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Orbiting molecular-beam laboratoryThe composition of the atmosphere within the planned orbital envelope of the Space Shuttle and the velocity necessary to maintain a stable orbit within that envelope provide unique conditions for forming a high-purity, moderate energy beam (about 5 eV) of atomic oxygen. At 500 km, for example, atomic oxygen comprises approximately 90% of the atmosphere. Since the mean thermal speed of the ambient atomic oxygen is substantially less than the orbital speed, a high-purity beam can be generated by sweeping through the gas with a series of beam-forming truncated conical shells. Characteristics of the beam, including energy distribution, flux, and purity variation with orbital altitude and methods for lowering the mean energy, are presented. Gas-surface interaction experiments that have been proposed for this laboratory are also discussed.
Document ID
19780035560
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Outlaw, R. A.
(NASA Langley Research Center Space Systems Div., Hampton, Va., United States)
Brock, F. J.
(Old Dominion University Norfolk, Va., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1977
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
78A19469
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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