Optical emissions induced by spacecraft - Atmosphere interactions

Abstract

Photometric examinations of glow emissions surrounding various spacecraft and rockets are discussed, with a focus on the Atmosphere/Explorer C and the Shuttle. Observations of the Explorer C in the bands 3371-7320 A revealed large intensities which could not be correlated with known phenomena. A similar induced contamination has been detected during the STS-3 and STS-4 flights. All the observations increased in intensity at redder wavelengths. It was noted that the Explorer sightings were in an atmospheric region comprising mostly N, O, NO, N2, and O2, and energies of 4.6-10.5 eV would be necessary for emission. Collisions involving the spacecraft and the molecules would have furnished sufficient energy. A series of experiments were performed by different researchers to characterize the emissions, and induced emissions were produced using NO combinations. Spectroscopic glow effects observations of the ram effect are planned for the Spacelab 1 and 2 payloads.