Classification of Gas-Dust Formations from Rocket Exhaust in the Upper Atmosphere

Abstract

The results of research into the optical phenomena produced by rocket exhaust products in the upper atmosphere are presented. The data were obtained during routine observations of auroras by all-sky cameras from 1975 to 1990 from the Kola peninsula and Arckchangelsk region. The observed rocket launches were carried out from the Plesetsk and White Sea launch sites during both nighttime and twilight periods. The observed phenomena can be divided into two main types: local phenomena with long development times and relatively short-lived large-scale ones. The characteristic properties of both types are determined, in the first instance, by the type of rocket engines used (solid or liquid propellant) and their operating mode. The most intense, large-scale and dynamic phenomena are caused by separation of rocket stages and shutoff of solid-fuel rocket engines.

Dusty Plasma Effects in Near Earth Space and Interplanetary Medium

“…Later, Rosenberg et al (1999) considered a lower hybrid (LH) instability driven by a beam of negatively charged dust streaming across B, finding that this instability could be relevant for explaining the enhanced radar backscatter from space shuttle exhaust. Rosenberg and Sorasio (2006) have considered the possibility of LH instability in dust-gas formations from rocket exhausts injecting combustion products into the ionosphere (see Platov 2004). …”

The electrical conductivity of weakly ionized plasma containing dust particles

“…Plasma and dust parameters of the rocket exhaust measured by experiments (Refs. [17,18]) indicate that size of the dust particles is typically 0.1 μm to 10 μm, dust density is approximately 10 10 m −3 to 10 15 m −3 , the ion density n i is often 10 16 m −3 to 10 18 m −3 , and neutral density is 10 20 m −3 to 10 24 m −3 . As a reference case, we assume n d = 10 12 m −3 , n i = 10 17 m −3 and the temperature T = 2000 K in the model to calculate the conductivity of dusty plasma.…”

“…The exhaust plume from solid rocket motors can be characterized as weakly ionized dusty plasma, which contains a large numbers of aluminum oxide particles (Al 2 O 3 ) [16,17]. Plasma and dust parameters of the rocket exhaust measured by experiments (Refs.…”

Lower Hybrid Instability in Gas-Dust Formations from Rocket Exhaust in the Ionosphere

“…1 These products can affect the ionosphere by generating strong perturbations, such as the large-scale holes in the ionosphere reported by Ref. 2, can induce luminous chemical reactions and lead to optical phenomena caused by the scattering of sunlight on dispersed components of the gas and dust clouds.…”

“…2, can induce luminous chemical reactions and lead to optical phenomena caused by the scattering of sunlight on dispersed components of the gas and dust clouds. 1 The nature of such dispersed components depends on the type of rocket engines (solid or liquid propellant) and can have the form of solid particles (e.g., Al, aluminum oxide) or ice particles, with sizes ranging from nanometers to microns. 3 In the ionosphere, the gas-dust formations resulting from rockets' exhaust can have expansion speeds of the order of a few kilometers/second (depending on the altitude) and can reach sizes on the order of 100 km or more (proportional to the breaking distance as presented by Ref.…”