Design, Development, Fabrication and Launch Support for a High Altitude Release of Neodymium Vapor

摘要

Project PIIE, an observation program, involved in the launch of a Taurus Tomahawk rocket carrying a payload containing a neodymium thermite canister. The overall objective of this program was to develop and fabricate a payload capable of releasing neodymium vapor in the upper atmosphere. The specific objectives of this program were 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. Keywords: Neodymium; Titanium; Boron; Stratospheric winds; Stratospheric dynamics; F Layer modification.