Abstract:
A hybrid fluid/molecular kinetic model was developed to describe the escape of molecules from the
gravitational well of a planet's atmosphere. This model was applied to a one dimensional, radial description of
molecular escape from the atmosphere of Pluto and compared to purely fluid dynamic simulations of escape for
two solar heating cases. The hybrid simulations show that the atmospheric temperature vs. altitude and the escape
rates can differ significantly from those obtained using only a fluid description of the atmosphere.
