Upper Atmospheric Research at the Ballistic Research Laboratories

A summary of BRL activities in upper atmosphere research is presented. From a quite modest beginning, the International Geophysical Year gave impetus to a considerable program. Results of electron content measurements in the ionosphere employing rocket borne transmitters are reported. Studies of the water vapor content of the atmosphere and the optical properties of the earth´s horizon using balloon borne and rocket borne instrumentation are being made. Some comments on the use of catalytic surfaces to study recombination rates in the atmosphere are given.