Design, development, fabrication and launch support for a high altitude release of neodymium vapor
Abstract
Project PIIE, an observation program, involves the launch of a Taurus Tomahawk rocket carrying a payload containing a neodymium thermite canister. The overall objective is to develop and fabricate a payload capable of releasing neodymium vapor in the upper atmosphere. The specific objectives are to: Conduct laboratory vaporization experiments and postmortem analyses to identify the mix best suited for the application; conduct development tests with 0.5 kg. (or smaller) canisters in a vacuum chamber; identify the spectral emission of neodymium and samarium vapor generated by the driver (thermite) system; design and fabricate a full size (multi-kilogram) Neodymium release canister for upper atmosphere release via a sounding rocket; and provide launch support for the high altitude tests.
- Publication:
-
Final Report
- Pub Date:
- January 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988frc..rept.....S
- Keywords:
-
- F Region;
- High Altitude;
- Launching;
- Neodymium;
- Releasing;
- Sounding Rockets;
- Spectral Emission;
- Stratosphere;
- Upper Atmosphere;
- Vaporizing;
- Boron;
- Cans;
- Dynamic Characteristics;
- Fabrication;
- Observation;
- Revisions;
- Samarium;
- Thermites;
- Titanium;
- Vacuum Chambers;
- Geophysics