Compensators for Bandpass Nonlinearities in Satellite Communications

The characteristics of optimum compensators for bandpass non-linearities are described. A predistortion compensator to reduce the nonlinear phase and envelope distortion at the output of a traveling-wave tube (TWT) is developed, and a possible implementation as a simple network of power law devices in cascade with the input to the TWT is given. The overall compensated characteristic of the TWT approximates that of a piecewise linear limiter with a small phase shift. A computer simulation shows that the compensated system yields 0.3 to 0.5-dB improvement in performance of a 2-phase coherent phase shift keying (CPSK) system over the uncompensated system.     

Conjecture on superrotation in planetary atmospheres: A diffusion model with mixing length theory

Superrotation on Venus is discussed in the context of comparative planetary atmospheres. In our planetary system, the rigid shell component (global average) of superrotation is ubiquitous (Jupiter, Saturn, Earth, Venus, Mars, Titan). The largest equatorial values of the component are between 25 and 150 m/sec. We present a simplified, heuristic analysis, utilizing mixing length theory to describe the small scale non-linear advections of energy and angular momentum, thereby providing a closure of the dynamic system. This leads to the conjecture that the zonal velocity may be crudely estimated by

, approximating the observed planetary trends; with c the speed of sound, the parameter a being 1 or 2 for geostrophic or cyclostrophic conditions respectively, P_α an effective Prandtl number which becomes less than one when radiative cooling is important, S_o the average stability, Γ the adiabatic lapse rate and γ the ratio of specific heats.     

美国M-60“巴顿”主战坦克系列

美国陆军自20世纪60-80年代间所使用的M-60“巴顿”(Patton)坦克．虽然在性能上并不算是最突出的奇花．但是却继承了自第二次世界大战M-4“谢尔曼”(Sherman)坦克以来美国坦克性能可靠又易于生产的优良传统。事实上．M-60坦克的血统可以一直追溯到第二次世界大战末期所发展的M-26“潘兴”(Panshing)重型坦克。由于M-4中坦克在大战末期面对德军新式重型坦克．突击炮和驱逐坦克显得力不从心，     

The THEMIS Constellation

The Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) mission is the fifth NASA Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX), launched on February 17, 2007 to determine the trigger and large-scale evolution of substorms. The mission employs five identical micro-probes (termed “probes”), which have orbit periods of one, two and four days. Each of the Probes carries five instruments to measure electric and magnetic fields as well as ions and electrons. Each probe weighs 134 kg including 49 kg of hydrazine fuel and measures approximately 0.8×0.8×1.0 meters (L×W×H) and operates on an average power budget of 40 watts. For launch, the Probes were integrated to a Probe Carrier and separated via a launch vehicle provided pyrotechnic signal. Attitude data are obtained from a sun sensor, inertial reference unit and the instrument Fluxgate Magnetometer. Orbit and attitude control use a RCS system having two radial and two axial thrusters for roll and thrust maneuvers. Its two fuel tanks and pressurant system yield 960 meters/sec of delta-V, sufficient to allow Probe replacement strategies. Command and telemetry communications use an S-band 5 watt transponder through a cylindrical omni antenna with a toroidal gain pattern. This paper provides the key requirements of the probe, an overview of the probe design and how they were integrated and tested. It includes considerations and lessons learned from the experience of building NASA’s largest constellation.     

High resolution measurements of nightside ion troughs at venus: Evidence of electrodynamic perturbations

The Bennett rf ion mass spectrometer (OIMS) on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter was particularly designed to provide variable temporal resolution for measurements of thermal ion composition and density. An Explore-Adapt mode is used to obtain priority for measurement of most prominent ion species, and in a 2/16 configuration, the two dominant ions within the available range of 16 species are selectively sampled at the highest rate of 0.2 sec/sample. The high resolution measurements are combined with independent observations from the magnetic field (OMAG), neutral mass spectrometer (ONMS), and electron temperature (OETP) experiments to investigate sharply structured troughs in the low altitude nightside ion concentrations. The results indicate a close correlation between the structure in the ion distributions and the structured configuration of the magnetic field which is draped about the planet. In the regions of the ion depletions, sharp fluctuations in electron temperature and anomalous increases in the density of neutral gases indicate that the ion depletion may be associated either with dynamic perturbation in the ion and neutral flows, and/or local joule heating. The configuration of the ion flow/magnetic field draping and consequent electric fields for these events must be analyzed in detail to understand the relationships.     

Multipath Effects on an Azimuthal Monopulse System

The first topic considered is an analysis of the conditions under which the conventional definition of length of the glistening surface, as given by Beckmann and Spizzichino, is not valid. For some conditions, significant amounts of incoherent scattered power can be received from areas beyond the conventional length. A second topic is the investigation of the effect on azimuthal angular tracking accuracy due to such scattering factors as shadowing, surface height distribution, standard deviation in surface height ?, surface correlation length T, unevenness and inhomogeneity of the terrain, antenna heights, and signal polarization. A number of interesting results have been observed. The amount of additional incoherent power not included under the conventional definition depends on the ratio ?/T, except for the case where both transmitter and receiver are very close to the surface. The trends in the behavior of the glistening surface are similar for vertical or horizontal polarization, for Gaussian or exponential surface height distributions, and for different signal frequencies in the S-band to L-band range.     

Cosmic X-ray observations performed with a gas scintillation spectrometer

Observations of the spectrum of CAS-A in the X-ray energy range 3 to 10 keV have been made using two gas scintillation proportional counters flown on an Aries rocket. Analysis of the data from the 180 second observation has resolved the emission features at 7 keV, which results from transitions in highly ionised iron.     

The capabilities of a gas scintillation camera for cosmic X-ray astronomy

The capabilities of a gas scintillator camera for use in X-ray astronomy are investigated. Detailed experimental results are presented on both the position and energy resolution over the energy range 0.28 to 6 keV. The energy resolution varies from 38% to 9.5% for 0.28 keV C-K and 6 keV X-rays respectively. Position resolutions of 1.8 mm and 3.5 mm for 6 keV and 1.5 keV Al-K X-rays were obtained. Image quality and uniformity over the camera aperture are also discussed, whilst further techniques leading to improvements in position resolution are outlined. Finally applications of these cameras in conjunction with grazing incidence and coded mask X-ray optics are discussed.     

Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) Mass Spectrometer for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission

The HOPE mass spectrometer of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission (renamed the Van Allen Probes) is designed to measure the in situ plasma ion and electron fluxes over 4π sr at each RBSP spacecraft within the terrestrial radiation belts. The scientific goal is to understand the underlying physical processes that govern the radiation belt structure and dynamics. Spectral measurements for both ions and electrons are acquired over 1 eV to 50 keV in 36 log-spaced steps at an energy resolution ΔE _FWHM/E≈15 %. The dominant ion species (H⁺, He⁺, and O⁺) of the magnetosphere are identified using foil-based time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry with channel electron multiplier (CEM) detectors. Angular measurements are derived using five polar pixels coplanar with the spacecraft spin axis, and up to 16 azimuthal bins are acquired for each polar pixel over time as the spacecraft spins. Ion and electron measurements are acquired on alternate spacecraft spins. HOPE incorporates several new methods to minimize and monitor the background induced by penetrating particles in the harsh environment of the radiation belts. The absolute efficiencies of detection are continuously monitored, enabling precise, quantitative measurements of electron and ion fluxes and ion species abundances throughout the mission. We describe the engineering approaches for plasma measurements in the radiation belts and present summaries of HOPE measurement strategy and performance.     

The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) Investigation and Instrument

Space Science Reviews - The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has contributed to the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft the...