interaction, combustion, turbulent mixing and afterburning, two-phase flow, multi-engine base flow, radiant heating, and oxidizer/fuel gradients. Typical high altitude vacuum plume problems include non-continuum flow, nozzle boundary layer expansion, and condensation. Wake and hypersonic flow problems of interest include ablation mechanisms, flow field modifications caused by outer mold line shape changes due to ablation, and aerothermal heating.
Mission Area II: Plume/Wake/Hypersonic Radiation and Signatures
Papers are solicited which describe or highlight the following: recent achievements in plume/wake/hypersonic radiation and signatures (to include the EO/IR and RF regimes); plume/wake/hypersonic radiation and signatures related to the generation of vehicle design environments; detection, surveillance, and identification; advancement of theoretical prediction methods; experimental techniques; results of ground and flight measurements; interpretation and correlation of data; any portion of the radiation spectrum from ultraviolet through longwave infrared; plume/wake/hypersonic radiation interactions with hardbodies in the RF portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; propulsion systems of all types in terms of thrust level, propellants used, and application, as well as operating altitude; the effects of atmospheric species reacting with chemical constituents in plume/wake/hypersonic flows; plumes in a vacuum; and the effects of atmospheric species on EO/IR/RF signal/signature propagation between an object of interest and an observer.
Mission Area III: Exhaust Plume Effects
Theoretical and experimental papers concerning the prediction of plume impingement pressures and heating for low altitude and/or high altitude spacecraft vehicle applications are solicited. Papers treating the generation of plume contaminants and the effects of such contamination on vehicle surface are of interest. Also of interest are papers concerned with high altitude base convective heating resulting from multi-engine plume interactions.
Mission Area IV: Other Plume/Wake/Hypersonic Related Problems
Other papers dealing with plume/wake/hypersonic flowfield and signature phenomenology and technology that are not covered by the aforementioned areas are invited.
Mission Area V: Composite Scene Signatures of Plume/Wake/Hypersonic Flowfield and Hardbody Configurations
Papers are solicited for the following topics related to composite scene signatures: EO/IR target signature phenomenology; EO/IR atmospheric transmission/radiation phenomenology and modeling; EO/IR signature target measurements; SPIRITS, other signature codes, target modules, and scene generation tools such as FLITES; model development and improvements; validation and calibration; computational fluid dynamic analysis and modeling for plume/wake/hypersonic flowfields; flowfield radiation; applications of signature and scene generation tools to acquisition programs, signature reduction, and operational applications.
Instructional Tutorial(s) are solicited. These instructional tutorials are intended to provide the opportunity for each community member to obtain an advanced technical understanding of plume/wake/hypersonic flowfield and signature phenomenology from experts in the field. Each tutorial should be related to a topic listed below. Tutorials should focus on a specific phenomenon or algorithm, provide clear technical instruction, be informative, and carry an academic tone. Tutorials should be limited to two hours or less. Please communicate your interest.