Ionospheric effects of rocket exhaust products (HEAO-C, Skylab and SPS-HLLV)
This paper reviews the current state of our understanding of the problem of ionospheric F-layer depletions produced by chemical effects of the exhaust gases from large rockets, with particular emphasis on the Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles (HLLV) proposed for use in the construction of solar power satellites. The currently planned HLLV flight profile calls for main second-stage propulsion confined to altitudes below 124 km, and a brief orbit-circularization maneuver at apogee. The second-stage engines deposit 9 x 10/sup 31/ H/sub 2/O and H/sub 2/ molecules between 56 and 124 km. Model computations show that they diffuse gradually into the ionospheric F region, where they lead to weak but widespread and persistent depletions of ionization and continuous production of H atoms. The orbit-circularization burn deposits 9 x 10/sup 29/ exhaust molecules at about 480-km altitude. These react rapidly with the F2 region 0/sup +/ ions, leading to a substantial (factor-of-three) reduction in plasma density, which extends over a 1000- by 2000-km region and persists for four to five hours. Also described are experimental airglow and incoherent-scatter radar measurements performed in conjunction with the 1979 launch of satellite HEAO-C, together with prelaunch and post-launch computations of the ionospheric effects. Several improvements in the model have been driven by the experimental observations. The computer model is described in some detail.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6838428
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER-0082; TRN: 80-019540
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Effects of rocket exhaust products in the thermosphere and ionosphere
Effects of rocket exhaust products in the thermosphere and ionosphere
Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
F REGION
RECOMBINATION
ROCKETS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
F2 LAYER
ION DENSITY
IONOSPHERE
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SPACE VEHICLES
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
VEHICLES
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
140600 - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems