A Concept of Position Fixing by a Passive Mode Navigation Satellite System

A position fix in a passive mode using satellites usually necessitates an expensive computer or lengthy hand calculation. This is the largest drawback of passive navigation and it would be more desirable if the user could find his position by a mere glance at a chart and table, as one uses Loran. The first step toward this goal is to use a synchronous satellite because it simplifies the problem. The next step is to find the position of the user by a Loran type of chart, which is universal, and correct this apparent position by looking at a special table which is made according to the amount of perturbation of both the satellite and the user's position. An example of the position fix along the route between Yokohama to Hawaii is shown. The concept can be extended to orbiting satellites due to the rules which govern the motion of satellites, if the fix accuracy is in the order of 2 to 5 miles. This method should be more accurate than the common sextant and more practical due to the fact that the satellite can be used at any time and in any weather. As a total system, it will be better than Omega because it could provide additional navigation information such as communication or traffic control by using satellites.     

A recursive multiple model approach to noise identification

Correct knowledge of noise statistics is essential for an estimator or controller to have reliable performance. In practice, however, the noise statistics are unknown or not known perfectly and thus need to be identified. Previous work on noise identification is limited to stationary noise and noise with slowly varying statistics only. An approach is presented here that is valid for nonstationary noise with rapidly or slowly varying statistics as well as stationary noise. This approach is based on the estimation with multiple hybrid system models. As one of the most cost-effective estimation schemes for hybrid system, the interacting multiple model (IMM) algorithm is used in this approach. The IMM algorithm has two desirable properties: it is recursive and has fixed computational requirements per cycle. The proposed approach is evaluated via a number of representative examples by both Monte Carlo simulations and a nonsimulation technique of performance prediction developed by the authors recently. The application of the proposed approach to failure detection is also illustrated     

The Plasma Environment of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Throughout the Rosetta Main Mission

The plasma environment of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Rosetta mission target comet, is explored over a range of heliocentric distances throughout the mission: 3.25 AU (Rosetta instruments on), 2.7 AU (Lander down), 2.0 AU, and 1.3 AU (perihelion). Because of the large range of gas production rates, we have used both a fluid-based magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model as well as a semi-kinetic hybrid particle model to study the plasma distribution. We describe the variation in plasma environs over the mission as well as the differences between the two modeling approaches under different conditions. In addition, we present results from a field aligned, two-stream transport electron model of the suprathermal electron flux when the comet is near perihelion.     

The Pre-CME Sun

The coronal mass ejection (CME) phenomenon occurs in closed magnetic field regions on the Sun such as active regions, filament regions, transequatorial interconnection regions, and complexes involving a combination of these. This chapter describes the current knowledge on these closed field structures and how they lead to CMEs. After describing the specific magnetic structures observed in the CME source region, we compare the substructures of CMEs to what is observed before eruption. Evolution of the closed magnetic structures in response to various photospheric motions over different time scales (convection, differential rotation, meridional circulation) somehow leads to the eruption. We describe this pre-eruption evolution and attempt to link them to the observed features of CMEs. Small-scale energetic signatures in the form of electron acceleration (signified by nonthermal radio bursts at metric wavelengths) and plasma heating (observed as compact soft X-ray brightening) may be indicative of impending CMEs. We survey these pre-eruptive energy releases using observations taken before and during the eruption of several CMEs. Finally, we discuss how the observations can be converted into useful inputs to numerical models that can describe the CME initiation.     

Tracking in clutter with nearest neighbor filters: analysis andperformance

The measurement that is “closest” to the predicted target measurement is known as the “nearest neighbor” (NN) measurement in tracking. A common method currently in wide use for tracking in clutter is the so-called NN filter, which uses only the NN measurement as if it were the true one. The purpose of this work is two fold. First, the following theoretical results are derived: the a priori probabilities of all three data association events (updates with correct measurement, with incorrect measurement, and no update), the probability density functions (pdfs) of the NN measurement conditioned on the association events, and the one-step-ahead prediction of the matrix mean square error (MSE) conditioned on the association events. Secondly, a technique for prediction without recourse to expensive Monte Carlo simulations of the performance of tracking in clutter with the NN filter is presented. It can quantify the dynamic process of tracking divergence as well as the steady-state performance. The technique is a new development along the line of the recently developed general approach to the performance prediction of algorithm with both continuous and discrete uncertainties     

The effect of gravity on surface temperature and net photosynthetic rate of plant leaves.

To clarify the effects of gravity on heat/gas exchange between plant leaves and the ambient air, the leaf temperatures and net photosynthetic rates of plant leaves were evaluated at 0.01, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 G of 20 seconds each during a parabolic airplane flight. Thermal images of leaves were captured using infrared thermography at an air temperature of 26 degrees C, a relative humidity of 15% and an irradiance of 260 W m-2. The net photosynthetic rates were determined by using a chamber method with an infrared gas analyzer at an air temperature of 20 degrees C, a relative humidity of 50% and a photosynthetic photon flux of 0.5 mmol m-2 s-1. The mean leaf temperature increased by 1 degree C and the net photosynthetic rate decreased by 13% with decreasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 0.01 G. The leaf temperature decreased by 0.5 degree C and the net photosynthetic rate increased by 7% with increasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 2.0 G. Heat/gas exchanges between leaves and the ambient air were more retarded at lower gravity levels. A restricted free air convection under microgravity conditions in space would limit plant growth by retarding heat and gas exchanges between leaves and the ambient air.     

Ground performance of air conditioning and water recycle system for a Space Plant Box.

Researchers from 5 Japanese universities have developed a plant growth facility (Space Plant Box) for seed to seed experiments under microgravity. The breadboard model of the Space Plant Box was fabricated by assembling subsystems developed for microgravity. The subsystems include air conditioning and water recycle system, air circulation system, water and nutrient delivery system, lighting system and plant monitoring system. The air conditioning and water recycle system is simply composed of a single heat exchanger, two fans and hydrophilic fibrous strings. The strings allow water movement from the cooler fin in the Cooling Box to root supporting materials in the Plant Growth Chamber driven by water potential deficit. Relative humidity in the Plant Growth Chamber can be changed over a wide range by controlling the ratio of latent heat exchange to sensible heat exchange on the cooling fin of the heat exchanger. The transpiration rate was successfully measured by circulating air inside the Plant Growth Chamber only. Most water was recycled and a small amount of water needed to be added from the outside. The simple, air conditioning and water recycle system for the Space Plant Box showed good performance through a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) growth experiment.     

On Relationship of Flow Swirl Parameters and Gas-Dynamic Efficiency of Gas Turbine Engine Interturbine Transition Duct

The paper highlights significance of the interturbine transition duct as part of the high pressure and low pressure turbine spool. The correlations have been suggested allowing us to estimate variation of the average cross section flow swirl while its passing the interturbine transition duct.     

An approach to forming the design performance of the attitude control system for small spacecraft

The elements for various types of attitude control systems used in a number of small spacecraft are considered. An approach for assessment of such system effectiveness based on design requirements for spacecraft purpose and restriction in accuracy, mass and energy is proposed.     

Approximate analytical solutions of stability problems for skew plates under combined loading

The known analytical solutions of the linearized stability problems for rectangular hinged plates under the combined loading are generalized to the similar problems for skew plates, the deformation mechanics of which is described by the equations of the classical theory formed in the oblique Cartesian coordinates.