Scientists from St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU) have created a mathematical model to study shockwaves in the atmosphere of Mars. The development will increase the safety of future Martian missions.
The solution is based on the study of the behavior of shockwaves in a mixture of carbon dioxide with inert gases during hypersonic flights.
Our mathematical model describes the flow of a mixture of carbon dioxide and inert gas, using the kinetic theory of non-equilibrium processes, taking into account multiscale phenomena. The created model is based on the analysis of microscopic processes — collisions of particles and different mechanisms of vibrational relaxation of CO.
Scientists analyzed the behavior of the smallest gas particles upon collision and created a program that predicts the behavior of gas at extremely high temperatures. This will help to more accurately calculate the landing of a spacecraft on Mars.
