Environmental effects of space systems: a review

Journal Article · · Prog. Astronaut. Aeronaut.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.62198· OSTI ID:5843545

Rote, D M

This review and the papers in this section focus on the effects of large space systems, primarily the Satellite Power System (SPS), on the upper atmosphere. From 56 to 500 km, the major contaminant sources are SPS microwave transmissions and rocket effluents. Although no significant effects have yet been found for microwave transmissions, deposition of rocket effluents causes compositional changes, most of which appear to be associated with the release of large amounts of water. From 500 to 36,000 km, rocket effluents and ion engine contaminants (primarily Ar/sup 2 +/) could alter magnetospheric and plasmaspheric structure and dynamics. One of the major impacts of these alterations could be perturbation of Van Allen radiation belt stability, leading to changed radiation hazards to materials and personnel and to modification of high energy particle precipitation events. The ambient density falls rapidly and the potential for significant environmental alteration increases as one goes outward from the earth's surface. And, the further from the earth's surface, the less certain our knowledge of environmental change processes.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 5843545
• Journal Information: Prog. Astronaut. Aeronaut.; (United States), Journal Name: Prog. Astronaut. Aeronaut.; (United States) Vol. 71; ISSN PAAEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
RADIATIONS
REVIEWS
ROCKETS
SAFETY
SPACE FLIGHT