The Electron Beam Instrument (F6) on Freja

The Electron Beam Instrument (F6) onFreja is the first attempt to apply the electron drift technique in a region of large ambient magnetic fields. The paper describes the operational principles, the technical realization, and the difficulties encountered in the derivation of the electric fields.     

Cassini Imaging Science: Instrument Characteristics And Anticipated Scientific Investigations At Saturn

The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) is the highest-resolution two-dimensional imaging device on the Cassini Orbiter and has been designed for investigations of the bodies and phenomena found within the Saturnian planetary system. It consists of two framing cameras: a narrow angle, reflecting telescope with a 2-m focal length and a square field of view (FOV) 0.35^∘ across, and a wide-angle refractor with a 0.2-m focal length and a FOV 3.5^∘ across. At the heart of each camera is a charged coupled device (CCD) detector consisting of a 1024 square array of pixels, each 12 μ on a side. The data system allows many options for data collection, including choices for on-chip summing, rapid imaging and data compression. Each camera is outfitted with a large number of spectral filters which, taken together, span the electromagnetic spectrum from 200 to 1100 nm. These were chosen to address a multitude of Saturn-system scientific objectives: sounding the three-dimensional cloud structure and meteorology of the Saturn and Titan atmospheres, capturing lightning on both bodies, imaging the surfaces of Saturn’s many icy satellites, determining the structure of its enormous ring system, searching for previously undiscovered Saturnian moons (within and exterior to the rings), peering through the hazy Titan atmosphere to its yet-unexplored surface, and in general searching for temporal variability throughout the system on a variety of time scales. The ISS is also the optical navigation instrument for the Cassini mission. We describe here the capabilities and characteristics of the Cassini ISS, determined from both ground calibration data and in-flight data taken during cruise, and the Saturn-system investigations that will be conducted with it. At the time of writing, Cassini is approaching Saturn and the images returned to Earth thus far are both breathtaking and promising.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Mass distribution in our Galaxy

This article summarizes recent work on the luminosity and mass distribution of the galactic bulge and disk, and on the mass of the Milky Way's dark halo. A new luminosity model consistent with the COBE NIR data and the apparent magnitude distributions of bulge clump giant stars has bulge/bar length of 3.5 kpc, axis ratios of 1:(0.3–0.4):0.3, and short disk scale-length (2.1 kpc). Gas-dynamical flows in the potential of this model with constant M/L fit the terminal velocities in 10° le|l|le50° very well. The luminous mass distribution with this M/L is consistent with the surface density of known matter near the Sun, but still underpredicts the microlensing optical depth towards the bulge. Together, these facts argue strongly for a massive, near-maximal disk in our L ^*, Sbc spiral galaxy. While the outer rotation curve and global mass distribution are not as readily measured as in similar spiral galaxies, the dark halo mass estimated from satellite velocities is consistent with a flat rotation curve continuing on from the luminous mass distribution.     

Gravitomagnetism in Physics and Astrophysics

Based on general relativity, the article reviews gravitomagnetism in physics and astrophysics. Emphasis is put on observational effects. Accelerated reference frames in flat spacetime are discussed to illuminate the gravitomagnetic field. Compact insight into the dynamics of gravitationally interacting non-spinning and spinning objects is achieved by employing the Hamilton formalism.     

Outstanding issues in understanding the dynamics of the inner plasma sheet and ring current during storms and substorms

The paper deals with five selected issues of the dynamical coupling of the near-Earth plasma sheet and magnetosphere, (1) substorm initiation, (2) dipolarization, (3) pressure release of the outer magnetosphere via the auroral energy conversion process, (4) magnetization of the very high beta plasma assembling at the inner edge of the tail, and (5) penetration of energetic particles into the ring current below L 4. One outstanding and strongly debated subject is not discussed here, the origin of the substorm current wedge. The main conclusions (or personal preferences) are: (1) the substorm is initiated by formation of a near-Earth neutral line; (2) dipolarization occurs through magnetic flux transport by the earthward reconnection flow and not by current diffusion; (3) the auroral energy conversion process, the “auroral pressure valve”, contributes substantially to the pressure release during the substorms; (4) high beta ( 10) plasma breaks up into smaller scale blobs under slow magnetization; and (5) deep and prolonged penetration of hot plasma sheet plasma into the middle magnetosphere produces currents and electric fields which lead to the growth of the storm-time ring current.     

Advanced detectors and instruments for small satellites

This paper presents some approaches to the development of advanced detectors and to miniaturized instrument design which are pursued in the Institute of Space Sensor Technology of DLR (the German Aerospace Research Establishment). The instrument design approach is demonstrated for a low-weight (3 kg) dual camera system with narrow-angle in-track stereo and wide-angle multispectral features. Each camera has its own signal processor and 0,5 G Bit mass memory. The activities for advanced detector development are concentrated on two different kinds of detectors and instrumentations: infrared detector arrays and instruments at wavelengths out to about 240 μm, and superheterodyne receivers in the submillimeter and far-infrared spectral ranges.     

Comet nucleus sample return: Plans and capabilities

ROSETTA — the Comet Nucleus Sample Return mission — is one of the four Cornerstone missions to which ESA has committed itself in its approved Long-Term Programme Horizon 2000. The mission is currently being studied in collaboration with NASA. The comet-nucleus samples that ROSETTA is to provide will allow us to study some of the most primitive material in the solar system and the physical and chemical processes that marked the beginning of the system 4.6 billion years ago. For ESA, ROSETTA is a new type of mission: one which will return a sample at cryogenic temperature, and where as much effort has to be spent on preparing the laboratory analysis on-ground as has to be invested in preparing the space segment with the sample acquisition and in situ documentation. As part of the preparation for this mission, ESA is now starting to consider Planetary Protection issues.     

Flexbus — an attractive technical solution for small missions

Responding to the demand for a ‘faster, cheaper, better’ implementation of space related services, Domier Satellitensysteme GmbH has established and exercised an approach for the development and production of satellites and the corresponding ground equipment for small missions, referred to as Flexbus. It allows to support space service customers starting from mission engineering via design, development and manufacturing of the necessary hardware, the launch service and ending with the hand-over of the operational system. Flexbus harmonises a modular component concept with a sound design and development approach, as a whole providing the means to offer high quality products in a fairly short time and for competitive pricing. This paper will outline the major features of the Flexbus approach and describe application examples.     

Human space exploration - A global trans-cultural quest

This Viewpoint is a slightly edited version of the ‘Statement by Space Explorers on Human Space Exploration’ produced in the wake of a workshop organized by the European Space Policy Institute and held in Vienna in May 2010. While noting the cultural differences in understandings of ‘exploration’ around the world, it also affirms the phenomenon as a globe-wide, human urge, emphasizing that only the physical presence of a human being can assure the full emotional quality of exploration. It calls upon decision makers to regard human space exploration as a global trans-cultural quest that should be supported and furthered.