Gravitational Sensitivity of Solutions–Melts at the Crystallization of Two-Phase InSb–InBi Alloys under Space Conditions

Analyzing the results of space and ground-based experiments carried out in the Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science to study the processes of the melting and crystallization of two-phase InSb–InBi alloys of an indium–antimony–bismuth (In–Sb– Bi) triple system, we have demonstrated the gravitational sensitivity of the InSb-based solution– melt. It manifests itself as a certain asymmetry of the boundary of the dissolution of the InSb ingot by the InSb–InBi melt and heterogeneity of the melt along this boundary depending on the magnitude and direction of the gravity force acceleration gin the range (1–10^–3–10^–5)g ₀, where g ₀is the acceleration of the gravity force on Earth. For the first time, it is established in the experiments under analysis that the homogeneity of melts of a complex composition with components of various densities can be reached only at magnitudes of quasistationary (residual) microaccelerations g< 10^–6 g ₀.     

Drag reduction research in supersonic flow with opposing jet

A CFD study on drag reduction in supersonic flow with opposing jet has been conducted. Flowfield parameters, reattachment point position and surface pressure distributions are obtained and validated with experiments. From the analysis on the physical mechanism of drag reduction, it shows the phenomenon that, when the opposing jet blows, the high pressure region is located between the bow shock wave and the Mach disk, which makes the nose region much lower pressure. As the pressure ratio increases, the high pressure region is gradually pushed away from the surface. Larger the total pressure ratio is, the lower of the drag coefficient is. To study the effect of the intensity of opposing jet more reasonably, a new parameter R_PA has been introduced by combining the flux and the total pressure ratio. The study shows that the same shock wave position and drag coefficient can be obtained with the same R_PA with different fluxes and the total pressures, which means the new parameter could stand for the intensity of opposing jet and could be used to analyze the influence of opposing jet on flow field and aerodynamic force.     

超临界压力下航空煤油RP-3在水平细圆管内对流换热特性实验研究

为探究超临界压力下碳氢燃料在水平管内的对流换热规律,文章针对超临界条件下航空煤油RP-3在水平细圆管内的对流换热,分析了热流密度、进口雷诺数及浮升力对对流换热的影响。研究表明:沿流动方向,管内表面传热系数随热流密度的增大先减小后增大;在低进口温度及低进口雷诺数情况下,管内换热均出现先恶化后强化的现象,而随着进口温度和雷诺数的增加,此现象消失;浮升力对换热的影响随热流密度的增加而增加;浮升力对下表面换热的加强使得入口效应的影响在下表面先于上表面结束;受浮升力影响,上下壁最大温差可达50 K;质量流速的增加会抑制浮升力对换热的影响;准则数Grq/Grth可以很好地反映浮升力的变化趋势。以上研究结果可为采用碳氢燃料作冷却介质的各类飞行器主动热防护技术方案提供技术支撑。     

Results of Measurements of Accelerations of Technological Devices onboard the FotonSpacecraft

This paper generalizes the results of measuring the residual accelerations arising when investigations in space materials science are carried out onboard the unmanned Fotonspacecraft. The levels of vibroaccelerations are analyzed in the frequency band of 1–500 Hz for the technological devices UZ01, UZ04, and POLIZON, developed by the Federal Unitary State Enterprise Barmin Design Bureau of General Machine Building (V.P. Barmin KBOM). The levels of accelerations are estimated in the frequency band of 0–1 Hz in the zone of technological operations of these facilities. The basic sources of vibroaccelerations acting upon the frames of devices are determined in the capsule zone, where technological processes of producing new materials take place. In the frequency band of 1–500 Hz the vibroaccelerations are shown to be generated by the operation of Fotonspacecraft units and a drive of capsule translation during the technological process. On the capsule frame they reach the values of (1–3) × 10^–3 g. The level of linear accelerations in the infralow-frequency band is determined by rotational motions of the Fotonspacecraft. It depends on the device location with respect to the spacecraft center of mass and does not exceed (1–7) × 10^–6 gin the steady-state regime in the zone of technological activity.     

航天器在轨微振动测量单元设计及地面标定技术

针对航天器在轨微振动环境测量,文章分析了微振动的来源及其对空间科学实验和对地成像载荷的影响,设计了典型微振动测量单元,提出了微振动测量单元标度因数和偏值的地面标定方法,利用精测设备进行了地面测试验证,结果表明微振动测量单元各轴测量误差小于5×10~(-3)g0,验证了微振动测量单元的设计和地面标定方法的正确性。     

Nonlinear Evolution of a Balloon Satellite Orbit

The motion of a spherically symmetric balloon satellite near the equatorial plane is considered. Taking the Earth's oblateness and solar light pressure into account, the integral of motion can be obtained under certain simplifications. The eccentricity is related to the solar angle which represents an angle between pericenter and the Sun. This analytical approximation describes a large and complicated evolution of the eccentricity in corresponding areas of the phase space and the space of parameters. Phase portraits contain fixed saddle points and separatrices that divide different types of oscillations of the eccentricity. In the unsimplified problem, separatrices break down, and specific stochastic motions arise. The aims of the present study are (1) evaluation of the accuracy of analytical approximation with the help of numerical integration using a sufficiently complete model of motion and (2) numerical investigation of stochastic motions and dimensions of stochastic zones in the region of broken separatrices for an adequate model of motion. For a balloon satellite with a semimajor axis of 2.15 Earth's radii and a windage of 30 cm²/g the dimensions of a stochastic zone in eccentricity and solar angle are 10^–5and 0.1°, respectively. The analytical approximation describes the orbit evolution in the right way, except for the cases of large eccentricities, e> 0.4, which corresponds to a pericenter height of less than 1400 km, where the atmospheric drag is already significant.     

Simultaneous Response of the Mid-Latitude Ionosphere to a Sudden Commencement of Strong Magnetic Storms

Using the new technology of global GPS detection of ionospheric disturbances (GLOBDET), it is found that a sharp increase of the time derivative of the magnetic field strength during magnetic storms is accompanied by a simultaneous decrease of the mid-latitude total electron content (TEC) over the entire dayside of the globe. The corresponding negative correlation coefficient is no less than 0.8, and the delay relative to the sudden commencement of magnetic storm is about 3–10 min. The effect is especially clearly pronounced for magnetic storms with sudden commencements (SSC). The analysis is carried out for a set of 90 to 300 GPS stations for 10 days (January 6 and April 23, 1998; April 6, June 8, July 13, 14, and 15, 2000; March 31, April 4 and 11, 2001) with various levels of geomagnetic activity (D _st and K _p varied from –6 to –295 nT and from 0 to 9, respectively). The amplitude of the response in the total electron content for the events considered was 0.1–0.4 × 10¹⁶ m^–2 (which is a deviation of 0.2–2.6% from the TEC background value). The velocity of the disturbance motion from the dayside to the nightside was about 10–20 km/s. The results obtained agree with the data of ionospheric parameter measurements conducted earlier by methods with high temporal resolution.     

Orbit prediction and shuttle rendezvous strategy for eureca

The European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) is a platform to be launched, deployed and retrieved in low Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle.A newly developed analytical orbit prediction method is described which meets the severe requirements for EURECA's orbit propagation. It is based on an averaging procedure including the Earth's zonal harmonics J₂, J₃ and J₄ and a refined treatment of the air drag perturbation where EURECA's large solar panels are taken into account. Some orbit prediction results are included.In order to offer more flexibility for the Shuttle retrieval of EURECA, it is proposed to execute a part of the rendezvous manoeuvres by EURECA. A corresponding strategy is described.     

