Numerical Analysis of MHD Aerobraking under High Magnetic Reynolds Number Conditions and Associated Challenges

Abstract

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) aerobraking exploits plasma—magnetic field interaction to reduce aerodynamic heating during spacecraft reentry. At high magnetic Reynolds numbers, magnetic field deformation becomes significant and must be considered. Numerical simulations were conducted using simplified and dipole magnetic field configurations. The results confirmed the influence of the magnetic Reynolds number on shock stand-off distance and magnetic field deformation, while also revealing numerical instabilities associated with realistic dipole fields. These findings highlight key challenges for accurately modeling MHD aerobraking at high magnetic Reynolds numbers.