Аннотация:The behavior of the pressure behind shock waves in N20--CO--He mixtures is investigated. The pressure can be relatively easily measured and, at the same time, reflects the general influence of the experimental conditions on flow formation in the shock tube. Shock-wave mixture ignition effects and, moreover, hydrogen combustion in the contact zone are analyzed from the standpoint of their influence on the stagnation parameters and the optical properties of the flow in the shock tube nozzle. The correctness of modeling the conditions behind the reflected wave by means of mixtures similar in composition to the equilibrium products of the N20--CO reaction is discussed in the same context.