Submillimeter wave spectroscopy of the earth's atmosphere above 39000 feet.
Transmission spectrum of upper atmosphere measured from aircraft at 39,000 ft, noting atmospheric oxygen and ozone absorption lines
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Transmission spectrum of upper atmosphere measured from aircraft at 39,000 ft, noting atmospheric oxygen and ozone absorption lines
Spectral and electrophotometric studies of upper atmosphere - airglows, atomic oxygen, hydroxyl emission, helium line spectra, auroras, and solar cycle effects on magnetosphere
Auroral ion composition and chemistry from rocket-borne mass spectrometer measurements, investigating oxygen density and green line excitation
Solar limb brightening of XUV lines of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and silicon ions in chromospheric-coronal transition region
Auroral spectrophotometer measurements from 1968 NASA airborne expedition, discussing oxygen and nitrogen spectral lines
Oxygen red-green line emission intensity in quiet auroral arc, using rocket-borne photometers
The UV airglow spectrum of Mars has been measured from an orbiting spacecraft during a 30-day period in November and December 1971. Significant variations in the scale height of the CO Cameron band airglow have been observed during a period of variable solar activity. The atomic oxygen and hydrogen airglow lines are present during all the observations. Measurements of the reflectance of the lower atmosphere of Mars show the spectral characteristics of particle scattering and a magnitude that is about 50% of that measured during the Mariner 6 and 7 experiments in 1969.
Astronaut training in the recognition of various geological features from space is described as well as the cameras, lenses and film used in experiment MA-136 to measure their effectiveness in photographing earth structural features from orbit. Aerosols that affect climate and weather are discussed in relation to experiment Ma-007 which relied on infrared observations of the setting or rising sun, as seen from Apollo, to measure the amount of dust and droplets in the lower 150 km of earth's atmosphere. The line spectra of atomic oxygen and nitrogen and their densities at 22 km above the earth's surface are examined along with experiment MA-059 which measured ultraviolet absorption at that altitude.
The frequency distributions of the first six Lyman lines of hydrogenlike carbon, oxygen, neon, magnesium, aluminum, and silicon ions broadened by the local fields of both ions and electrons are calculated for dense plasmas. The electron collisions are treated by an impact theory allowing (approximately) for level splittings caused by the ion fields, finite duration of the collisions, and screening of the electron fields. These calculations are fully quantum mechanical and include the full Coulomb interaction. Ion effects are calculated in the quasistatic, linear-Stark-effect approximation, using distribution functions of Hooper and Tighe which include correlation and shielding effects. Theoretical uncertainties from the various approximations are estimated, and the scaling of the profiles with density, temperature, and nuclear charge is discussed. A correction for the effects caused by low-frequency field fluctuations is suggested.
The precipitation of energetic particles into the ionosphere produces bremsstrahlung X-rays and K-alpha line emission from excited oxygen and nitrogen. If viewed from a spacecraft in a highly elliptical polar orbit, this soft (0.3 - 3.0 keV) X-radiation will provide an almost uninterrupted record of dayside and nightside auroras. A grazing incidence X-ray telescope especially designed for such auroral monitoring is described. High photon collection efficiency will permit exposure times of approximately 100 seconds during substorms. Spectrophotometry will allow users to derive the energy spectrum of the precipitating particles. If placed in a 15 earth-radius orbit, the telescope can produce auroral X-ray images with 30 km resolution. Absolute position of X-ray auroras can be established with a small optical telescope co-aligned with the X-ray telescope. Comparison of X-ray and optical images will establish the height and global distribution of X-ray aurorae, relative to well-known optical auroras, thus melding the new X-ray results with knowledge of optical auroras.
Doppler temperatures determined from observations of the atomic oxygen OI 6300 A line during March 1984 at the University of Alaska/Fairbanks are presented. Temperatures are obtained from Fabry-Perot Interferometer pressure scans using a Fourier transform smoothing and fitting technique; this technique is presented in detail. The temperatures and the spread in the temperatures are consistent from day to day. On the clear nights of March 10 to 13, the temperatures were 800, 750, 750 and 800 K, respectively, with a spread of + or - 100 K. These temperatures are compared to the MSIS (84) model atmosphere for similar geomagnetic conditions and found to be in general agreement; they are also consistent with results obtained by other investigators.
A guide is presented to the UV spectrum of M-type giants and supergiants whose outer atmospheres contain warm chromospheres but not coronae. The M3 giant Gamma Crucis is taken as the archetype of the cooler, oxygen-rich, noncoronal stars. Line identifications and integrated line flux measurements of the chromospheric emission features seen in the 1200-3200 A range of IUE high-resolution spectra are presented. The major fluorescence processes operating in the outer atmosphere of Gamma Crucis, including eight previously unknown pumping processes and 21 new fluorescent line products, are summarized, and the enhancements of selected line strengths by 'line leakage' is discussed. A set of absorption features toward the longer wavelength end of this range is identified which can be used to characterize the radial velocity of the stellar photospheres. The applicability of the results to the spectra of noncoronal stars with different effective temperatures and gravities is discussed.
