Further observations of Space Shuttle plasma-electrodynamic effects from OSS-1/STS-3

Recent analyses of ion measurements obtained from the Differential Ion Flux Probe (DIFP) on the deployed Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) during the OSS-1/STS-3 mission have provided an additional insight into the plasma-electrodynamics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter: (1) Measured ion flow directions and energies suggest that the disturbance created in the ionospheric plasma by the Shuttle Orbiter may be confined to an interaction region that extends on the order of 10 m in the forward direction and has a boundary thickness of about 2 m. (2) A correlation between the DIFP and pressure gauge measurements indicates a direct, local proportionality between the neutral gas and ion densities. (3) Preliminary results from a theoretical model of the possible interaction between measured secondary, high inclination ion streams and the ambient plasma indicate the generation of broad-band electrostatic noise such as that observed by wave instruments on the PDP.