Combustion characteristics of the end burning hybrid rockets in laminar flow

In this study, we aim to clarify the blowoff mechanism for flame spreading in an opposed laminar flow in narrow solid fuel ducts. To clarify this mechanism we conducted two experiments. First, we observed the changes of the flame spread rate at various oxygen velocities, ambient pressures, and port diameters. For flame spreading in laminar flow, combustion modes could be classified into 3 distinct regimes based on the strength of the opposed flow, i.e., chemical regime, thermal regime, and stabilized regime. This result is consistent with the result in turbulent flow. In the stabilized regime, quenching distance is almost constant despite oxygen velocity. In order to investigate the effect of ambient pressure and port diameter of fuels on blowoff limit, transition oxygen velocity is observed. As a result, transition oxygen velocity is proportional to the logarithm of the ambient pressure and port diameter. This relation is applicable despite the flow condition. Furthermore, we calculated velocity gradient at the fuel surface to reveal the determining factor of the blowoff limit in laminar flow. Consequently, velocity gradient, which is considered to dominate flow separation in laminar flow, would not be constant. This is because the velocity gradient at the fuel surface could not be evaluated by only the assumption of Hagen–Poiseuille flow but other parameters, such as vaporized fuel gas and natural convection by buoyancy should be included.     

Directional Solidification Using a Baffle in Microgravity

Numerical simulations were performed to optimize the conditions and parameters for directional solidification of Te-doped GaSb in reduced gravity ranging from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵g₀. Our key goal was to quantify the velocity and concentration fields with and without a baffle present in the melt. The effect of the distance of the baffle from the solid–liquid interface was investigated. When the baffle is placed 0.5 cm from the solid–liquid interface, acceleration of 10⁻³g₀ does not cause significant interference with segregation. Furthermore, the flow between the baffle and the interface (low Reynolds number “creeping” flow) does not depend on fluid properties (viscosity).     

Analysis and implementation of in-plane stationkeeping of continuously perturbed Walker constellations

The stationkeeping of symmetric Walker constellations is analyzed by considering the perturbations arising from a high order and degree Earth gravity field and the solar radiation pressure. These perturbations act differently on each group of spacecraft flying in a given orbital plane, causing a differential drift effect that would disrupt the initial symmetry of the constellation. The analysis is based on the consideration of a fictitious set of rotating reference frames that move with the spacecraft in the mean sense, but drift at a rate equal to the average drift rate experienced by all the vehicles over an extended period. The frames are also allowed to experience the J₂-precession such that each vehicle is allowed to drift in 3D relative to its frame. A two-impulse rendezvous maneuver is then constructed to bring each vehicle to the center of its frame as soon as a given tolerance deadband is about to be violated. This paper illustrates the computations associated with the stationkeeping of a generic Walker constellation by maneuvering each leading spacecraft within an orbit plane and calculating the associated velocity changes required for controlling the in-plane motions in an exacting sense, at least for the first series of maneuvers. The analysis can be easily extended to lower flying constellations, which experience additional perturbations due to drag.     

Probability of Collision Error Analysis

The decision for the International Space Station (ISS) to maneuver to avoid a potential collision with another space object will be based on the probability of collision, P _C. The calculation of P _C requires the covariance of both objects at conjunction. It is well known that the covariance computed by US Space Command is optimistic (too small), especially at altitudes where atmospheric drag is the dominant perturbation, because its computation assumes there are no dynamic model errors. In this paper the effect of errors in the covariance on P _C and the sensitivity of P _C to the encounter geometry are investigated.     

The results of the space technological experiments performed with the suprconducting and magnetic alloys

On board the orbital complex “Salyut-6-Soyuz” during long-term near 0-gravity space flight the technological experiments on synthesis of the superconducting MoGa₅, MO₃Ga and Nb₃Sn intermetallic compounds by means of liquid-phase diffusion and on bulk crystallization of the hypoeutectic superconducting Pb-Sn alloy and magnetically ordered Gd₃Co and (Gd_0.2Tb_0.8)₃Co compounds have been performed. During the process of the liquid-phase diffusion considerable changes of the formation of the reaction layers (mechanisms, phase composition, thickness, etc.) in the superconducting Mo-Ga and Nb-Sn systems were observed. MoGa₅, Nb₆Sn₅ and NbSn₂ phases were found in the ground-based samples while in the flight samples the formation of MoGa₅, Mo₃Ga, Nb₃Sn and Nb₆Sn₅ phases was observed. As a result of the changes of the phase composition of the diffusion layers in the flight samples two superconducting transitions at 18.3 and 5.7 K were established (only one transition at 6.9K was measured for the ground-based sample) (Savitsky et al., Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Metals5, 224–232, 1982; Zemskov et al., Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Physics49, 673–680, 1985). Considerable increasing of the critical current measured for the Pb-Sn flight sample has been observed (Savitsky et al., Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR257, 102–104, 1981; Zemskov et al., 1985). Better homogeneity and crystal structure perfection of the flight Gd₃Co and (Gd_0.2Tb_0.8)₃Co samples have been established by means of the micro-zonde and low-temperature X-ray technique (Savitsky et al., Acta Astronautica11, 691–696, 1984; Zemskov et al., 1985). Different behaviour of the ground-based and flight samples in the process of magnetization and the displacements of the temperatures of the magnetic phase transitions have been observed.     

