Indian tracking and data acquisition facilities for low Earth andgeosynchronous satellites

To support its satellite program, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has an extensive infrastructure of ground support facilities throughout the country and abroad. The major elements include the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), and the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) control facilities. These facilities and their important role in supporting the Indian Space Program are described. The locations of the principal ISRO space control facilities within India are shown     

基于Traits泛化技术的SLE API编译码处理

在对CCSDS(Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems,空间数据咨询委员会)制定的SLE(Space Link Extension,空间链路扩展)的标准API(Application Program Interface,应用程序接口)设计开发过程中,需要对各种不同服务类型的操作进行ASN.1(Abstract Syntax Notation One,抽象语法标记1)编码译码,使用一般方法处理会存在大量的冗余且可扩展性不强。因此,设计了基于Traits技术的SLE API编码译码泛化模型,该模型从服务、协议数据单元、操作等3个层级,以及编码、译码这2个方向分别定义模板,并进行特化、偏特化以及萃取,从而实现了对编码、译码过程的泛化,并通过实例描述了应用过程。该模型有效提高了SLE API设计的灵活性、层次性、通用性,以及SLE服务的可拓展性。     

The Space Weather Forecast Program

This paper describes the Space Weather Forecast Program managed by the Communications Research Laboratory of Japan. It is a long-range program consisting of three phases of five years each. This program emerged after an effort to investigate future needs for space environment prediction. We conclude that solar flares and magnetic storms are two main critical phenomena which will affect human's space activities in the 21st century. The core of the program is to set up a Space Weather Forecast Center which has core facilities: (1) a computer network system; (2) ground facilities for continuous observation of the Sun; and (3) a satellite-based space environment monitoring system. Emphasis is placed upon the necessity of internal cooperation for efficient operation of the Forecast Center.     

The European Columbus Programme

This paper describes the current status of the COLUMBUS Programme, Europe's contribution to the U.S. Space Station, which is being studied under contract to the European Space Agency. Twelve European nations are involved in and are contributing to this new space undertaking. The elements of the COLUMBUS Space Segment presently being considered by ESA are a Pressurized Laboratory Module (4 segment), permanently attached to the U.S. Space Station, dedicated to materials science, fluid physics and compatible life sciences, and a Polar Platform, configured to accommodate Earth observation, meteorology, communications and space science payloads. The reference launch vehicles are the Space Shuttle for the attached Module and Ariane 5 for the Polar Platform. The more recently added COLUMBUS flight configuration, the Man-Tended Free Flyer (MTFF), consists of a combination of two programme elements, the Resource Module and a 2-segment Pressurized Module. It is designed to provide all required resources and services to the various payloads in a continuous microgravity environment to perform material science, fluid physics and compatible life sciences experiments. The MTFF is carried into orbit by the European launcher Ariane 5. As an option, studies of an enhanced ground based EURECA carrier as a small co-orbiting platform, launched by the Space Shuttle, will be initiated. The primary function would be to accommodate space science and/or micro-g payloads. These EURECA studies are performed currently outside the COLUMBUS programme scope, and this option is therefore not addressed in detail in this paper.     

CCSDS空间包在MOIMS领域中的应用

为了适应未来航天任务的发展,构建以服务为导向的、开放的、可重用的航天器任务操作系统,分析了CCSDS(Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems,空间数据系统咨询委员会)中MOIMS (Mission Operations and Information Management System,任务操作及信息管理系统)领域的任务操作服务框架的原理、层次结构及优点,对任务操作相关的通用服务、功能服务、COM(Common Object Model,通用对象模型)及MAL(Message Abstraction Layer,消息抽象层)对服务的抽象化描述方法进行了研究.MAL向任务操作相关的服务提供了通用的服务模型框架,所有服务均可用MAL消息格式进行规范化的描述,在此基础上建立了MAL消息格式与CCSDS空间包的映射关系,从而以CCSDS空间包为信息栽体实现了航天器与地面系统间的任务操作通信,可以作为以服务为导向的任务操作系统实际工程应用的参考.     

Editorial to the Topical Collection: Role of Sample Return in Addressing Major Questions in Planetary Sciences

Space Science Reviews - Spectral retrieval has long been a powerful tool for interpreting planetary remote sensing observations. Flexible, parameterised, agnostic models are coupled with inversion...     

Space and Maritime Strategy

A globally deployed Navy requires and uses space systems and services. Specific mission support areas of communications, navigation, environmental data, and surveillance are discussed in terms of requirements and program developments. Navy role in pioneering space systems combined with threat assessment validates Navy position of space system acquisition and operation in the future.     

Intersatellite communications optoelectronics research at theGoddard Space Flight Center

A review is presented of current optoelectronics research and development at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for high-power, high-bandwidth laser transmitters; high-bandwidth, high-sensitivity optical receivers; pointing, acquisition, and tracking components; and experimental and theoretical system modeling at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Program hardware and space flight opportunities are presented     

Indian National Remote Sensing Agency

The functions and capabilities of the Indian National Remote Sensing Agency are summarized. The principal goals of the Indian National Remote Sensing Agency are: the development and implementation of the indigenous remote sensing satellite program; continuous buildup and improvement of the facilities for generation of products from various sensor data; and development and utilization of new applications techniques for resource monitoring to facilitate technology transfer to the many user agencies     

欧洲空间天气计划

简要介绍了空间天气的基本概念,并对欧洲空间天气计划的效益分析、用户需求、实施方案等方面的内容进行介绍。     

The Japanese Experiment Module

This paper describes Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) which is a Japanese contribution to International Space Station (SS) Program. First half of phase B study of JEM was completed last March successfully. JEM primary function and basic configuration has been established. JEM consists of a Pressurized Module (PM), an Exposed Facility (EF), a scientific/equipment airlock, a local remote manipulator, and an Experimental Logistic Module (ELM). With all those hardware elements, JEM will accommodate general scientific and technology development research (some of which are to utilize the advantage of microgravity environment), and also accommodate control panels for the Space Station Mobile Remote Manipulator System and attached payloads.     

