NSSDCA ID: 1969-051A-11
Mission Name: OGO 6This experiment had as its broad objective the study of airglow and auroral emissions at two wavelengths: (1) the 6300-A red line of atomic oxygen and (2) the 3914-A radiation from the molecular nitrogen ion. With regard to airglow phenomena, the objectives focused on the following two areas: (1) the altitude distribution of the 6300-A emitting layer with consideration of the dissociation of molecular oxygen by the solar UV radiation, the dissociative recombination of ions with electrons in the ionosphere, and the direct excitation of atomic oxygen by thermal electrons and (2) the altitude distribution of the 3914-A emitting layer with consideration of the optical resonance of the solar 3914-A radiation by the molecular nitrogen ions and the simultaneous ionization and excitation of molecular nitrogen by solar X rays. For auroral phenomena produced by different excitation mechanisms, the objectives were to study the following two areas: (1) the spatial distribution of the red-line emitting region where the principal excitation process was energetic particle bombardment and (2) the spatial distribution of the emitting region of the 3914-A radiation, with energetic particle bombardment of molecular nitrogen and optical resonance of the solar 3914-A radiation by molecular nitrogen ions, (sunlit auroras at high altitude), as likely excitation mechanisms. In addition, correlative investigations were planned. A boom-mounted photometer was used to measure the altitude distribution of the intensities of these emissions. Incident light arrived at a stepping mirror and passed through a 6300-A filter to the phototube. The experiment was mounted on the solar paddle support, which was designed to rotate about the lateral axis. Thus, scans from along the X-Y plane towards either zenith or nadir were possible. The mirror scanned from the X-Y plane to 30 deg in the plus Z direction in sixty 0.5-deg increments. For each increment, the viewing angle was 6 deg parallel to the X-Y plane and 0.5 deg perpendicular to the plane. A scan cycle from and back to the X-Y plane was completed using the 6300-A filter. Another cycle was then completed with the 3914-A filter in place. A complete cycle period lasted approximately 34 s for each interference filter.
Mass: 3.3 kg
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Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Prof. Jacques E. Blamont | Principal Investigator | CNRS, Service d'Aeronomie |