Spacecraft contamination from a chemical laser ring-jet
Subtitle: a progress report
By: Joseph Falcovitz
Contributors: Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Dept. of Aeronautics
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1985
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 22
Subjects: EXHAUST PLUMES; CONTAMINATION; SPACECRAFT; BACKFLOW
Other titles: NPS-67-85-010CR.
Description: The purpose of this report is to present a review of work done at the Naval Postgraduate      School (NPS) on the contaminating backflow from the exhaust plume of a chemical laser      mounted on an earth-orbiting spacecraft. Various mechanisms that may give rise to a      backflow are outlined; primarily: thermal backscattering; ambient scattering; and viscous      effects. Detailed studies have been conducted at NPS on thermal backscattering. They are      reviewed in this report, concluding that corrosive fluxes (HF,DF,F) due solely to this effect      are negligible. The flux of light species (He,H2), however, is significant. Keywords: Hydrogen      fluoride; Deuterium fluoride; Fluorine; Helium; Hydroden; Laser exhaust; Spacecraft      contamination; Chemical laser; Exhaust plume.
Notes: Title from cover.

"NPS-67-85-010CR."

"November 1985."

AD A162 838.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 14).

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