Space Solar Power Review Vol 3 Num 3

the thermodynamic variables simultaneously with the chemical rate equations to compute the concentrations of N and NO in the flow around a given cone. The computation is carried out until the flow leaves the trailing edge of the spacecraft. Then the assumption is made that the NO molecules are chemically frozen, but that all N atoms convert to NO in the wake. This assumption slightly overestimates the total NO.r concentration in the wake because it ignores the mutual destruction process in which N reacts with NO. But such an error would be small because the total concentration of N is quite small, and there are far more O2 than NO molecules in the wake. The calculation yields the number of NOj. molecules deposited along the wake per unit length of the wake for each entry flight. By integrating the number of the molecules along the trajectory, one obtains the integrated (regionally or globally) number of NOj. molecules produced. The overall efficiency of NOj. formation is calculated from the relation

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