Glow brightness around the Atmosphere Explorer satellite over the altitude range of 140-300 km is calculated using a multistep approach. The flowfield around the satellite is simulated using the direct simulation Monte-Carlo method. An overlay technique is used to simulate rare atmospheric species with acceptable statistical accuracy. Both nonreactive and reactive surface events are modeled by a system of ordinary differential equations. A simple analytical model is then used to convert a surface flux to glow brightness. A comprehensive set of production mechanisms is included in the calculation of glow brightness for the first time. The effects of satellite rotation are investigated and found to be most significant at higher altitudes. Sensitivity to the surface event parameters is assessed, and the critical production reaction for spacecraft glow is identified. The importance of the freestream concentration of nitric oxide is demonstrated. Very good agreement with experimental data is achieved.
NomenclatureA" = species A adsorbed on the surface AJ = species /, where 1 < i < N A = species A moving toward the surface A -species A moving away the surface Fj = flux of species / to the surface, particles/(m 2 s) K l f j = Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction rate for species / and y, m 2 /particles N = number of species HI -surface number density of species i n s = surface number density of surface sites Q = species of interest Sj = sticking coefficient for species i X = free surface site e.y = probability of ejection after Eley-Rideal reaction 6 l ij = probability of ejection after Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction 0, = surface coverage of species /, identical to ni/n s crfj = desorption cross section for species / and j, m 2 a?j = Eley-Rideal cross section for species i and y, m 2 r, = thermal desorption time for species /, s
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.