Spectrometric measurement of atomic oxygen 63µm emission in the thermosphere

Thermospheric far infrared emission was measured by a rocket borne, helium cooled grating spectrometer in the wavelength region 45µm to 125µm. The rocket was launched on March 16, 1977 at 2304 CET from Andoya, Norway, during a moderate geomagnetic disturbance. First spectral measurements of 63µm atomic oxygen fine structure transition were obtained in the altitude regime 90 - 180 km. No other emissions were found in the spectral range covered at altitudes above 130 km. The minimum detectable radiance was below 2 · 10−11W/cm²sr. Radiometric measurements of CO2 15µm band emission were made by the same instrument in the altitude range 102 - 140 km.