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Title: Missile launch detection electric field perturbation experiment. Final report

Abstract

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and SARA Inc. participated in the ATMD missile launch activities that occurred at WSMR during January 1993. LLNL and SARA deployed sensors for monitoring of basic phenomena. An attempt was made to measure perturbations of the earth geo-potential during the launch of a Lance missile. The occurrence of the perturbation is expected from the conducting body of the missile and the exhaust plume. A set of voltage-probe antennas were used to monitor the local electric field perturbation from the launch at ranges of approximately 1 km. Examination of the data acquired during the launch period failed to show identifiable correlation of the field variations with the launch event. Three reasons are ascribed to this lack of event data: (1) The electric field potential variations have a limited spatial correlation length - the fields measured in one region have little correlation to measurements made at distances of a kilometer away. The potential variations are related to localized atmospheric disturbances and are generally unpredictable. A value for the spatial correlation length is also not known. (2) The conductivity of the plume and missile body are not adequate to produce a field perturbation of adequate magnitude. Phenomena relatedmore » to the exhaust plume and missile may exist and be outside of the collection range of the equipment employed for these measurements. (3) The presence of 60 Hz power line noise was of sufficient magnitude to irreversibly contaminate measurements.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10110692
Report Number(s):
UCRL-ID-114322
ON: DE94004224
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 28 Apr 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; MISSILES; DETECTION; ARMS CONTROL; VERIFICATION; PROGRESS REPORT; LAUNCHING; ELECTRIC FIELDS; PLUMES; POTENTIALS; GEOPHYSICS; 350300; 450000; 661300; MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; OTHER ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Kane, R.J., and Rynne, T.M. Missile launch detection electric field perturbation experiment. Final report. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.2172/10110692.
Kane, R.J., & Rynne, T.M. Missile launch detection electric field perturbation experiment. Final report. United States. doi:10.2172/10110692.
Kane, R.J., and Rynne, T.M. Wed . "Missile launch detection electric field perturbation experiment. Final report". United States. doi:10.2172/10110692. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10110692.
@article{osti_10110692,
title = {Missile launch detection electric field perturbation experiment. Final report},
author = {Kane, R.J. and Rynne, T.M.},
abstractNote = {The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and SARA Inc. participated in the ATMD missile launch activities that occurred at WSMR during January 1993. LLNL and SARA deployed sensors for monitoring of basic phenomena. An attempt was made to measure perturbations of the earth geo-potential during the launch of a Lance missile. The occurrence of the perturbation is expected from the conducting body of the missile and the exhaust plume. A set of voltage-probe antennas were used to monitor the local electric field perturbation from the launch at ranges of approximately 1 km. Examination of the data acquired during the launch period failed to show identifiable correlation of the field variations with the launch event. Three reasons are ascribed to this lack of event data: (1) The electric field potential variations have a limited spatial correlation length - the fields measured in one region have little correlation to measurements made at distances of a kilometer away. The potential variations are related to localized atmospheric disturbances and are generally unpredictable. A value for the spatial correlation length is also not known. (2) The conductivity of the plume and missile body are not adequate to produce a field perturbation of adequate magnitude. Phenomena related to the exhaust plume and missile may exist and be outside of the collection range of the equipment employed for these measurements. (3) The presence of 60 Hz power line noise was of sufficient magnitude to irreversibly contaminate measurements.},
doi = {10.2172/10110692},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Wed Apr 28 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}

Technical Report:

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  • Three locations on White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, are under consideration as alternatives for the proposed Ground-Based Free-Electron Laser Technology Integration Experiment (GBFEL-TIE). The study conducted jointly by Prewitt and Associates, Inc., and the Office of Contract Archeology, was designed to provide input into the GBFEL-TIE Draft Environmental Impact Statement concerning the potential impact of the proposed project on cultural resources in each of the alternatives. The input consists of a series of predictions based on data gathered from two sources: (1) a cultural resource sample survey (15%) of two alternatives conducted as part of this study, and (2)more » from a previous survey of the third alternative. A predictive model was devleoped and applied using these data that estimated the potential impact of the GBFEL-TIE facility on the cultural resources within each alternative. The predictions indicate that the NASA alternatives, by far, the least favorable location for the facility followed by the Orogrande and Stallion Alternatives.« less
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  • In July 1962, when a missile failed to lift off from the launch pad, a nuclear test device was intentionally detonated to prevent any nuclear yield. In 1980, a long-range program was developed to remove the contaminated material from the test site. In 1984, funds became available to transport the contaminated material to a Federal radioactive-waste disposal site. The waste disposal project involved the dismantling of structures remaining on the site, decontaminating several concrete pads, determining the level of contamination on the debris, preparing and packaging the debris for shipment, and transporting the contaminated material to an authorized waste disposalmore » site. Because the operation involved sea and land transport of a large volume of plutonium-contaminated material, it had the potential of becoming controversial. However, in-depth planning and extensive coordination with appropriate agencies enabled the operation to proceed without incident. This report addresses the planning process, cleanup options considered, instrumentation and measurement techniques, and personnel radiation safety practices. Included are a brief background of the situation, a summary of the planning phase and regulatory guidelines, detailed description of the operation, and discuss of some of the unique circumstances and relevant problems encountered during this project.« less
  • Gas chromatographic/mass spectroscopic analyses are presented for the volatile organic components found in air samples collected from the inboard vents from Vertical Launch System (VLS) missile capsules aboard a 688 class submarine. Similar analyses were also conducted for a sample of the ship's high pressure air used to fill the missile tubes. A wide variety of organics was detected in the air from the missile capsules; and while no unique components have yet been identified, a significant contribution has been shown to be made by pressure-ventilation of the VLS capsules into the submarine atmosphere which is already heavily laden withmore » volatile organic compounds. The most apparent conclusion from these preliminary analyses is that the mixtures of organic components in the air within VLS missile capsules vary greatly from capsule to capsule (and probably from time to time). Many such samples need to be investigated to provide sufficient information to judge the seriousness of the possibility of venting toxic components into the submarine atmosphere during the maintenance or firing of VLS missiles.« less
  • The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA) and SARA, Inc. participated in the ATMD missile launch activities that occurred at WSMR during January 1993. These tests involved the launch of Lance missiles with a subsequent direction of F-15Es into the launch area for subsequent detection and simulated destruction of redeployed missile launchers, LLNL and SARA deployed SARN`s ELF sensors and various data acquisition systems for monitoring of basic phenomena. On 25 January 1993, a single missile launch allowed initial measurements of the phenomena and an assessment of appropriate sensor sensitivity settings as well as the appropriateness of the sensor deploymentmore » sites (e.g., with respect to man-made ELF sources such as power distributions and communication lines). On 27 January 1993, a measurement of a double launch of Lance missiles was performed. This technical report covers the results of the analysis of latter measurements. An attempt was made to measure low frequency electromagnetic signatures that may be produced during a missile launch. Hypothetical signature production mechanisms include: (1) Perturbations of the earth geo-potential during the launch of the missile. This signature may arise from the interaction of the ambient electric field with the conducting body of the missile as well as the partially ionized exhaust plume. (2) Production of spatial, charge sources from triboelectric-like mechanisms. Such effects may occur during the initial interaction of the missile plume with the ground material and lead to an initial {open_quotes}spike{close_quotes} output, Additionally, there may exist charge transfer mechanisms produced during the exhausting of the burnt fuel oxidizer.« less