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Space shuttle exhaust cloud propertiesA data base describing the properties of the exhaust cloud produced by the launch of the Space Transportation System and the acidic fallout observed after each of the first four launches was assembled from a series of ground and aircraft based measurements made during the launches of STS 2, 3, and 4. Additional data were obtained from ground-based measurements during firings of the 6.4 percent model of the Solid Rocket Booster at the Marshall Center. Analysis indicates that the acidic fallout is produced by atomization of the deluge water spray by the rocket exhaust on the pad followed by rapid scavening of hydrogen chloride gas aluminum oxide particles from the Solid Rocket Boosters. The atomized spray is carried aloft by updrafts created by the hot exhaust and deposited down wind. Aircraft measurements in the STS-3 ground cloud showed an insignificant number of ice nuclei. Although no measurements were made in the column cloud, the possibility of inadvertent weather modification caused by the interaction of ice nuclei with natural clouds appears remote.
Document ID
19840006538
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Publication (TP)
Authors
Anderson, B. J.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Keller, V. W.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1983
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TP-2258
NAS 1.60:2258
Accession Number
84N14606
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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