Environmental Monitoring Instrumentation and Monitoring Techniques for Space Shuttle Launches

摘要

The Space Shuttle emits undesired exhaust materials into the atmosphere during a launch including large quantities of hydrogen chloride (HCl). The fate of the HCl is not well understood but includes deposition and HCl gas revolatilization near the launch pad and downwind acid washout, acid rainout and HCl gas dispersion. The Air Force and NASA began monitoring missile exhaust effluents in the early 1970s. There has been an evolution in monitoring instrumentation, monitoring techniques and monitoring schemes developed jointly by the Air Force and NASA culminating in the efforts for Space Shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center. This report reviews and evaluates these efforts and recommends an integrated program of ground monitors, aircraft monitors and remote sensors to monitor shuttle exhaust materials. (Author)