Free Reentry Heating Calculator
Estimate the stagnation-point heat flux during atmospheric reentry using q = k * sqrt(rho / r_nose) * v^3, the Sutton-Graves correlation.
m/s
kg/m3
m
Heat Flux
2,746,217.29 W/m2
Heat Flux (kW/m2)2,746.22 kW/m2
Heat Flux vs Entry Velocity
Stagnation-Point Reentry Heating
The heat flux at the stagnation point of a blunt body during reentry is governed by the Sutton-Graves correlation.
Formula
q = k * sqrt(rho / r_n) * v cubed
where k = 1.83 x 10 to the -4 (for Earth atmosphere in SI units).
A larger nose radius spreads the heat over a wider area, reducing the peak flux. This is why reentry capsules are blunt.
Example Calculation
LEO reentry at 7800 m/s, rho = 0.001 kg/m3, r_n = 1.0 m.
- 01q = 1.83e-4 * sqrt(0.001 / 1.0) * 7800^3
- 02sqrt(0.001) = 0.03162
- 037800^3 = 4.746e11
- 04q = 1.83e-4 * 0.03162 * 4.746e11
- 05q = 2 746 000 W/m2 = 2746 kW/m2