The plasma wake of the shuttle orbiter

Murphy, G. B.; Reasoner, D. L.; Tribble, Alan C.; D’Angelo, N.; Pickett, J. S.; Kŭrth, W. S.

doi:10.1029/ja094ia06p06866

Cited by 32 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Figures a and b (top row) suggest that the electron density decreases as the spin‐phase angle approaches 180°, where the wake axis is expected to be directed. This density structure is commonly observed around a moving vehicle [e.g., Murphy et al ., ]. The wake effect obtained with the NEI also appears in the measurement data of the FLP as periodic changes in V‐I characteristics in synchronization with the spin period.…”

Section: Nei/pwm Observation and Analysis Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Observation of wake‐induced plasma waves around an ionospheric sounding rocket

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plasma waves generated around the plasma wake of a supersonically moving rocket are studied using data from an impedance probe and a wave receiver installed on the sounding rocket S-520-26. These instruments were used to measure the electron number density and plasma waves at 260 ms intervals, which allows four to five measurements per rotation. During the flight of the S-520-26, three types of plasma waves were observed: short-wavelength electrostatic waves such as electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic waves, upper hybrid resonance mode waves, and whistler mode waves, assuming that the observed waves are produced in the near wake of the rocket. The wave generation mechanisms are discussed by calculating the linear growth rates of electrostatic waves; positive growth rates are obtained with the assumption of an anisotropic electron distribution function having a beam component or temperature anisotropy. We revealed the spatial distribution of the wave activity around the rocket and its relationship with the wake structure by analysis of the spin-phase dependence of the waves and the observed electron number density. The spin-phase dependence suggests that there are localized hot plasmas around the wake structure that can induce various types of plasma instability.

show abstract

Section: Nei/pwm Observation and Analysis Resultsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Observation of wake‐induced plasma waves around an ionospheric sounding rocket

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…14 ' 15 The PDF was operated both on the RMS and in a free-flight path specifically designed to provide information on the characteristics of the wake both in the near vicinity of the Orbiter (within a body radius of the obstacle of about 10 m) and in the distant wake, out to about 250 m. From RMS and back-away observations, the density in the near wake can be two or more orders of magnitude less than the ambient density, whereas the electron temperature on the boundary of the wake region can be observed to increase by more than a factor of 2. At greater distances, the magnitude of the density depletion is less, sometimes only about 10%.…”

Section: Wake Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Spacelab 2 Plasma Diagnostics Package

Kŭrth

Frank

1990

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Plasma Diagnostics Package is a small, deploy able satellite designed to study the interaction of the Space Shuttle Orbiter with the ionospheric environment as well as to be used in joint experiments with the plasma depletion and the vehicle charging and potential investigations during the Spacelab 2 mission. This paper provides a brief description of the small spacecraft, its instrumentation and operation, and the scientific objectives of the investigations. A brief summary of the scientific results obtained thus far is also presented.

show abstract

“…A dielectric coating was applied to one side of the plate made of aluminum (length l = 45 cm, width 2R = 16 cm, and thickness δ ≈ 0.1 cm). An aluminum coating was applied (sprayed) onto the surface of the disk (made of quartz) 15 [4] for Sei ≈ 8, R ds ≈ 40, and −Φw ≈ 0 (5) and 20 (6); points 7-9 are the results measured in [12] in the ionosphere on the Explorer-C (AE-C) artificial satellite for 5.9 Sei 8.04, −Φw ≈ 10, and R ds ≈ 116.3 (7), 135.7 (8), and 162.5 (9); points 10 are the results measured in [13] in the ionosphere on the S3-2 artificial satellite for Sei ≈ 8, R ds 45, and −Φw ≈ 10; points 11 are the results measured in [14] in the wake behind the Space Shuttle for Sei ≈ 3.35 and R ds 2 · 10 3 ; (b) angular distribution of ion density nis(θ) at t = 0.192: points 1 are the results measured in [12] on the Explorer-C (AE-C) artificial satellite for Sei ≈ 7.83, R ds ≈ 73.4, −Φw ≈ 8.8, and ξei = 1.14; points 2 are the results measured in the present work (wake behind a cylinder for Sei ≈ 5.1, R ds ≈ 78, −Φw ≈ 6.7, and ξei = 4); curve 3 is the solution of Eq. (7) with the dependence nis(Φ) from [6] for Sei ≈ 5.1, R ds ≈ 80, and −Φw ≈ 6.7; points 4 are the results of the discrete flow model [11].…”

