ABSTRACT
Re-entry capsules promises to intensify international competition in launch services, microgravity research and space technology development. These systems will also confer an important strategic advantage in the conduct of materials and in life science research.
The objective of this paper is to provide a modest degree of understanding of the complex inter-relation which exist between performance requirements mission constraints , vehicle design and trajectory selection of typical re-entry mission. A brief presentation of the flight regimes, the structural loading and heating environment experienced by booth no lifting and lifting re-entry vehicle is given.