DE‐2 mass spectrometer observations relevant to the shuttle glow

Abstract

A comparison of satellite mass spectrometer data from Dynamics Explorer‐2 and Atmosphere Explorer‐C and ‐D provides new evidence supporting the hypothesis that NO 2 is the source of the observed continuum glow near ram‐facing surfaces of the space shuttle. Surface reactions of thermospheric N and O in mass spectrometer ion sources produce NO and NO 2 in amounts highly dependent on surface temperature and composition, with direct exposure of ion source surfaces to rammed gas a necessary condition for the production of large amounts of NO 2 . Initial orbit data indicate that a period of surface conditioning is necessary before these odd nitrogen molecules can be produced efficiently.