Instrumentation and Flight Results of Reentry Plasma Diagnostic and Alleviation Experiments on Trailblazer II Rockets
Abstract
Two Trailblazer II rockets were launched at Wallops Island, Virginia, to study the properties of the shock-ionized flow field and its effects on microwave radiation. Description of the apparatus carried by the two vehicles is presented in this report. The instrumentation to measure the flow field during reentry included such diagnostic sensors as electrostatic probes, stripline probe and a conductivity probe. S-band microwave systems were employed to determine plasma effects on antennas. The measurements included phase and magnitude of the reflection coefficient, variations in mutual coupling between two on board antennas and transmitted signal attenuation. A pulsed liquid injection apparatus was used to perform a plasma alleviation experiment. Performance of the instrumentation and general results obtained from unprocessed data are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0906967
Entities
People
- J. S. Rochefort
- Raimundas Sukys
- Ronald Symmes
Organizations
- Northeastern University