A study has been made of the physics and chemistry involved when energy is deposited into the upper atmosphere by electrons. Calculations have been made both of the size and shape of the electron interaction region and of the radiation intensity produced in that region. The results of the NASA artificial aurora experiment performed by Hess et al., in 1969 has been analyzed in this context. The emission produced from electron interaction with the atmosphere in the 3500 to 8000A region has been analyzed. The size and shape of the observed region have been calculated by fitting laboratory measurements to the earth's exponential atmosphere, taking into account the geomagnetic field and are attributed to prompt radiation from N2(+) first negative, N2 first positive, and O2(+) first negative, as well as to the afterglow radiation from OI 5577A and 6300A emitters. The calculated time dependence of the afterglow signal was found to be consistent with observations. (Author)