Book Description

Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Volume 20: Thermophysics of Spacecraft and Planetary Bodies: Radiation Properties of Solids and the Electromagnetic Radiation Environment in Space is a collection of technical papers drawn mainly from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Thermophysics Specialist Conference, held in New Orleans on April 17-20, 1967. This volume is organized into six part encompassing 45 chapters that offer a selection of the most advanced studies in the dynamic field of thermophysics. Part I deals with radiation properties of solid state materials and the measuring techniques in the laboratory, while Part II describes the thermophysical properties of surfaces used for spacecraft. The papers of Part II also include solid state physics studies of the processes involved in the interaction of UV radiation with solids. Part III discusses the results of thermal flight experiments and on the radiation characteristics of planetary bodies, followed by topics on general radiative properties and the measurements of radiative properties of natural surfaces from satellites in Part IV. Part V contains papers on thermal similitude and on the closely related subject of radiant heat transfer analysis of thermal systems. Lastly, Part VI focuses on the heat transfer within the spacecraft under the conditions of space environment, specifically conductive and radiative transfer. This book is of great value to thermophysicists, space engineers and designers, as well as researchers in the fields of astronautics and aeronautics.