Complex Diagnostics of Ionospheric Plasma Disturbed by Far Rocket Launches

Abstract

The large-scale disturbances in ionospheric plasma produced by space vehicle launches from Baikonur cosmodrome are analyzed with the incoherent scatter technique experimental data given. Also, within the heights of ~ 100÷600 km, are analyzed the height-time dependencies of such major plasma parameters as electron density N,and electron and ion temperatures T_e and T_i. The space vehicle launches and flights are shown to be accompanied by the generated wave-like disturbances (WLD) not only of N but of T_e and T_i as well. The WLD relative amplitudes are found to be usually within 0.03÷0.10, the oscillation period being 20 to 60 min. The N, T_e and T_i oscillations are shown to be lagged. The WLD propagation velocities equal ~ 0.5÷0.6 and 1.5÷2 km/s. Modern spectral analysis techniques, the wave-let analysis including, were used to estimate WLD parameters.