Effects of rocket exhaust products in the thermosphere and ionsphere

Technical Report · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5555953· OSTI ID:5555953

Zinn, J; Sutherland, C D

This paper reviews the current state of 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 74 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. For purposes of computer model verification, a computation is included representing the Skylab I launch, for which observational data exist. The computations and data are compared, and the computer model is described.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5555953
• Report Number(s): LA-8233-MS; TRN: 80-006031
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
F REGION
ION DENSITY
SPACE VEHICLES
EXHAUST GASES
AIR POLLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HYDROGEN
IONIZATION
ROCKETS
WATER VAPOR
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
IONOSPHERE
NONMETALS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
POLLUTION
VAPORS
WASTES
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena