Proceedings of the workshop on the modification of the upper atmosphere by Satellite Power System (SPS) propulsion effluents
Results of a workshop held in June 1979, to identify research needs for evaluating environmental impacts on the upper atmosphere (here defined as greater than 70 km) due to Satellite Power System (SPS) transport, i.e., propulsion and reentry are presented. The substantial injections of water and hydrogen therefrom may lead to global-scale regions of reduced ionization in the ionospheric F-Region that may have a serious impact on worldwide HF radio communications; and the resulting possibly significant increases in mesospheric humidity and probable cloudiness could afffect climate and remote sensing from satellites. The large injections of argon ions of kilovolt energy between low earth orbit and geostationary orbit may alter substantially the trapped radiation environment of the magnetosphere and thus the hazard for personnel and electronic equipment. During the workshop it became clear that the highest priority for SPS environmental assessment goes to theoretical studies needed before acceptable atmospheric experiments can be designed. Problems to be addressed include: the extent, magnitude, and variability of the predicted depletion in F-region ionization together with descriptions of water and hydrogen injections into the atmosphere characteristic of SPS vehicles and flight profiles; the long-term variations in mesospheric humidity and cloudiness with and without SPS operations; and the description of condensation and evaporation processes of water exhausted from high-altitude rockets in order to predict mesospheric contrail formation and dissipation. Furthermore, in considering argon ion rocket transport to geosynchronous orbit, the stopping and lifetime of the argon ion beams and consequent changes in the radiation belts, especially as they affect spacecraft, should also be addressed.
- Research Organization:
- La Jolla Inst., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5100648
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-7906180-
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Workshop on the modification of the upper atmosphere by satellite power system pollution effluence, La Jolla, CA, USA, 25 Jun 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Drift-shell splitting of energetic ions injected at pseudo-substorm onsets
Numerical tracing of energetic particle drifts in a model magnetosphere
Related Subjects
14 SOLAR ENERGY
IONOSPHERE
RECOMBINATION
MAGNETOSPHERE
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ARGON
CLIMATES
CLOUDS
DISTURBANCES
EVAPORATION
EXHAUST GASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
F REGION
HUMIDITY
HYDROGEN
INJECTION
ION THRUSTERS
IONIZATION
LAUNCHING
LOSSES
MEETINGS
MESOSPHERE
ORBITS
PROPULSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REENTRY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKET ENGINES
SPACE FLIGHT
SPACE TRANSPORT
SPACE VEHICLES
VAPOR CONDENSATION
VARIATIONS
WATER
WATER VAPOR
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INTAKE
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
POWER PLANTS
RARE GASES
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THRUSTERS
TRANSPORT
VAPORS
VEHICLES
WASTES
500100* - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)
140400 - Solar Energy- Environmental Aspects
140600 - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
140700 - Solar Thermal Power Systems