Chapter 21, Problem 21.10QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The reason for the fact that astronauts do not use oxygen atom for shuttle glow should be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Atmosphere: The atmosphere is defined as air that is layer of gases which surrounds the earth due to gravity of earth.

The earth atmosphere consists of layers such as thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and troposphere depending on the temperature and its composition.

The different regions of atmosphere and their description are as follows:

Space shuttle Glow: The space shuttles tends to glow that is the oxygen present interact with the nitric oxide in space shuttle which results in ${\text{NO}}_{\text{2}}{}^{*}$ and this excited species emits photons in the wavelength which lies in visible region results for the presence of color.

To explain: The reason that astronauts do not use oxygen atoms for the shuttle glow test.