Heji Huang received his PhD from the University of Tokyo in 2005 and now is a full professor at the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research primarily centers on the kinetics and thermodynamics of low temperature plasma as well as its application in space propulsion. He is currently the Director of the State Key Laboratory of High Temperature Gas Dynamics, Deputy Director of the Institute of Mechanics and the Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics.

Abstract: Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) is becoming increasingly important for commercial applications across a range of scenarios, encompassing both private and governmental satellite operations. In this uppermost region of the atmosphere, aircraft traveling at speeds near the first cosmic velocity encounter rarefied gas flows. The energy and momentum exchange between the flow and the vehicle exhibit strong non-equilibrium effects, which could significantly impact flight performance and longevity. However, these interactions remain poorly understood and require further investigation.

To advance research in this field, a rarefied wind tunnel was recently established at the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This facility enables fundamental studies on hypervelocity rarefied flow and its effects on the design of next-generation VLEO aircraft. Preliminary experiments together with numerical simulations have been conducted to characterize the flow dynamics and assess the aerodynamic performance of aircraft prototypes.