Pneumatic Orbital Launching of Instrumented Modules for Atmospheric Studies

One of the problems encountered in the study of the upper atmosphere is the lack of proper means of placing instrumentation in such an enviroment. Instrumented aircraft cannot reach required altitudes. Sounding rockets are capable of attaining requisite altitudes but are not capable of maintaining their position due to their ballistic nature. Dedicated satellite launching is beyond the budgets of most research programs. A proposal is submitted on the creation of a pneumatic launch system that can be carried on the Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) or stationed onboard the National Space Laboratory (Space Station). Researchers can design small, expendable instrumentation modules that can be taken into orbit, and be ejected into either orbital or suborbital paths. Anticipated uses are for studies in atmospheric density, ozone sampling, and upper atmosphere ionization. The advantage of such a system over sounding rockets is in the ability to conduct sequenced multiple launchings of payloads into the atmosphere in a more economic manner.