Hot ion plasmas from the cloud of neutral gases surrounding the Space Shuttle

Details Hot ion plasmas from the cloud of neutral gases surrounding the Space Shuttle Hot ion plasmas from the cloud of neutral gases surrounding the Space Shuttle

Apr 1989

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989jgr....94.3721p&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 94, April 1, 1989, p. 3721-3727.

Physics

21

Energetic Particles, Neutral Gases, Plasma Diagnostics, Positive Ions, Space Plasmas, Electrostatic Probes, Molecular Ions, Oxygen Ions, Satellite-Borne Instruments, Space Shuttle Orbiters

Scientific paper

Large intensities of hot positive ions are observed out to distances of several hundred meters from the Space Shuttle with a plasma analyzer on a small free-flying satellite, the Plasma Diagnostics Package. This ion plasma is inferred to be generated by the charge exchange of ionospheric O+ ions with a large cloud of water molecules from the Space Shuttle. The measured ion density ranges from about 30 to 10,000 H2O+ ions/cu cm. A model for the water vapor cloud provides the basis for density estimates as high as 10 to the 9th H2O molecules/cu cm at a distance of 50 m from the Space Shuttle. Thus, the Space Shuttle possesses a substantial coorbiting atmosphere.

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