The issues associated with SPS rocket effluents in the plasmasphere and magnetosphere include the following: • Injection of Ar+ ions. Effects would be likely and would be expected to be important. • Generation of plasma instabilities. Possibility of communication interference is unknown. • Enhancement of airglow. Probability of occurrence and severity of impacts are unknown. • Disturbance of Van Allen belts and plasma sheet. Probability of occurrence is unknown but potential impacts are important. • Changes in auroral current systems. Probability of occurrence and severity of impact are unknown. • Magnetosphere/solar-wind interaction changes. Effects are uncertain but may be important if associated with climate. EFFECTS OF IONOSPHERIC DISTURBANCE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS The ionosphere is the part of the earth's atmosphere beginning at an altitude of about 50 kilometers and extending outward 400 kilometers or more, containing free electrically-charged particles (electrons and ions). The characteristics of the ionosphere vary daily, seasonally, and with the solar cycle. The ionosphere refracts (deflects) and slows down electromagnetic energy (such as radio waves). The amount of deflection depends on ionospheric electron density, the wave frequency of the electromagnetic energy, the frequency of occurrence of electron collisions, and the strength of the geomagnetic field. The electron density can cause a radio wave to be totally reflected and returned to the earth's surface. This property is used for long-distance propagation of high-frequency radio waves. Radio waves at higher frequencies travel directly through the ionosphere. Changes in the ionosphere can alter the performance of telecommunication systems whose power is transmitted within and through the ionosphere. Small-scale irregularities (meter to kilometers) in ionospheric electron density can produce radio signal fading and result in loss of information. Ionospheric changes due to the SPS Reference System could result either from interactions between the ionosphere and the SPS microwave beam (heating) or interactions with effluents from SPS space vehicles. The microwave power density transmitted from solar power satellites to earth might be sufficient to heat the ionosphere, even though only a
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