In-situ Measurements of Acoustic Wave Propagation Characteristics in the Middle and Upper Atmosphere On-board S-310-41 Sounding Rocket

Abstract

Sound measurements were carried out using rocket-based propagation diagnostics in the middle and upper atmosphere via infrasonic/acoustic waves to investigate their frequency dependence. The S-310-41 sounding rocket was used, equipped with one main microphone, two sub-microphones, and a loudspeaker, to examine the sound propagation in the payload section of the rocket as a function of the ambient atmospheric pressure. The output from the loudspeaker showed a clear trend of gradual attenuation with decreasing atmospheric pressure at almost all frequencies. Acoustic wave propagation was measured, and was in good agreement with the predictions of attenuation of the sound strength of the mass spectrometer incoherent scatter model (NRLMSISE-00).