Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Reduction Of Rocket-Borne Atmospheric Density Measurements Using Monte Carlo Simulation, Travis Gaulden

All Theses

The HEX II atmospheric rocket experiment, conducted near 9:30 U.T. February 14, 2007 from the Poker Flat Rocket Range in Alaska was designed to lead to a better understanding of density and velocity gradients in the lower thermosphere. In a supporting role to this mission, cold cathode ionization gauges recorded composite density along three rocket payload trajectory paths from 90 km to 200 km. Rocket-borne instruments experience near sonic to hypersonic velocities and encounter a range of viscous, slipflow, and collisionless flow conditions at these heights. These variable conditions necessitate the use of tailored analytic expressions appropriate to the flow …