Spectroscopic investigation of solid rocket signatures

The signatures (i.e., the emission and transmission characteristics of the plumes) of various types of solid rocket propellants were studied exptl., based on mol. bands and continuum radiation. The model formulations included a nitramine propellant, a double-base propellant, and a composite propellant. Rapid-scanning filter-wheel spectrometers were used for the 1.2-14 nm wavelength, with a time resoln. of 50 spectra/s and a wavelengths resoln. of 1% of actual wavelength. The UV/VIS wavelengths region was recorded by an optical multichannel analyzer, with wavelength resoln. of 0.1 and 1 nm and time resoln.of 10 spectra/s. Mol. bands of water and CO2 dominated in the near IR and IR absorptions. Depending on compn., continuous radiation indicates particles in the rocket exhaust. A code was developed to calc. mol. bands and continuous radiation using temp. and species distributions found by thermodn. estn. to obtain the radiance of the plume. Comparison with exptl. data delivered plume tem ps.