Ultraviolet and optical spectra data are presented for the oxygen-rich supernova remnant 1E 0102-7219 in the SMC. These UV data are the first to seriously constrain the UV emission from an oxygen-rich remnant. Emission lines of O I, forbidden O II, semiforbidden O III, semiforbidden O IV, C IV, forbidden Ne IV, and Mg II have been unambiguously detected in the UV. Shock models for material with abundances appropriate to massive stellar ejecta are calculated, and a number of differences between these models and the observations are found. The UV lines are observed to be weaker relative to optical lines than expected from models. Models of photoionization by the remnant's X-ray emission are calculated, and these provide a better qualitative match to the observed spectra. Approximate abundances in the ejecta are derived and the implications these have for the precursor star are discussed.
Several approaches are presented for the quantitative measurement of flowfield parameters in high-speed flows. The techniques are developed for the study of air flows in the Mach 2 to Mach 3 regime and can be extended to the hypersonic and subsonic regimes in a straightforward manner. Instantaneous two-dimensional cross-sectional images of the density using UV Rayleigh scattering and the measurement of velocity profiles using the RELIEF technique are shown. The RELIEF technique employs two high-powered lasers separated in frequency by the vibrational frequency of oxygen molecules to write lines across the flowfield by stimulated Raman scattering. The preliminary results indicate that the UV Rayleigh scattering may also be extended to the measurement of velocity and temperature fields by using an atomic or molecular absorption filter window, and that the RELIEF technique can be extended to marking shaped volumetric points or arrays of points in the flowfield for velocity and vorticity measurements.
Extreme ultraviolet line emissions by exospheric oxygen ions and neutrals of ionospheric origin can be used to form images of the dynamic magnetospheric regions with sufficient speed to provide a new global means of observing the dynamics of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. Computer simulations of such exospheric images based on the latest measurements of ion outflow, on known or estimated solar fluxes, and on known emission and excitation rates are shown. An evaluation of the current and foreseeable EUV imaging technology relevant to magnetospheric imaging is also given.
The focal plane crystal spectrometer (FPCS) on the Einstein Observatory has been used to perform a high-resolution spectroscopic search for oxygen X-ray line emission from four active galaxies: Fairall 9, Mrk 421, Mrk 501, and PKS 0548 - 322. Specifically, O VIII Ly-alpha and Ly-beta, whose unredshifted energies are 653 and 775 eV, respectively, were sought. No narrow-line emission was detected within the energy bands searched. Upper limits are calculated on the line flux from these sources of 30 eV equivalent width and use a photoionization model to place corresponding upper limits on the densities of diffuse gas surrounding the active nuclei. The upper limits on gas density range from about 0.02-50/cu cm and probe various radial distances from the central source. This is the first time high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy has been used to place constraints on the intercloud medium in active galaxies.
Optical measurements of thermospheric and ionospheric processes and their interpretation are reviewed and the chemical reactions and their effects on emissions are discussed. Also included are the phenomena which excite the airglow and aurora, i.e., the solar UV/EUV flux and auroral particle precipitation. Consideration is given to solar flux, atomic emissions, molecular emissions, hydrogen geocorona, and molecular oxygen and the green line nightglow.
Because Space Station Freedom (SSF) is an independent satellite, not depending upon another spacecraft for power, attitude control, or thermal regulation, it has a variety of tubular, fluid-carrying assemblies on-board. The systems of interest in this analysis provide breathing air (oxygen and nitrogen), a working fluid (two-phase anhydrous ammonia) for thermal control, and a monopropellant (hydrazine) for station reboost. The tube assemblies run both internally and externally with respect to the habitats. They are found in up to 50 ft. continuous lengths constructed of mostly AISI 316L stainless steel tubing, but also including some Inconel 625 nickel-iron and Monel 400 nickel-copper alloy tubing. The outer diameters (OD) of the tubes range from 0.25-1.25 inches, and the wall thickness between 0.028-.095 inches. The system operational pressures range from 377 psi (for the thermal control system) to 3400 psi (for the high pressure oxygen and nitrogen supply lines in the ECLSS). SSF is designed for a fifteen to thirty year mission. It is likely that the tubular assemblies (TA's) will sustain damage or fail during this lifetime such that they require repair or replacement. The nature of the damage will be combinations of punctures, chips, scratches, and creases and may be cosmetic or actually leaking. The causes of these hypothetical problems are postulated to be: (1) faulty or fatigued fluid joints--both QD's and butt-welds; (2) micro-meteoroid impacts; (3) collison with another man-made object; and (4) over-pressure strain or burst (system origin). While the current NASA baseline may be to temporarily patch the lines by clamping metal c-sections over the defect, and then perform high pressure injection of a sealing compound, it is clear that permanent repair of the line(s) is necessary. This permanent repair could be to replace the entire TA in the segment, or perhaps the segment itself, both alternatives being extremely expensive and risky. The former would likely require extensive EVA to release TA clamps and pose great risk to other engineering subsystems, and the latter would require major de-servicing of the Station.