Analysis of Galileo Probe Heat Shield Ablation and Temperature Data

Ablation and temperature data were taken during the hypersonic entry of the Galileo Probe into the atmosphere of Jupiter. The ablation data reduction and analysis were reported previously; therefore, only a brief review and description of significant modifications to the analysis are provided herein. One-dimensional transient analyses of the heat shield ablation, pyrolysis, and heat conduction were performed at the thermometer locations. These calculations were coupled with an axisymmetric heat conduction model to predict the thermometer temperature response. Near the end of the frustum, the temperature and recession data are very consistent. The measured recession is 3.6310.15 cm, and the estimated peak heat flux and heat load are 13.4±0.5 kW/cm2 and 161+6 kJ/cm2, respectively. At the aft cover, the material response analyses do not match the low magnitude and slope of the temperature data which seem to indicate the heat conduction into the heat shield was unexpectedly low. Nomenclature