Rotational-state distributions of the CO + (A-X, B-X) and N + 2 (B-X) emissions produced by the collisions of He(2 3 S) with CO and N 2 were studied in the collision energy (E R ) range 100-200 meV. The rotational populations of the emitting states can be fitted by single Boltzmann temperatures (T R ). The T R (320 ± 30 K) for the υ = 3 and 4 levels of the CO + (A 2 Π) state are nearly independent of, or slightly increase with, E R , while T R for the CO + (B 2 Σ + , υ = 0) state increases rapidly with E R . The T R (430 ± 20 K) for the N + 2 (B 2 Σ + , υ = 0) state is nearly independent or slightly decreases with increasing E R . Interactions providing these trends are discussed.