The Balloon Array for RBSP Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL)

BARREL is a multiple-balloon investigation designed to study electron losses from Earth’s Radiation Belts. Selected as a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, BARREL augments the Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission by providing measurements of relativistic electron precipitation with a pair of Antarctic balloon campaigns that will be conducted during the Austral summers (January-February) of 2013 and 2014. During each campaign, a total of 20 small (～20 kg) stratospheric balloons will be successively launched to maintain an array of ～5 payloads spread across ～6 hours of magnetic local time in the region that magnetically maps to the radiation belts. Each balloon carries an X-ray spectrometer to measure the bremsstrahlung X-rays produced by precipitating relativistic electrons as they collide with neutrals in the atmosphere, and a DC magnetometer to measure ULF-timescale variations of the magnetic field. BARREL will provide the first balloon measurements of relativistic electron precipitation while comprehensive in situ measurements of both plasma waves and energetic particles are available, and will characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies. All data and analysis software will be made freely available to the scientific community.     

A ground and obstacle collision avoidance technique (GOCAT)

The need to provide aircrew with a timely warning of a dangerously close approach to the terrain is discussed, along with the benefits this capability is expected to provide and specific requirements that it must fulfil. The ground proximity warning techniques that are available are reviewed, and their benefits and limitations are assessed. The GEC Avionics Ground and Obstacle Collision Avoidance Technique (GOCAT) is described. The particular advantages of the GOCAT approach are identified. Because GOCAT uses a database of the terrain and obstacles around the aircraft it has a very low nuisance alarm rate but will always generate a warning when the aircraft is in a dangerous situation. Issues of parameter selection, search area definition and system limitations are examined. The results of a GOCAT simulation are presented. The system performance parameters are discussed, and database requirements are reviewed. The characteristics of a practical implementation for both civil and military applications are briefly stated