Section: High-voltage Charging Of the Leeward Surfaces Of A Solid By mentioning

confidence: 99%

Charge transfer by high-energy electrons onto the leeward surfaces of a solid in a supersonic rarefied plasma flow

Shuvalov

Priimak

Bandel

et al. 2008

J Appl Mech Tech Phys

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Numerical and experimental dependence of equilibrium potentials of the leeward surfaces on the ratio of concentrations of high-energy electrons and positive ions in a supersonic rarefied plasma flow around a solid are obtained.Introduction. Electrodynamic interaction of solids with the polar ionosphere in the Earth's shadow is a superposition of two effects: irradiation by high-energy electrons and the flow of a "cold" rarefied plasma. If the concentration of positive ions near the body surface is N iw 10 4 cm −3 , negative charges up to a voltage of 1 kV are collected on the dielectric [1]. The main role in charging the solid surfaces in the polar ionosphere in the Earth's shadow belongs to hot electrons with energy from 1 to 35 keV (captured in radiation belts and propagating along the lines of magnetic force toward the Earth surface) and positive ions of the "cold" ionospheric plasma. The effects and consequences of high-voltage differential charging are most hazardous for the leeward surfaces of extended and electrodynamically large solids (R/λ ds > 10) and also for small solids in the near wake behind them [R is the characteristic size of the solid; λ ds = kT es /(4πe 2 N es ) is the Debye screening length of the undisturbed plasma, k is the Boltzmann constant, e is the electron charge, T es 0.3 eV is the temperature, and N es is the concentration of electrons in the "cold" plasma].The numerical study of high-voltage charging of the leeward surfaces of a solid in a polar plasma involves the solution of nonlinear integrodifferential Vlasov-Poisson equations for a supersonic flow and current-balance equations on the irradiated surface. The values of the coefficients of interaction between the charged particles and the surface for a particular material are determined experimentally.In the experimental study of high-voltage charging, it is necessary to reproduce the current density distribution in the near wake behind the solid in a supersonic rarefied plasma flow and simultaneous irradiation of the leeward surfaces by high-energy electrons with energy from 1 to 35 keV [1]. The test set designed for such studies has to combine the characteristics of a plasma gas-dynamic tunnel and an electrodynamic facility. The conditions of charging of dielectric solids in a polar plasma can be modeled (simulated) in a closed volume of such a test set. The difficulties of such studies are caused by the necessity of simultaneous implementation of conditions of plasma-gas-dynamic and electrophysical interactions in the solid-plasma system. The accuracy and reliability of the predicted level of charging of the leeward surfaces are determined by the agreement between the calculated values of the solid potentials and the data of ionospheric and test-set measurements.In the near wake behind an electrodynamically large solid, the concentration of positive ions of the "cold" plasma N is is several orders lower than its value N i∞ in the undisturbed plasma with an almost unchanged concentration of high-energy electrons N eh . This fact...

show abstract

The plasma wake of the shuttle orbiter

Cited by 32 publications

References 12 publications

Observation of wake‐induced plasma waves around an ionospheric sounding rocket

Observation of wake‐induced plasma waves around an ionospheric sounding rocket

Spacelab 2 Plasma Diagnostics Package

Charge transfer by high-energy electrons onto the leeward surfaces of a solid in a supersonic rarefied plasma flow

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About