Statistics – Applications
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufmsa42a..01b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #SA42A-01
Statistics
Applications
[2403] Ionosphere / Active Experiments, [2487] Ionosphere / Wave Propagation
Scientific paper
The ionosphere is a low temperature (0.1 eV) plasma layer that surrounds the Earth and affects a wide range of radio systems that involve communications, navigation, and radar. The unmodified ionosphere is in an equilibrium state defined by the balance of production, transport and loss of plasma. The modified ionosphere responds to neutral gas injections with (1) the generation and propagation of plasma waves and (2) the production of plasma irregularities. A single 10 second burn of the on-orbit engines on the Space Shuttle injects 1 GJoule of energy into the upper atmosphere. Injection of hypersonic exhaust vapors from rocket engines pushes the ionosphere out of its equilibrium to yield 20 eV ion beams, launch both neutral and plasma waves, and trigger several instability processes. A wide range of optical emissions, plasma density fluctuations, enhanced temperatures, and changes in composition may be detected during these experiments. Multiple sensors such as instrumented satellites, ground radars, and ground optical instruments are used to determine the extent and lifetime for ionospheric modification. This presentation will focus on experimental data and theoretical discussions of the Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuver Subsystem (OMS) Engines used to modify the upper atmosphere from 1985 to the present. Artificial disturbances in the ionosphere produced by OMS burns have two applications. First, the artificial modification of the ionosphere can provide some control on the radio propagation environment. Second, the man-made disturbances are being produced as proxies to natural disturbances.
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