Attempts to measure the ambient ionospheric plasma environment in the vicinity of the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter have shown that the plasma is quite different, in a variety of characteristics, from the ionospheric plasma at low earth orbit altitudes. It appears that the large size, complex geometry and various outgassing characteristics of a typical Orbiter payload can all contribute to modifications of the plasma environment of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The measurements indicate that the plasma is often quite turbulent and contains populations more energetic than the ambient ionospheric plasma. Pronounced wake and ram effects have been observed, and at times the data can be interpreted as plasma number density enhancements of an order of magnitude or greater over the ambient, undisturbed plasma concentration. There is evidence that this enhanced plasma concentration contains molecular ions, not occurring naturally at low earth orbit altitudes. In addition to describing the observations, the electrodynamics of enhanced Orbiter-generated plasma and its possible impact on optical measurements from the Space Shuttle Orbiter will be discussed.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Plasma interactions in the Space Shuttle Orbiter environment


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1987-01-01



    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :



    Space shuttle orbiter avionics

    Carrier, L.M. / Minor, R.G. | Tema Archive | 1977


    Space Shuttle Orbiter Barricade

    P. R. Digiovanniantonio | NTIS | 1974



    The Space Shuttle Orbiter

    Baker, David | Online Contents | 1996