Space vehicle glow and its impact on spacecraft systems

Spacecraft glow poses a contamination threat to low orbital altitude optical sensor systems. The complexity of the phenomena entails a multifaceted approach to system design for vehicle glow minimization. In the case of Space Shuttle cloud glow, which involves line and band emission, filtering and careful optical sensor wavelength selection may also prove useful; Space Shuttle thruster glow mitigation entails the limitation of thruster firings during sensor operations. Careful selection of instrument baffle materials and coatings, as well as control of surface temperatures, are recommended as ways of limiting glow impact for instruments directed in the direction of vehicle movement.