Estimating the spin axis orientation of the Echostar-2 box-wing geosynchronous satellite

For the first time, the spin axis orientation of an inactive box-wing geosynchronous satellite has been estimated from ground-based optical photometric observations of Echostar-2’s specular reflections. Recent photometric light curves obtained of Echostar-2 over four years suggest that unusually bright and brief specular reflections were occurring twice within an observed spin period. These bright and brief specular reflections suggested two satellite surfaces with surface normals separated by approximately 180°. The geometry between the satellite, the Sun, and the observing location at the time of each of the brightest observed reflections, was used to estimate Echostar-2’s equatorial spin axis orientation coordinates. When considering prograde and retrograde rotation, Echostar-2’s spin axis orientation was estimated to have been located within 30° of either equatorial coordinate pole. Echostar-2’s spin axis was observed to have moved approximately 180° in right ascension, within a time span of six months, suggesting a roughly one year spin axis precession period about the satellite’s angular momentum vector.     

Mapping mean lake surface from satellite altimetry and GPS kinematic surveys

Lake water height is a key variable in water cycle and climate change studies, which is achievable using satellite altimetry constellation. A method based on data processing of altimetry from several satellites has been developed to interpolate mean lake surface (MLS) over a set of 22 big lakes distributed on the Earth. It has been applied on nadir radar altimeters in Low Resolution Mode (LRM: Jason-3, Saral/AltiKa, CryoSat-2) in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode (Sentinel-3A), and in SAR interferometric (SARin) mode (CryoSat-2), and on laser altimetry (ICESat). Validation of the method has been performed using a set of kinematic GPS height profiles from 18 field campaigns over the lake Issykkul, by comparison of altimetry’s height at crossover points for the other lakes and using the laser altimetry on ICESat-2 mission. The precision reached ranges from 3 to 7 cm RMS (Root Mean Square) depending on the lakes. Currently, lake water level inferred from satellite altimetry is provided with respect to an ellipsoid. Ellipsoidal heights are converted into orthométric heights using geoid models interpolated along the satellite tracks. These global geoid models were inferred from geodetic satellite missions coupled with absolute and regional anomaly gravity data sets spread over the Earth. However, the spatial resolution of the current geoid models does not allow capturing short wavelength undulations that may reach decimeters in mountaineering regions or for rift lakes (Baikal, Issykkul, Malawi, Tanganika). We interpolate in this work the geoid height anomalies with three recent geoid models, the EGM2008, XGM2016 and EIGEN-6C4d, and compare them with the Mean Surface of 22 lakes calculated using satellite altimetry. Assuming that MLS mimics the local undulations of the geoid, our study shows that over a large set of lakes (in East Africa, Andean mountain and Central Asia), short wavelength undulations of the geoid in poorly sampled areas can be derived using satellite altimetry. The models used in this study present very similar geographical patterns when compared to MLS. The precision of the models largely depends on the location of the lakes and is about 18 cm, in average over the Earth. MLS can serve as a validation dataset for any future geoid model. It will also be useful for validation of the future mission SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) which will measure and map water heights over the lakes with a high horizontal resolution of 250 by 250 m.     

Simulation experiments of the effect of space environment on bacteriophage and DNA thin films.

The main goal of PUR experiment (phage and uracil response) is to examine and quantify the effect of specific space conditions on nucleic acid models. To achieve this an improved method was elaborated for the preparation of DNA and bacteriophage thin films. The homogeneity of the films was controlled by UV spectroscopy and microscopy. To provide experimental evidence for the hypothesis that interplanetary transfer of the genetic material is possible, phage T7 and isolated T7 DNA thin films have been exposed to selected space conditions: intense UVC radiation (lambda=254 nm) and high vacuum (10(-4) Pa). The effects of DNA hydration, conformation and packing on UV radiation damage were examined. Characteristic changes in the absorption spectrum, in the electrophoretic pattern of DNA and the decrease of the amount of PCR products have been detected indicating the photodamage of isolated and intraphage DNA.     

