NEAR-THRESHOLD ELECTRON IMPACT EXCITATION OF NITRIC OXIDE Robert Olszewski and Mariusz Zubek* Department of Physics of Electronic Phenomena, Technical University, 80-952 Gda=F1sk, Poland The cross sections for excitation of the Rydberg A2(sigma)+ state of nitric oxide into the v=3D0,1 and 2 vibrational levels have been measured from threshold to 15eV using an optical method.