Signatures of shuttle and rocket exhaust plumes in TIMED/SABER radiance data

Abstract

We have searched the 6.8 μm water vapor radiance data obtained from the Sounding of the Atmosphere with Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) on the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite for evidence of rocket plumes. Between 94-130 km, significant radiance enhancements are occasionally seen which correspond in time and space to emission from the exhaust plumes of the space shuttle and various unmanned liquid-fueled rockets. Over a 10 month period in 2002 (Feb-Nov), SABER detected about 40% of the total liquid fueled launches, including four out of four space shuttle launches. The shuttle plumes are seen at and below 115 km, while the unmanned rocket plumes extend to higher altitudes. The meridional transport of the shuttle plumes near 110 km suggests a dependence upon the local time of the launch with plumes from mid-day launches traveling to the N and plumes from late afternoon and evening launches traveling to the S.