Atmospheric Effects in Low Earth Orbit and the DMSP ESA Offset Anomaly

A space vehicle in Earth orbit experiences bombardment with fast (aboaut 8 km/sec) atmospheric articles, the principal of which is atomic oxygen, by virtue of its orbital velocity. Several satellite systems that have been or may be adversely affected by atmospheric impact are described. The current...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Arnold,Graham S, Herm,Ronald R, Peplinski,Daniel R
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ANOMALIES
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC DENSITY
Atmospheric Physics
Atomic oxygen
Defense meteorological satellites
EARTH ORBITS
LOW ORBIT TRAJECTORIES
METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES
OXYGEN
SPACECRAFT COMPONENTS
Spacecraft Trajectories and Reentry
SURFACE REACTIONS
Unmanned Spacecraft
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Summary:A space vehicle in Earth orbit experiences bombardment with fast (aboaut 8 km/sec) atmospheric articles, the principal of which is atomic oxygen, by virtue of its orbital velocity. Several satellite systems that have been or may be adversely affected by atmospheric impact are described. The current knowledge of the gas-surface interactions of atomic oxygen and the available experimental technology for laboratory simulation of atmospheric bombardment in orbit are reviewed. The DMSP EAS offset anomaly is described and evidence for linking this misbehavior to atmospheric oxygen atom impact is presented and discussed. The results of a laboratory experiment to test this link are presented.