空间卫星目标动态电磁散射特性仿真与分析

给出了空间轨道飞行目标动态宽带散射特性建模方法,重点对某卫星动态宽带电磁散射特性进行了仿真,并通过轨道飞行过程中卫星一维距离像的积累获取了散射中心历程图,提出了由飞行过程中形成的散射中心历程图来判断卫星的结构特点的思路.     

二维通道内湍流边界层分离的实验研究

用激光多普勒技术测量了二维扩压器中不可压湍流边界层分离流动，得到了时均速度和雷诺剪应力分布。实验结果分析表明：以Ｃｏｌｅｓ速度律发展的Ｂａｒｄｉｎａ速度分布可以描述瞬时间歇分离点以前和瞬时间歇再附点以后的时均速度分布，但无法描述分离区的边界层速度型。Ｃｒｏｓｓ速度分布可描述分离区的边界层速度分布。Ｃｅｂｅｃｉ＆Ｓｍｉｔｈ涡粘性代数模型难以正确地描述分离边界层的雷诺剪应力。     

Rats in a transparent morris water maze use elemental and configural geometry of landmarks as well as distance to the pool wall

The aim of this study is to evaluate whatare the dimensions of a panorama of discretelandmarks that a rodent will store in order toreturn to a previously visited target. Ratswere trained to locate a hidden platform in acircular pool of clouded water set within aquasi-spherical enclosure. In order to find theplatform, they had to learn the geometricrelations between the platform and asurrounding set of three discrete landmarks,highly visible through the transparent wall ofthe pool. In test trials without a platform,the array of landmarks was so manipulated as todissociate the effect of actual distance to thelandmarks, of their angular separation, and oftheir apparent dimension. Animals were shown torely equally on angular separation and apparentdimension. The role of actual distance couldnot be definitely ascertained, as animals wereshown to additionally rely on the distance tothe pool wall in order to locate theplatform.     

高分辨率星载聚束式SAR改进的ECS成像算法

提出一种适用于高星载聚束式合成孔径雷达（SAR）的改进Extended Chirp Scaling（ECS）算法。基于斜视距离等效模型，推导出改进的ECS算法，给出改进的方位Scaling因了以及算法的实现步骤。在斜视情况下改进的方法Scaling因子可以减小算法所需要的方位时间展宽，提高方位处理效率。为解决高分辨率星载聚束式SAR脉冲重复频率（PRF）过高等问题，在算法中结合了子孔径处理，并分析了采用子孔径处理的必要性及其实现方法。最后，通过计算机仿真，验证了算法的有效性。     

AP复合固体推进剂燃烧模型

本文提出了一个复合固体推进剂的综合燃烧模型和相应的数学处理方法。该模型对凝聚相反应作了更细微的分析,特别重视和强调了各种热量传递对燃烧所起的作用,并以推进剂中处于连续相的粘合剂线性分解速度表示推进剂的线性燃速。根据此模型编制程序并进行了大量计算。计算结果与实验符合得很好。对AP/HTPB多级配推进剂的计算结果中,相对误差小于10％的占80％,对Ae/AP/HTPB推进剂则占90％以上。     

含碳酸钙的负压强指数复合固体推进剂燃烧机理

本文采用激光阴影高速摄影、扫描电子显微镜、X光电子能谱,对含和不含CaCO_(3)的三种夹心件及SO4-5A PU复合推进剂的燃烧过程、燃面形貌、化学成分和覆盖分数分别进行了研究和测定。结果表明:CaCO_(3)在低压下(〈1.96MPa)提高AP的燃速,在高压下(〉1.96MPa)起降速作用;CaCO_(3)与AP反应生成CaCl_2,并促使AP熔化;燃面上CaCl_2含量随压强上升而增加;PU熔化流动对AP表面的覆盖在mesa区内随压强而升高,在非mesa区的低压区也存在。基于以上实验结果,对含CaCO_(3)的PU负压强指数推进剂的燃烧机理进行了讨论。