Premium
Space shuttle glow observations
Author(s) -
Banks P. M.,
Williamson P. R.,
Raitt W. J.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl010i002p00118
Subject(s) - airglow , brightness , atmosphere (unit) , space shuttle , physics , night sky , optics , light emission , environmental science , astronomy , remote sensing , astrobiology , meteorology , geology
Photographic and television observations made during the third flight of the Space Shuttle in March 1982 reveal the presence of a diffuse optical emission surrounding surfaces of the vehicle exposed to the atmosphere in the ram direction. The line of sight intensity of this emission is comparable to that of airglow emissions seen at the limb of the earth and competes with the brightness of stars seen within the field of view of the photographic and TV cameras. The glow emission appears to be a manifestation of an atmosphere‐vehicle interaction. Light from vehicle thruster operations was also seen, as well as the optical emissions resulting from the operation of a 100 mA electron beam.