A numerical and experimental investigation was performed to study the aerothermodynamic problems of entry into the Martian atmosphere. The mathematical and physical model used to study the flowfield around a capsule entering a CO 2 environment is described. Computational fluid dynamics tools have been applied to solve the system of governing equations. The importance of surface catalycity effects on the stagnation-point heat transfer and on the heat load in Martian atmosphere is highlighted. Stagnation-point heat flux levels applied to models of different materials in a plasma wind tunnel are shown, and numerical correlations are presented. The different role played by surface catalycity in Earth and Mars environments is shown.