Dynamic Stability of the Mars Science Laboratory Entry Vehicle in Supersonic Flow

The dynamic stability of a blunt body vehicle is complex and plays a significant role in an atmospheric entry. This study investigates the underlying flow physic of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) entry capsule at the supersonic flow regime. Initially, a two-dimensional geometry of the entry vehicle is created to perform a static computational fluid dynamics simulation. Then, the entry vehicle is simulated dynamically, where translations and rotations of the vehicle due to the forces and moments are allowed. The unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) are solved for the Mach numbers ranging from 2 to 3, and results are analyzed using the reduced-order model (ROM) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). The relationship between the variation of Mach numbers, pressure coefficients, and stability parameters will be presented. The computational analysis offers substantial knowledge to mitigate the risks associated with designing and probing the physical mechanisms behind the atmospheric entry vehicle dynamic stability.