Investigation of the Interaction between the S3-2 Satellite and Its Environmental Spaceplasma.
Abstract
Ion and electron measurements from the planar ion probes and the spherical electron probe onboard the S3-2 satellite were used in order to investigate the distribution of ion current around the satellite in the closest proximity to the surface. The preliminary results obtained demonstrate in a quantitative manner the dependence of alpha = f(altitude) and alpha = f(R sub D) for: 24<R sub D<56 and 10<abs. vol. Phi sub N<18. We find that alpha at an altitude of about 300 km is about 2.5 to 3 orders of magnitude smaller than alpha at an altitude of about 500-600 km and alpha at this latter altitude range is by about one order of magnitude smaller than alpha at about 1100 km. We also find alpha for R sub D approx. = 54-56 to be 3.5 order of magnitude small er than alpha for R sub D approx. = 24-30. The investigation already performed yielded new results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA065295
Entities
People
- Charles Lake
- Uri Samir
Organizations
- University of Michigan