Airglow in the Visible and Infrared Spectral Ranges of the Disturbed Upper Atmosphere under Conditions of High-Velocity Plasma Jet Injection: I. Experimental data

The measurements of infrared emission from an artificial structure, which was generated during the Fluxus experiment with plasma jet injection into the atmosphere, are obtained and discussed for the first time. Additional experimental data on the airglow in the visible spectral band of the disturbed region of the atmosphere are presented. A generalized analysis of the data is given.     

Experiments with injection of powerful plasma jet into the ionosphere

This paper describes two rocket experiments “Aelita” with high power lithium plasma injection. The results of onboard magnetometer, massspectrometer, photometer, plasma, corpuscular and ground radar measurements are given. Dynamics and structure of plasma formation are discussed.     

Dynamics and structure of ion clouds in the ionosphere from multifrequency doppler sounding

The evolution of a barium ion cloud formed in the MR-20 rocket experiment in the low-latitude ionosphere is considered using data of Doppler multifrequency sounding.     

Interaction of artificially injected plasma flows with ionospheric plasma

Results of rocket experiments on study of plasma flows (PF) artificially injected by sources separated from vehicles and their effect on medium parameters in ionosphere at altitudes 160:230 km are presented.PF were injected comprising lithium ions with velocities 1,2 x 10⁴ m/sec. and cesium-potassium ions with velocities (1,4–1,5)x10³ m/sec. Mass flow rate in case of lithium PS is 2 mg/sec, and in case of cesium-potassium PS is 0,2 g/sec. During experiments mass-spectrometer measurements of ion medium content in ranges of different ion masses were held, disturbancies of electric fields with frequencies up to 20 kHz and electron flows with energies 0,7keV, 4,6keV and over 40 keV were controlled at distancies from 150m to (500–600)m between plasma source and scientific equipment.     

Measurements of the artificially stimulated precipitation of electrons from the inner radiation belt in the experiment “SPOLOKH-2”

Evidence for an enhancement of the electron flux associated with a barium chaped charge release from “SPOLOKH-2” rocket payload, launched from Volgograd (L = 2.2) on June 29, 1978, will be presented. There is also evidence for a periodic train of particle bursts occurring with about 11 second period during more than 100 seconds after the release. The observed phenomena is interpreted as a “trigger-effect”.     

The analysis of investments in demonstrative small satellite projects for remote sensing

The demonstrative small satellite projects (DSSP) for appreciation of the small satellites (SS) effective use in the perspective national space systems of remote sensing environment, as well as the ozone layer and the near Earth space are considered. The national potential for development, building, launch and missions of SS is discussed. The pecularities of the Russian market of remote sensing informative products and servicies are analysed to specify and stress the significance and perspectives of this market. In view of budget constraints in transitive period from centralized to market economics in Russia the different sources of DSSP financial support are considered.     

Optical observations of artificial clouds in the CRRES experiments

Some results of the optical observations of the barium clouds released from the satellite “CRRES” over the Caribbean are presented.     

Structure of plasma blobs injected into the ionosphere from a rocket

To study artificial disturbances in the ionosphere, caused by pulsed injection of plasma two MR-12 rockets with plasma guns were launched from Volgograd in 1978–1979. The pulsed plasma was ejected from the separated daughter payload, alternatively, along and transverse the magnetic field lines. The experimental and model data on structure and dynamics of the artificial plasma blobs in the ionosphere are discussed.     

Peculiarities of the environment disturbance during the electron beam injection from the rocket

The paper presents some results obtained when a beam of electrons (energy 2 to 3.5 keV, current 0.2 to 0.4A) was injected from aboard the rocket at 100 to 150 km.At the moments the beam was injected perturbations of the near-rocket region are observed with a cross-section of about 500 m, it is much larger than the region over which the injected beam is extended.The appearance of the above region can be explained by the interaction of accelerated ions with the surroundings; the ions are generated during the positive rocket charge neutralization owing to discharge mechanisms. It is confirmed by direct measurements of the rocket potential which is about 2 kV near the apogee.     

The study of a plasma jet injected by an on-board plasma thruster

The injected plasma jet-ionosphere interaction features were studied in experiments carried out on board two METEOR satellites. The injected plasma jet propagation depends considerably on jet injection pitch-angle. The impactless jet spreading took place without considerable interaction with the ionosphere plasma, when injected along the magnetic field. By injection across the magnetic field very effective plasma jet-ionosphere plasma and the Earth's magnetic field interaction was observed. Plasma jet injection provoked the generation of electromagnetic fields near the satellite.