Learning ‘smaller, faster, cheaper’ from the Applied Physics laboratory

By demonstrating the ability to build ‘smaller, faster, and cheaper’ space devices, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has played a key role in influencing NASA's current Discovery program. The APL Space Department was founded by Richard B. Kershner. This article examines the key elements of Kershner's leadership and management philosophy through the Transit satellite program and the Delta series spacecraft.     

Manifestations of sudden commencement of a severe magnetic storm of November 20, 2003, in generation of an SC pulse, <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis><Subscript>SC</Subscript> pulsations,and spatial modulation of the auroral brightness

The results of investigation of the geomagnetic and auroral response to the commencement of a severe magnetic storm of November 20, 2003, are presented. It is established that the onset of SC led to the brightening of the auroral arc in the dusk sector for 2–3 min with its extent to the east with a velocity of 10–20 km/s and to displacement poleward with a velocity of 1.0 km/s. Furtheron, the fast auroral expansions of short duration (5 min) to the pole up to 2–4°were observed, repeating every 5–10 min during 40 min, which led to the spatial modulation of the brightness of the glow and to generation of P_SC pulsations with similar periods of oscillations. The broadening of aurora poleward had a steplike character, with generation of new arcs poleward of previous ones 5 arcs per 1.5 min. The modulation of brightness of the glow and P_SC were observed against the background of intensification of a two-cell DP2 type current system and were accompanied by multiple turnings of the IMF B_z from south to north and back. It is assumed that the source of P_SC pulsations was a modulation of the intensity of the DP2 ionosphere currents as a result of variations of the magnetosphere convection level.Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 42, No. 6, 2004, pp. 608–615.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Baishev, Borisov, Velichko, Solovyev, Yumoto.     

“We can lick gravity,but…”: What trajectory for space in Australia?

In 2008 the Australian Senate Economics Committee held an inquiry into the state of Australia's space science and industry sector. One of the most important problems identified by the committee was that Australia lacked both a space agency and a national space policy in order to formulate a whole-of-government approach to space issues. This article briefly discusses Australia's historical political lacuna in relation to space before considering how space issues fit within broader contemporary policy frameworks at both the domestic and international levels. Using some of the findings from the inquiry, the author then addresses some core issues that the Australian government should consider when constructing a national space policy.