Geosynchronous magnetopause crossings on October 29–31, 2003

During the period October 29–31, 2003, geosynchronous magnetopause crossings (GMC) have been identified based on the magnetic data of the GOES series spacecraft and plasma data of the LANL series spacecraft. It is shown that most of the time the size of the dayside magnetosphere was highly decreased under the effect of very high pressure associated with high velocities and densities of the solar wind plasma, as well as high negative values of the B_z component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). For tens of hours the subsolar magnetopause was deep inside the geosynchronous orbit. During the main phase and at the maximum of the strong geomagnetic storms that occurred in the period under consideration, the dayside magnetosphere was characterized by a strong dawn-dusk asymmetry, so that its size in the postnoon sector considerably exceeded the size in the pre-noon sector. The geomagnetic disturbances in the morning on October 30 and 31, 2003 were accompanied by global magnetospheric pulsations with periods of 5–10 min and high amplitude (up to 0.8 R_E).Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 42, No. 6, 2004, pp. 574–584.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Dmitriev, Suvorova.     

Relationship between ionospheric electric fields and magnetic activity indices

The relations between electric fields in the daytime and nighttime sectors of the polar ionosphere and magnetic activity indices of auroral region (AL) and northern polar cap (PCN) are studied. It is found that the above relations do exist and are described by: a) equations U _pc⁽¹⁾ (kV) = 27.62 + 21.43PCN with a correlation coefficient R = 0.87 and U _pc⁽¹⁾ (kV) = 4.06 + 49.21PCN - 6.24 PCN² between the difference in the electric potentials across the polar cap in the daytime sector U _pc⁽¹⁾ and PCN and b) regression equation U _pc⁽²⁾ (kV) = 23.33 + 0.08|AL| with R = 0.86 between the difference in the electric potentials across the polar cap in the nighttime sector U _pc⁽²⁾ and |AL|. It is shown that: a) it is possible to use the AL and PCN indices for real-time diagnostics of instantaneous values of the electric fields in the daytime and nighttime sectors of the polar ionosphere in the process of a substorm development; b) at the expansion phase of a substorm, due to calibration of PCN values by the values of the solar wind electric field E _sw, the PCN index does not feel the contribution of the western electrojet and, accordingly, the contribution of the nighttime ionospheric electric field U _pc⁽²⁾, governed by the reconnection in the magnetospheric tail.     

Population inversion and gain distribution in supersonic mixed flow systems

Experimental results are reported for small signal gain distribution across a cavity of a mixed flow gasdynamic laser system at different turbulent supersonic mixing regimes. It is shown that the temperature range of the GDL generation regime can be extended up to 7000°K, and gain coefficients as high as 3.5 m⁻¹ be attained in a “double-freeze” supersonic gas flow. Basic advantages are discussed as well as the opportunity to obtain higher efficiencies in thermally pumped laser systems.     

