The Definition and Interpretation of Terrestrial Environment Design Inputs for Aerospace Vehicle Design Considerations

The description and interpretation of the terrestrial environment (0-90 km altitude) is an important driver of aerospace vehicle structural, control, and thermal system design. NASA is currently in the process of reviewing the meteorological information acquired over the past decade and producing an update to a 1993 Terrestrial Environment Guidelines for Aerospace Vehicle Design and Development handbook. This paper will address the contents of this updated handbook, with special emphasis on new material being included in the areas of atmospheric thermodynamics, wind dynamics, atmospheric composition, atmospheric electricity, cloud phenomena, atmospheric extremes, sea state, etc. In addition, the respective engineering design elements will be discussed relative to the importance and influence of terrestrial environment inputs that require consideration and interpretation for design applications. Specific lessons learned that have contributed to the advancements made in the acquisition, interpretation, application and awareness of terrestrial environment inputs for aerospace engineering applications will be discussed.