Analysis of Images and Spectra of Spacecraft-Induced Radiations
Abstract
The visible and short wavelength infrared emissions excited from the -110-km altitude atmosphere by the exhaust of solid composite rocket motors of the Bow Shock 2 Experiment (18 Feb 1991) are analyzed and interpreted, and assistance with laboratory measurements of the excitative reactions with ionospheric species of gases from space vehicle operations is reported. A -10 s- persisting visible wake trail with relatively stable geometry photographed from the 350 km distant Air Force Maui Optical Site is found to be produced by chemiluminescent reactions of a minor Al atom-containing combustion Product molecule with ambient oxygen atoms. The much shorter-lived and smaller-volume but several orders of magnitude brighter expanding SWIR glow that Phillips Laboratory/WSSI imaged with a PtSi-photocathode camera at AMOS is identified as the high temperature contact surface with swept-out air of the posigrade- directed thruster exhaust gas. The development of both emitting regions is found to be reasonably well predicted by similarity hydrodynamics for static explosions in the high atmosphere. Absolute optical radiance distributions and yields, and prescriptions for scaling to other exhaust energy deposition rates and altitudes, are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 17, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA257902
Entities
People
- D. L. Rall
- I. L. Kofsky
- J. A. Gardner Ii