High Altitude Effects Simulation (HAES) Program. Report No. 1. Rocket Launch of a SWIR Spectrometer into an Aurora (ICECAP 72).

An Astrobee D rocket (A30.205-4) was launched at Poker Flat, Alaska, on 9 March 1972 at 1052 hours UT during a condition of Class IBC2 post-breakup auroral display. A near-zenith spectral radiance profile was obtained from 48.5 km to an apogee of 91.9 km on ascent, and from 91.9 km down to about 84.7 km on descent, using a circular variable-filter spectrometer. About 268 spectral scans were obtained during flight, covering the range from 1.4 to 5.0 micrometer at a resolution of about 4 per cent. The dominant emission feature was at 4.3 micrometer, which is attributed to the CO2 nu(3) fundamental. The upward-viewed spectral radiance appeared to range from about 45 MR/micrometer at 48.5 km to less than 2 MR/micrometer at 92 km. A volume-emission-rate/altitude profile for the nu(3) fundamental of CO2 is presented. The profile is based on a simple LTE model and neglects radiation transport. As a result, the model cannot be compared directly with the data. A more complete analysis of the problem is in progress. (Author)