Logiciel de restitution de trajectoire de satellite-application au cas de satellites d'observation

This paper presents an orbit determination program based on two algorithms: Kalman filtering and Rauch smoothing. Novel adaptation of these algorithms lets obtain a posteriori statistical estimations of evolution and measurement noises and of their standard deviation. Analysis of results about these noise estimations lets regulate optimally the a priori levels of noise standard deviations and detect eventually model errors. Such use is presented for Earth observation satellites, at first with simulated data, then with real data (TIROS N satellite).     

Sur des conditions d''amorçage par onde de choc de la détonation du nitrométhane

Results concerning the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of nitromethane (N.M.) at pressures up to 11 GPa are presented. The pressure is generated either by an incident shock wave or by a shock wave reflected within a medium prepressurized by a first shock wave. Calculation of the temperature behind these shock waves, based on the Walsh-Christian model, calls, in particular, upon the knowledge of the N.M. shock polar relative to normal temperature and pressure conditions, but also of those corresponding to prepressurized states.

Taking advantage of the phenomena of N.M. electric polarization under shock, we determine, on the one hand, the relation between pressure and particle velocity and, on the other hand, the influence of pressure conditions on induction delays of the explosive.

According to calculation, for a same pressure level the N.M. temperature behind a single shock is higher than that obtained by two successive compressions.

Experimentally, we observe that N.M. compressed at 11 GPa by means of two shock waves does not detonate (during the observation time of about 0,5 μs), while in the case of a single shock wave of the same amplitude the induction delay is lower than 0.1 μs. These results show the important role of temperature, as opposed to that of pressure.     

SIGMA: Projet d'Observatoire spatial a haute resolution angulaire pour les sources de rayons gamma

(SIGMA: Project of a high resolution space observatory for gamma rays sources)—The SIGMA space observatory is designed to obtain images of the sky in the hard X-ray/low energy gamma-ray domain (30–2000 keV range), with an angular accuracy of a few are min, within a field of ～7° × 7°, and a sensitivity for point sources down to a level of a few 10^?6 photons cm^?2s^?1keV^?1 (exposure 24 hr). The instrument is designed using the principle of the coded aperture mask telescope with a position sensitive detector derived from the Anger gamma-camera which is used in nuclear medicine. The pseudo-images of the sky are accumulated on board and transmitted to the ground stations for decoding processing. The gross weight of the instrument is 750 kg and its overall dimensions are 3 m long and 1.2 m in diameter.     

The deontology of the conquest of space / de la deontologie de la conquete de l''espace: Proceedings from a conference, Casablanca, 1–4 march 1984 Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, Rabat, Morocco, 1984, 178 pages

Professor Caesar Voûte reports on the 34th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, Björkliden, Sweden, 9–14 July 1984: ‘1984 and Beyond: Science, Security and Public Opinion’.