We give in this final chapter a short overview over the simulation means of aerothermodynamics. We do this with regard to scientific and to practical vehicle design aspects. The latter is getting a little more attention, because usually it is somewhat neglected.

We look first at some issues of flight vehicle design in order to provide a frame for this overview. This frame, of course, holds in a wider sense also for research activities. We treat the flight vehicle design phases, the task and tools of aerothermodynamics, the role changes of the simulation means due to the evolving discrete numerical methods of aerothermodynamics, the need to reduce the design margins, and give an assessment of the capabilities of the simulation means. A discussion of major issues of computational simulation, ground-facility simulation, and in-flight simulation follows next. The Oswatitsch independence principle is considered again and the issue of the so-called hot experimental technique is put forward.

The reader should be aware that simulation means are tools. A tool, however, is only as good as the person who wields it. In our context this means that only a sound knowledge of the physical phenomena, their mathematical models, their background, and their interrelations permits to use simulation tools successfully for the solution of a scientific or a design problem.