Verification of the Accuracy of the Magnetopause Empirical Models Using the INTERBALL-1 Satellite Data

A statistical analysis of the shape and location of the magnetopause according to the INTERBALL-1 satellite data for the period 1995–1997 is carried out. The instants of crossing the magnetosphere boundaries obtained by the plasma and magnetic data are compared with computations based on three empirical models, namely, Petrinec and Russel, 1996; Shue et al., 1997; and Shue et al., 1998. The state of the interplanetary medium (dynamic pressure of the solar wind plasma P _d and the B _z component of the interplanetary magnetic field) was determined by the measurements onboard the WIND spacecraft. We estimate the accuracy of the considered models for different groups of boundary crossings: single, multiple with small duration (less than 40 min), and multiple with large duration (more than 40 min). It is demonstrated that the small-scale motions of the boundary (<1R _E) are observed more often in the dayside magnetosphere, especially near the cusp region. Large-scale boundary oscillations (>1R _E) are more common in the tail region of the magnetosphere, namely, its flanks. Various models give similar results: about 50% of all events have deviations by more than 1R _E from the model locations. In some cases, the deviation of the measured location of the magnetosphere boundary from the model prediction may be as large as 5–6R _E for all three models considered, the actual boundary being more often located nearer to the Earth than the result of model computations. The best model is that of Shue et al., 1998, but it does not differ significantly from the other models.     

Surface temperature distribution along a thin liquid layer due to thermocapillary convection

The surface temperature distributions due to thermocapillary convections in a thin liquid layer with heat fluxes imposed on the free surface are investigated. The nondimensional analysis predicts that, when convection is important, the characteristic length scale in the flow direction L, and the characteristic temperature difference ΔT₀, can be represented by and , respectively, where L_R and ΔT_T are the reference scales used in the conduction-dominant situations with A denoting the aspect ratio and Ma the Marangoni number. Having had L and ΔT₀ defined, the global surface-temperature gradient ( ), the global thermocapillary driving-force, and other interesting features can then be readily determined. Finally, numerical calculations involving a Gaussian heat flux distribution are presented to justify these two relations.     

Initiation of spherical detonation in hydrocarbon/air mixtures

Spherical detonations have been initiated by solid explosive (Tetryl) charges in well-mixed stoicheiometric air mixtures with each of the hydrocarbons, ethane, propane, n-butane, isobutane and ethylene at atmospheric pressure. Prior to initiation, the gases were contained in plastic bags; total gas volume and available path length were up to 1.6 m³ and 2 m, respectively. The detonations were shown to be self-sustained by continuous measurement of detonation velocity using X-band microwave interferometry. Measured detonation velocities were in all cases close to calculated C-J values.In a few experiments close to the limits of detonability, velocity and blast pressure/time records indicated that the propagating wave system is sometimes irregular. The irregularity that occurs just after initiation is characterised by a reaction front velocity very much lower than the constant detonation velocity, but subsequently attaining the latter by an acceleration process. These observations indicate the existence of a dissociated phase in which shock and reaction fronts may no longer be coupled.Because similar experimental conditions were used throughout, it was possible to establish the relative susceptibilities of the various fuel gases to detonation. Comparison is made with the Zeldovich criterion and a detonation kernel theory of Lee.     

Dynamics of the 0.3–100 MeV Proton Energy Spectra in the Inner Heliosphere in Quiet Periods of 1974–1991

Variations of the proton spectra in the 0.3–100 MeV energy range based on the data of various instruments installed onboard the IMP-8 satellite are studied for very quiet, quiet, and quasi-stable solar activity periods during the years 1974–1991. As many as 118 spectra were approximated by two power laws: the left-hand and galactic branches of the spectrum were fitted by the AE ^– function and a dependence of the CE type, respectively, the sum J(E) = AE ^– + CE providing the total spectrum. It is shown that the spectra vary within a solar cycle with a shift of the minimum energy (E _min) to higher energies with increasing solar activity. It follows from the relations between the spectrum parameters thus obtained that, in particular periods of time, an increase (decrease) of the particle flux in the low-energy branch of the spectrum and an intensification (depression) of the GCR particle flux modulation take place simultaneously. This is manifested in a shift of the spectrum parallel to the energy axis. The study of the spectra in the most quiet time during three successive solar minima have shown that low-energy (0.3–10 MeV) protons, as well as GCR, are subject to the 22-year variation in the solar magnetic cycle.