The spectral curve of the flux density of the radiation, which is reflected by the full moon towards the Earth’s ionosphere within a wavelength range of 200–1700 Å, has been presented. This curve is obtained by the approximation of space experiment data available in the scientific literature on the lunar spectral albedo and solar spectrum. Estimates of maximum values of spectral densities of fluxes reflected by the full moon in the neighborhood of wavelengths of ionization of basic ionospheric particles (neutral atoms of H I, He I, N I, O I, and Ar I and ions of He II, N II, O II, Ar II, N III, O III, and Ar III, as well as molecules of H2, N2, and O2) are given.

The paper discusses most recent author's approach to modeling of radiation of solid and liquid propellant motor plumes. The plume gasdynamic and radiation models are overviewed. Particular accent is made on three important processes: phase transitions in alumina particles, non-equilibrium population of the OH(A) level and soot oxidation in the plume. Modeling simulation of the radiation of typical solid motor plumes demonstrated importance of these processes for the computation. Accounting for phase transitions of alumina particles and soot oxidation in the plume may change computational results in several times. Whereas, non-equilibrium kinetics of the OH(A) population in the radiation model can result in about two orders of magnitude higher levels of OH UV radiation in comparison with the equilibrium model. Comparison of plume radiation modeling results with available experimental data shows satisfactory agreement. Accurate consideration of the Atlas II plume OH radiation made on the basis of the presented model eliminated the discrepancy with the experimental data reported before by other authors.

Absorption of solar UV-radiation in the 250 - 280 nm band by ozone layer leads to very low background of radiation scattered by the Earth at altitudes above 80 km. It makes possible to observe from near-Earth orbit with high sensitivity processes in upper atmosphere caused by engines of rockets and spacecrafts during their maneuvering or entering into dense layers of atmosphere. The main characteristics and application of the high sensitive imaging UV-camera specially designed for observations on-board the <> manned orbital station (OS) are described. The camera works in the 200 - 350 nm spectral region and includes catadioptric objective, narrow band filters, special UV-sensitive image intensifier, photographic camera or TV-camera. Images are registered with sensitivity of 4 (DOT) 1016 w/cm2 in FOV of 12 degrees with angular resolution of 1,5'. The camera was delivered on-board the <> OS in July 1992 and successfully worked during 5 years. Examples of observations of different space objects are given.

: Collaboration is now underway to perform space-based experiments on the interactions of rocket plume exhausts and the ambient environment at an altitude of roughly 350 km. The key element in this experiment is the use of the Mir space station as a platform for optical instrumentation. A description is given of the modeling and instrumentation involved in the execution of this experiment, as well as a description of the experiment strategy and some experimental data already obtained. In particular, a hypothesized model of the OH(A-X) ultraviolet radiation is presented and evaluated.