The proposed computational architecture for prediction of plume flow impingement and contaminant dispersal through mixed continuum-rarefied flow environments combines multiple novel computational approaches into one unified simulation environment. This technology will be highly beneficial to NASA and its contractors for prediction and analysis of contaminants and particulate transport and interaction in near-vacuum conditions for in-space propulsion applications. Direct benefits include risk reduction through improved fidelity simulations of thruster plume molecular and droplet contamination reaching spacecraft surface insulation, optical sensors and sensitive instruments. Direct NASA applications include supporting spacecraft design with most advantageous thruster placement and design mitigation measures such as shielding through simulation based engineering. Other NASA applications include simulation of effectiveness of RCS thrusters in reentry capsule rarefied wake region.
Potential Non-NASA government and commercial applications include, assessment of thruster plume induced environments on commercial and military spacecraft, predicting the impact of particles scattered from thruster plumes on ballistic missile and missile interceptor signatures, and optimization of commercial satellite operational life through contamination minimization.
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