Some features of solar cosmic ray penetration into the Earth’s magnetosphere

We compared fluxes of the 1–100 MeV solar energetic particles (SEP) measured in the interplanetary medium (ACE) and in the magnetosphere (Universitetsky-Tatiana, POES—in polar caps, and GOES-11—at geosynchronous orbit) during several SEP events of 2005–2006. Peak intensities of the SEP fluxes inside and outside the magnetosphere were compared for each event. It is shown that observed inside-outside difference depends mainly on direction of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), on degree of the SEP anisotropy (pitch-angle distribution) in IMF, and on distance of the dayside magnetopause from the Earth.     

OB Associations, Wolf–Rayet Stars, and the Origin of Galactic Cosmic Rays

We have measured the isotopic abundances of neon and a number of other species in the galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) using the Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer (CRIS) aboard the ACE spacecraft. Our data are compared to recent results from two-component (Wolf–Rayet material plus solar-like mixtures) Wolf–Rayet (WR) models. The three largest deviations of galactic cosmic ray isotope ratios from solar-system ratios predicted by these models, ¹²C/¹⁶O, ²²Ne/²⁰Ne, and ⁵⁸Fe/⁵⁶Fe, are very close to those observed. All of the isotopic ratios that we have measured are consistent with a GCR source consisting of ∼20% of WR material mixed with ∼80% material with solar-system composition. Since WR stars are evolutionary products of OB stars, and most OB stars exist in OB associations that form superbubbles, the good agreement of our data with WR models suggests that OB associations within superbubbles are the likely source of at least a substantial fraction of GCRs. In previous work it has been shown that the primary ⁵⁹Ni (which decays only by electron-capture) in GCRs has decayed, indicating a time interval between nucleosynthesis and acceleration of >10⁵ y. It has been suggested that in the OB association environment, ejecta from supernovae might be accelerated by the high velocity WR winds on a time scale that is short compared to the half-life of ⁵⁹Ni. Thus the ⁵⁹Ni might not have time to decay and this would cast doubt upon the OB association origin of cosmic rays. In this paper we suggest a scenario that should allow much of the ⁵⁹Ni to decay in the OB association environment and conclude that the hypothesis of the OB association origin of cosmic rays appears to be viable.     

Optimization of transfers under constraints on the thrust direction: I

Transfers with a low thrust are considered under constraints imposed on the thrust vector direction. These constraints can be caused by peculiarities of the attitude control system and the mode of stabilization of a spacecraft, and, in the general case, they are functions of the time and state vector. The constraints specified by equalities and inequalities are investigated. It is shown that the optimal thrust is directed along the projection of the Lawden’s primer vector onto the restricting set.     

Thermodynamic cycles for spacecraft power plants

A problem of applying closed multiloop thermodynamic cycles with mixing of dissimilar working gases in spacecraft power plants has been considered. The advantage of these cycles that is due to reduction of a heat quantity being rejected into space has been shown for ecologically clean generation of electric energy in prolonged space flights.     

A two-phase mixture drift flow in the vertical cylindrical channel

The mathematical models of the solid-liquid flow regimes in the vertical cylindrical channel are described. A two-speed flow based on the solid-liquid phase interaction is considered. The problem was numerically solved and the calculation results were compared with experimental data.     

Profiling of flow passage in axial radial-flow compressor impellers

A procedure of calculating an axial radial-flow centrifugal stage is considered. Using the gas-dynamically expedient load ratio distribution in profile, the process of impeller flow passage profiling is described. Also given are some techniques for decreasing or eliminating a wake zone as well as a graph of loss dependence on the divergence factor and velocity deceleration on the rarefaction side of the blade channel at the impeller outlet.     

Numerical study of transient interchamber processes when reaching the SPRE operational conditions

A comprehensive numerical study of transient interchamber processes occurring when reaching the SPRE operational conditions is carried out. A conjugate problem under consideration includes nonstationary operation of an igniter heating, ignition and subsequent nonstationary and turbulent burning of a solid-propellant charge; nonstationary three-phase homo-heterogeneous flow of combustion products in the combustion chamber, nozzle and downstream of the nozzle block of a rocket engine; motion of a nozzle block cover. The calculation results are presented.