Methods for measuring the parameters of reentry plasmas

The paper describes the principles of an experiment for measuring the parameters of the plasma surrounding a reentry vehicle, in particular the spatial distribution of the electron density, in order to verify certain hypotheses made in calculations based on chemical kinetics coupled with the aerodynamic equations. The experimental method consists in studying the transmission of waves across the shock layer surrounding the ballistic capsule. The paper describes the experimental capsule and the microwave and UHF antennas mounted on it, the chain of receiving stations, and the general method proposed for determining the plasma density from the radiation patterns.