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Atmospheric and glow images from the Shuttle

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Abstract

The use of simple photographic cameras on early Shuttle missions allowed spacecraft glow to be clearly identified, and its potential for the contamination of weak atmospheric emissions to be estimated. Since those early flights the equipment has been extensively modified so that it is now possible to obtain images with a spectral resolution of 0.1 nm. The early Shuttle glow observations are reviewed and the use of spatially scanned filters to obtain spectral results is described. These glow measurements are discussed in terms of some current ideas for vehicle induced glows and it is suggested that the glow intensity may be controlled by the temperature of the glowing surface. An example of an atmospheric image obtained with the interference filter camera is presented and the limitations in the use of such images are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. E. J. Llewellyn

    Present address: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies, University of Saskatchewan, S7N OWO, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    E. J. Llewellyn, I. C. McDade & M. R. Gale

  2. Herzberg Institute for Astrophysics, National Research Council Canada, K1A OR6, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    D. J. W. Kendall & R. L. Gattinger

  3. Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, 94304, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    S. B. Mende & G. R. Swenson

  4. SED Systems Inc., S7N 2X8, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    W. S. C. Brooks

Authors
  1. E. J. Llewellyn
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  2. I. C. McDade
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  3. M. R. Gale
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  4. D. J. W. Kendall
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  5. R. L. Gattinger
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  6. S. B. Mende
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  7. G. R. Swenson
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  8. W. S. C. Brooks
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Llewellyn, E.J., McDade, I.C., Gale, M.R. et al. Atmospheric and glow images from the Shuttle. Surv Geophys 9, 149–168 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01904120

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01904120

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