  This paper focuses on a survey of experimental data related to radiation into
CO$_2$ plasma flows, which are encountered during Mars and Venus entries. The
review emphasizes on VUV and IR radiation, since recent experimental efforts
has been devoted to these wavelength ranges. The main objective of the study is
to identify the most attractive datasets for future cross-check comparisons
with the results obtained during future test campaigns with ESTHER shock-tube.
The survey accounts for the results obtained in shock-tubes, expansion tube and
plasma arc-jets for Mars and Venus test campaigns. The experimental results
obtained for propulsion related studies have also been considered.
