Spectroscopic UV Imager Systems for Study of Atmospheric Contamination

Rockets generate pollutant species in their flight through the troposphere and stratosphere. To assess the environmental impact of such species, it is necessary to know the concentrations and the lifetimes of the foreign species and the chemistry which they undergo in the atmosphere. This program was to design and use instruments to gather data to determine the species, concentrations, and lifetimes of these foreign species. The measurement program was based on measuring the emission and absorption spectrum of the exhaust gases to determine the components in the gas cloud. This final report covers the first phase of a multi-year contract to develop the spectroscopic ultraviolet imager instrument system. Funding was limited and the contract eventually cancelled due to the severe cutback in funding for such research. This final report must be viewed in this light, a summary of the work at the beginning of an instrument design program.