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-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5100648
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-7906180-
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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500100* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARGON
CLIMATES
CLOUDS
DATA
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVAPORATION
EXHAUST GASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
F REGION
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HUMIDITY
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INJECTION
INTAKE
ION THRUSTERS
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
LAUNCHING
LOSSES
MAGNETOSPHERE
MEETINGS
MESOSPHERE
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
ORBITS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
POWER PLANTS
PROPULSION
RARE GASES
RECOMBINATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REENTRY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKET ENGINES
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SPACE FLIGHT
SPACE TRANSPORT
SPACE VEHICLES
THRUSTERS
TRANSPORT
VAPOR CONDENSATION
VAPORS
VARIATIONS
VEHICLES
WASTES
WATER
WATER VAPOR