Pseudo Color Densitometer Analysis-the Apollo 17/Saturn V Exhaust Plume. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Spectra of the Apollo 17/Saturn V exhaust plume have been obtained in the uv (300ndash;400 nm), visible (400-650 nm), and ir (750-790 nm) regions. Analysis of these data with a pseudo color densitometer reveals (1) a standing wave pattern in the exhaust plume characterized by a wavelength of 9 m, (2) a region of intense continuum within 40 m of the exit plane which supports previous reports of a continuum blackbody source with a peak temperature near 2600 K, (3) a region of continuum emission beyond 40 m that is not blackbody, and (4) line emissions beyond 40 m attributed to the sodium D lines and potassium. It is suggested that an interference filter centered on the sodium D lines could be used on a high speed framing camera to study the turbulent structure of the plume in the nonblackbody region.

published proceedings

  • Appl Opt

author list (cited authors)

  • Orville, R. E., & Helsdon, J. H.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • Orville, RE||Helsdon, JH

publication date

  • October 1974