Future trends in space power technology

The status of the US Air Force Space Power Research and Development Program is summarized. Generic issues and requirements affecting the strategic planning of space power advances for the 1990s and beyond are described. The major thrusts of the Air Fore part of the Strategic Defense Initiative Office Space Power Program are highlighted, with emphasis on the ongoing advanced component technology development program. The status of these component technologies in the areas of power sources, energy storage, power management and distribution, and thermal management is described. Technology projections for the full range of envisioned technology options for the foregoing are used as the basis for a series of point designs for deriving the subsystem- and system-level benefits of the technologies. The primary focus is on baseload (CW) power systems operating in the range from 100 W for small satellites to 50 kW for potential large surveillance satellites. The secondary focus is on large, multimegawatt pulsed power systems and related components for potential applications such as directed energy. Potential `trump card' technologies related to energy conversion, storage, power electronics, and thermal management are identified     

Near term approach to data relay for satellites under test

The increasing need for a continuous communications link with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) spacecraft during test missions in low Earth orbit (LEG) has resulted in greater interest in geosynchronous data relay services. This may be a more economical alternative to building additional remote tracking stations for the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), and avoids tying up operational assets for a test mission. A low-cost near-term approach for such a space-based data relay system would utilize two existing Defense Satellite Communication System III spacecraft, two existing ground terminals, and a small, standardized terminal using autonomous antenna pointing for the space vehicle under test. Such a system design is presented     

Engineering test beds on the International Space Station

The International Space Station is a unique multi-faceted orbiting laboratory supporting research, development, test and evaluation of new innovative space and Earth-based applications. While NASA sponsored investigations on the ISS are focused largely on enabling future long duration human space exploration missions, Congress designated the US portion of the space station as a National Laboratory making its facilities available to other Federal agencies and private entities for non-exploration related ventures. RDT&E activities on the ISS encompass a number of technical areas including environmental control and life support, communications, materials science, guidance, navigation and control, propulsion, electrical power, and thermal control systems.     

基于条件随机场的遥感图像语义标注

遥感图像包含的信息丰富,纹理复杂,而遥感图像语义标注又为后续的目标识别、检测、场景分析及高层语义的提取提供了重要信息和线索,这使其成为遥感图像理解领域中一个关键且极具挑战性的任务。首先针对遥感图像语义标注问题,提出采用条件随机场(CRF)框架对遥感图像的底层特征和上下文信息建模的方法,将Texton纹理特征与CRF中的自相关势能结合来捕捉遥感图像中的纹理信息及其上下文分布,采用组合Boosting算法进行Texton纹理特征选择和参数学习;然后将Lab空间中的颜色信息与CRF中的互相关势能结合来描述颜色上下文;最后用Graph Cut算法对CRF进行推导求解,得到图像自动语义标注结果。同时,建立了可见光遥感图像数据库Google-4,并对全部图像进行了人工标注。Google-4上的实验结果表明:采用CRF框架与Texton纹理特征和颜色特征相结合对遥感图像建模的方法与基于支持向量机(SVM)的方法相比较,能够取得更准确的语义标注结果。     

空间光学遥感器的发展对先进复合材料的需求

从国内外空间光学遥感器技术发展的需要出发,提出了对该领域内基础材料的需求及其应用特点。在此基础上,又提出了空间光学遥感器中光机结构材料和典型的光学反射镜材料在机械稳定性和热稳定性方面的要求。还提出了应用材料在空间中的热真空适应性和表面防护问题。同时介绍了新型空间光学遥感器中应用的新型复合材料。     

空间信息传输协议测试平台研究

未来空间任务的复杂性不断提高,开发一个低成本的地面综合测试平台环境,通过模拟和仿真以确认、优化和验证空间信息传输的协议体系结构、先进技术和应用服务具有十分重要意义。文章描述了空间信息传输协议测试平台的应用对象和研究目标,提出了总体技术框架和功能组成,以未来月球任务为研究对象,分析了测试平台实验场景及测试方法步骤。     

Orbital and Attitude Prediction Accuracy Requirements for Satellites Engaged in Remote Sensing and Scientific Missions

The criteria for selecting the orbital and attitude prediction accuracy requirements for communications satellites have been investigated in a previous paper by the author. The present paper extends the analysis to the satellites engaged in remote sensing and scientific missions. A unified approach has been developed to examine the problem of the prediction accuracy requirements for the two missions.     

Life sciences

Space life sciences research activities are reviewed for the year. Highlights of animal studies were the first long-term flight of an animal enclosure module and an avian development facility on STS-108. Plant research efforts focused on a biomass production system for eventual use on the International Space Station (ISS), the PESTO experiment on ISS, and screening of several salad crop varieties for potential use in space. Health-related studies included the Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE) on the Mars Odyssey mission, presentation of results from NASA's Biomolecular Physics and Chemistry Program, and research related to human liver cell function in space through an agreement with StelSys. In industry and academia, a memorandum of understanding was signed between NASA and the biotechnology industry to enhance communication between NASA and the industry, expand commercial biotechnology space research and development, and expand formal and informal education of industry and the public regarding biotechnology and space research. NASA selected Purdue University to lead an NSCORT for advanced life support research to develop technologies to enable long-duration planetary mission and sustain human space colonies.