Propellant Plume Gas Scattering

H density versus altitude:

geocoronaMarkup.png

alt km

#/m3

2000 km

10000e6

10000 km

1e6

20000 km

1e6

30000 km

1e6

40000 km

1e6

50000 km

1e6

60000 km

1e6

70000 km

10e6

from libretexts:

Cross section

Gas

(nm)²

(nm)² H₂

H₂

0.27

1.02

He

0.21

0.99

Ar

0.36

1.06

O₂

0.40

1.07

N₂

0.43

1.08

CH₄

0.46

1.09

CO₂

0.52

1.11

Cl₂

0.93

1.22