Vibrational-rotational temperature measurement of N2 in the lower thermosphere by the rocket experiment Original Research Article

The vibrational temperature (Tv), the rotational temperature (Tr) and the number density of atmospheric molecular nitrogen (N2) were measured in situ by a sounding rocket S-310-30 inorder to study the dynamics and energetics in the lower thermosphere. Atmospheric N2 was ionized and excited using an electron gun and the emission from N2+ 1st negative (1N) bands was measured by a sensitive spectrometer. (Tv) and Tr were determined by fitting the observed spectra to synthetic spectra, and the number density was deduced from the intensities of the spectrum. The improvements of the instrument and the preliminary results of the measurement are presented.