Radiation of strong shock waves in air: Part I

The problem on the structure of a radiating shock wave propagating in air at an altitude $H\le50$ km at a velocity $D=10–50$ km/s is studied. The treatment is based on the real thermodynamic and optical characteristics of air. The distributions of the gasdynamic parameters and radiant fluxes are obtained in the heated region before the shock wave front and in the relaxation zone behind the viscous shock along the average optical variable; these distributions serve as a basis for the calculation of the space profiles and radiation flows generated by the shock wave and going to "infinity".