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Electron and ion density depletions measured in the STS-3 orbiter wakeThe third Space Shuttle flight on Columbia carried instrumentation to measure thermal plasma density and temperature. Two separate investigations, the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) and the Vehicle Charging and Potential Experiment (VCAP), carried a Langmuir Probe, and the VCAP also included a Spherical Retarding Potential Analyzer (SRPA). Only those measurements made while the PDP is in the payload bay are discussed here since the VCAP instrumentation remains in the payload bay at all times and the two measurements are compared. The wake behind a large structure (in this case the Space Shuttle Orbiter) flying through the ionospheric plasma is discussed. Much theoretical work was done regarding plasma wakes. The instrumentation on this mission gives the first data taken with a large vehicle in the ionospheric laboratory. First, the PDP Langmuir Probe and its data set will be presented, then the VCAP Langmuir Probe and SRPA with associated data. The agreement between the two data sets is discussed and then followed by some other PDP data which infers an even lower wake density.
Document ID
19850014163
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Murphy, G. B.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, United States)
Pickett, J. S.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, United States)
Raitt, W. S.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, United States)
Shawhan, S. D.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Lewis Research Center Spacecraft Environ. Interactions Technol., 1983
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Accession Number
85N22474
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG3-449
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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