Plasma-Enhanced Breakdown of Telemetry Antennas During Ballistic Missile Powered Flight

Attention is directed to a previously unrecognized phenomenon, plasma-enhanced breakdown of ballistic missile antennas. Plasma-enhanced antenna breakdown is a general phenomenon, and has been observed during flight tests of a variety of ballistic missiles. Examples chosen from telemetry signal-strength records of recent ballistic missile flights are presented. The need for the consideration of this effect in the design of the staging sequence of ballistic missiles is pointed to.