Infrasound Detection of Rocket Launches
Abstract
The satellite launch industry is a multi billion-dollar international industry with over 100 commercial and military satellite launches conducted in 1999 alone. Rocket launches from both Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and Vandenburg Air Force Base (VAFB) have been observed at operational infrasound stations monitored by the Prototype International Data Center (PIDC). As more IMS infrasound stations are installed worldwide, we can expect to more frequently observe rocket launches. Rocket launches may serve as useful "ground truth" data and/or Confidence Building Measures (CBM) to test and demonstrate IMS infrasound capabilities. Commercial and military launch facilities include Baykonyr in Kazakhstan, Plesetsk in Russia, Jinyu, Wuzhsi, Jiuquan, Xichang, and Taiyuan in China, Kourou in French Guinea, Alcantara in Brazil, Tanegashima in Japan, Vandenburg AFB and Cape Canaveral AFS in US, and the new Boeing ocean-going launch platform in the Pacific Ocean. ?Summer season? Space Shuttle launches are seen at the experimental DLIAR (2550 km) infrasound array in New Mexico and the more recently installed infrasound array, ISM (2780 km), in Canada. These long-range observations are strongly correlated with the geometry of stratospheric winds across North America. The 1-4 Hz signals arrive within 5 degrees of the nominal azimuth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA528730
Entities
People
- Anna Gault
- David J. Brown
- Keith L. Mclaughlin
Organizations
- Leidos