High-Definition Television System Onboard Lunar Explorer Kaguya (SELENE) and Imaging of the Moon and the Earth

The High-Definition television (HDTV) system onboard the Japanese lunar explorer Kaguya (SELENE) consists of a telephotographic camera and a wide-angle camera that each have 2.2 M-pixel IT-CCDs (interline transfer charge-coupled devices) and LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits) of the several-million-gates class. One minute-long motion pictures acquired by the HDTV system at 30 fps (frames per second) are recorded in a 1 GB semiconductor memory after compression, and then transmitted to a ground station. In the development of the space-going HDTV system, a commercial ground-model HDTV system was extensively modified and evaluated for its suitability to withstand the harsh environment of space through environmental tests. The HDTV acquired a total of 6.3 TB of movies and still images of the Earth and the Moon over the mission period that started on September 29, 2007, and ended on June 11, 2009. Footage of an “Earth-rise” and an “Earth-set” on the lunar horizon were captured for the first time by the HDTV system. During a lunar eclipse, images of the Earth’s “diamond ring” were acquired for the first time. The CCDs and the instruments used in the system remained in good working order throughout the mission period, despite the harsh space environment, which suggests a potential new approach to the development of instruments for use in space.     

等离子体处理对非晶态合金镀层表面改性研究

通过微波等离子体处理方法对Ni-W、Ni-W-B非晶态合金镀层表面进行改性的研究,测量了表面改性对非晶态镀层耐蚀性、表面成分及结构的影响.结果表明,经过微波等离子体处理过的Ni-W、Ni-W-B非晶态合金镀层,提高了在H₂SO₄、HNO₃溶液中的耐蚀性以及在700℃环境下的抗氧化性能;微波等离子体处理过的非晶态合金镀层表面含W量和含O量相对提高了;镀层结构仍然是非晶态.     

MPD arcjet system performance test

A new MPD (magnetoplasmadynamic) arcjet system was developed and tested to demonstrate its technological readiness for flight model design. The MPD arcjet, of quasisteady type, was repetitively operated. In the endurance test, more than 10⁵ shots were cleared in continuous operation. Some components cleared more than 10⁶ shots. Cathode erosion was markedly reduced through the use of newly developed material. Thermal data were obtained which define the thermal interface between the spacecraft and the MPD arcjet system. Waste heat from the electrodes was found to be 20–30% of the input power and to vary with repetition frequency. No technological difficulties are foreseen for further continuation of repetitive operation.     

Elementary processes involving electrons in the ionosphere

The production, slowing-down and disappearance processes of the ionospheric electrons are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the individual elementary processes, especially on electron collisions with other atmospheric constituents, rather than on other topics involving the gross structure of the real ionosphere.