Chemical releases

Abstract

A Chemical Release Module to be carried into orbit by the shuttle is described. The module would release chemicals from orbiting satellites in order understand processes within the Earth's magnetosphere, atmosphere and ionosphere. A large number of potential experiments are identified, ranging from introducing traceable material into the solar wind in order to study its transport to and within the magnetosphere, to injecting material into the outer magnetosphere to simulate the precipitation of trapped charged particles, to the release of material at lower altitudes to create waves both mechanical and electromagnetic.