This book mainly introduces the research overview, research results, and follow-up prospects of “Key Basic Scientific Problems on Near-Space Vehicles”, a major research plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China (hereinafter referred to as the Plan). The Plan is the first systematic basic hypersonic research program in China. From its inception in 2007 to its successful completion in 2016, the Plan lasted nine years, funded a total of 173 projects, and the funding totaled 190 million yuan. From the perspective of major national needs and scientific discipline development, the book focuses on four key scientific issues: aerodynamics in a near-space flight environment; advanced propulsion theories and methods; ultralight materials/structures, thermal environment prediction and thermal protection; and intelligent autonomous control theories and methods for hypersonic vehicles. The book also demonstrates China’s systematic and innovative achievements in interdisciplinarytheories and methods and innovative techniques, paving the way for a distinctively Chinese basic research framework and further breakthroughs of near-space hypersonic vehicles.
