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Artificial auroras in the upper atmosphere. II - Imaging resultsOn the ATLAS 1 mission (STS-45, launched March 24, 1992) two experiments, AEPI (Atmospheric Emissions Photometric Imaging) and SEPAC (Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators) performed the first of a series of active experiments intended to probe the atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere with electron beams. The luminous artificial aurora generated by the electron beam interaction was detected and measured by AEPI both in white light and in a narrow wavelength band at 427.8 nm (peak intensity 5 kR). Modelling calculation showed that there was a significant contribution from emissions originating near the spacecraft. The spatial intensity distribution of the observed auroral patch is consistent with emission contribution from both high and low altitude regions. An extended tail in the direction of the shuttle wake was observed in the 427.8 nm channel, consistent with a decay time associated with the dissipation of the hot electron plasma.
Document ID
19930047920
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mende, S. B.
(Lockheed Research Labs. Palo Alto, CA, United States)
Burch, J. L.
(Southwest Research Inst. San Antonio, TX, United States)
Swenson, G. R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Aamodt, E. K.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Geller, S. P.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Rairden, R. L.
(Lockheed Research Labs. Palo Alto, CA, United States)
Hassler, P. L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
March 19, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 20
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A31917
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-32579
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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