The Use of Television Signals of Stationary Television Centers for Navigation Determination of Low-Orbit Satellites

For systems of autonomous satellite navigation, it is proposed to use television signals of stationary television centers positioned along the flight path in the band of satellite radio coverage as sources of primary navigation information. Television signal processing allows one to determine the time instants of transit through traverses of the television centers. An algorithm of calculating the parameters of satellite motion by times of transit through traverses is developed.     

Magnetospheric processes and related geophysical phenomena

In this paper we consider those processes mainly related to the behaviour of the low-energetic magnetospheric plasma, which nevertheless contains the main mass and the predominant part of the thermal energy. Our attention has been concentrated on those processes which, from our point of view, determine geomagnetic phenomena on the surface of the earth. Because of the scope of the project, we had to exclude the processes of acceleration of high-energetic particles in the tail of the magnetosphere, their diffusion deep within, and the formation of the radiation belts. These problems are of independent interest and may be considered separately.When describing various phenomena we tried to stress the principal side of a question without regard to the details of one theory or other, though we did not keep to this principle throughout. Together with the results which are dealt with in the literature, we took the risk of including those considerations which are not as yet published. It mainly concerns Sections 2.3, 2.4, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, and 4. where, together with other problems, three new hypotheses of the main phase of a storm and of Sq-variations are discussed. We prefer the mechanism connected with the current induction in the ionosphere (Section 4.4). For this purpose some aspects of magnetohydrodynamics were examined (Section 4.3).     

Variations of the gravitational field as a motive power for rhythmics of biochemical processes.

Variations of the gravitational field affected by the Sun and the Moon while the Earth's moving along the orbit seem to be a powerful source of many rhythmical processes typical of biochemical processes. Studies carried out in AARI revealed the obvious relationships between the dynamics of some biochemical reactions and lambda(D)-function describing the regular variations of the gravitational field under combined influence of the Sun and the Moon. The following of them are examined as examples: the rate of the unithiol oxidation in vitro, concentration of the thiol compounds in human urine, some hematological indicators (rate of the erythrocytes sedimentation, hemoglobin content). Compatibility of run of the biochemical indicators and lambda(D)-function is indicative of essential influence of the regular variations of the gravitational field on rhythmics of the biochemical processes. As this takes place, the solar activity acts like to the instability factor. Balance of the solar activity effects and the varying gravitational field effect alter in time depending on location in the solar activity cycle.     

Frequency Diversity in Low-Angle Radar Tracking

Elevation angle errors due to sea-reflected multipath are evaluated theoretically for a radar operating in an off-boresight monopulse tracking mode. The computer simulation accounts only for specular reflection. Angle estimates at three frequencies are assumed to be available. It is shown that one can improve upon a simple average of the three indicated angles by unequally weighting them according to rank (lowest, middle, or highest). Some sample computations show that there is an optimum difference between the three frequencies.     

On different sensitivities of microorganisms to lowered gravitation

The influence of lowered gravitation on biomass and CO₂ production in $\text{B.megaterium}$, a xerophyte, and $\text{Spirillum azotocolligens}$, an aqueous spirillum, in liquid nutrient medium on a horizontal clinostat at 0.1 $\text{g}$ has been studied. As controls we considered: 1) growth under stationary conditions of cultivation with test tubes oriented horizontally; 2) growth on a synchronously revolving centrifuge; and 3) growth on a swing with stirring. A horizontal clinostat at 0.1 g stimulates biomass production and CO₂ release in $\text{B.megaterium}$ as compared with the controls. $\text{Spirillum azotocolligens}$ growth is reduced as a result of clinostating. The best development and CO₂ production are observed under stationary conditions. The results do not support the assumption that microorganisms living in water are more resistant to lowered gravitation than those living in soil.     

A high-altitude barium radial injection experiment

On 16 March 1980 a rocket launched from Poker Flat, Alaska, carried a new type of high-explosive barium shaped charge to 571 km, where detonation injected a thin disk of barium vapor with high velocity nearly perpendicular to the magnetic field. The purpose of the experiment, named “King Crab,” was to advance knowledge of the instabilities, waves, and optical and magnetic effects produced. The TV images of the injection are spectacular, revealing three major regimes of expanding material which showed early instabilities in the neutral gas. The most unusual effect of the injection is a peculiar rayed barium-ion structure lying in the injection plane and centered on a 5 km “black hole” surrounding the injection point. Preliminary computer simulations show a similar rayed structure development due to an electrostatic instability.     

Biological effects of galactic radiation HZE particles in experiments on the orbital station Salyut 7.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds were flown on-board the orbital station Salyut 7 for 66-457 days. It was found that a single heavy charged particle (HZE) hitting a seed only slightly affects the subsequent plant growth. However, morphological anomalies of varying type in primordial leaves and roots were observed that show good correlation with the location of the particle track. The most severe damage detected by light and an electron microscopy were "channels" in dry and soaked seeds. The appearance of "channels" seems to be related to the LET of the incident particle. This finding is of considerable importance for assessment of space flight radiation hazard.