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Visible glow induced by spacecraft‐environment interaction
Author(s) -
Yee J. H.,
Abreu V. 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/gl010i002p00126
Subject(s) - airglow , orbiter , spacecraft , infrared , atmosphere (unit) , wavelength , remote sensing , ultraviolet , physics , astrobiology , visible spectrum , on board , astronomy , optics , environmental science , geology , meteorology
Illumination was found recently in the ram direction of the Shuttle Orbiter arising from interaction with the ambient surrounding atmosphere. We have examined a similar optical glow by analyzing photometric data taken by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer Satellites. Analysis at six different wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the near infrared suggests that the glow has a diffuse band or continuum spectrum which peaks in the red and probably in the infrared.