VLBI observations to the APOD satellite

The APOD (Atmospheric density detection and Precise Orbit Determination) is the first LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite in orbit co-located with a dual-frequency GNSS (GPS/BD) receiver, an SLR reflector, and a VLBI X/S dual band beacon. From the overlap statistics between consecutive solution arcs and the independent validation by SLR measurements, the orbit position deviation was below 10?cm before the on-board GNSS receiver got partially operational. In this paper, the focus is on the VLBI observations to the LEO satellite from multiple geodetic VLBI radio telescopes, since this is the first implementation of a dedicated VLBI transmitter in low Earth orbit. The practical problems of tracking a fast moving spacecraft with current VLBI ground infrastructure were solved and strong interferometric fringes were obtained by cross-correlation of APOD carrier and DOR (Differential One-way Ranging) signals. The precision in X-band time delay derived from 0.1?s integration time of the correlator output is on the level of 0.1?ns. The APOD observations demonstrate encouraging prospects of co-location of multiple space geodetic techniques in space, as a first prototype.     

Mechanism of error propagation from the subdaily Universal Time model into the celestial pole offsets estimated by VLBI

Within the analysis of space geodetic observations, errors of the applied subdaily Earth rotation model can induce systematic effects in different estimated parameters. In this paper, we focus on the impact of the subdaily Universal Time (UT1) model on the celestial pole offsets (CPO) estimated from very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations. We provide a mechanism that describes the error propagation from the subdaily UT1 into the daily CPO.In typical 24-h VLBI sessions the observed quasars are well distributed over the sky. But the observations, if looked at from the Earth-fixed frame, are not homogeneously distributed. The amount of observations performed in different terrestrial directions shows an irregularity which can be roughly compared to the case where the observations are collected in only one Earth-fixed direction. This peculiarity leads to artefacts in VLBI solutions, producing a correlation between the subdaily variations in UT1 and the position of the celestial pole. As a result errors in diurnal terms of the subdaily UT1 model are partly compensated by the estimated CPO. We compute for each 24-h VLBI session from 1990 until 2011 the theoretical response of the CPO to an error in the subdaily UT1 by setting up a least-squares adjustment model and using as input the coordinates of the observed quasars and observation epochs. Then real observed response of the estimated CPO derived from the VLBI session solutions is compared to the predicted one. A very good agreement between the CPO values estimated from VLBI and the predicted values was achieved. The presented model of error propagation from the subdaily UT1 into the daily CPO allows to predict and explain the behaviour of CPO estimates of VLBI solutions computed with different subdaily Earth rotation models, what can be helpful for testing the accuracy of different subdaily tidal models.     

Progress of Earth Observation in China

China is expanding and sharing its capacity for Earth observation by developing sensors, platforms, and launch capabilities in tandem with growing lunar and deep space exploration. China is considering the Moon as a viable Earth observation platform to provide high-quality, planetary-scale data. The platform would produce consistent spatiotemporal data because of its long operational life and the geological stability of the Moon. China is also quickly improving its capabilities in processing and transforming Earth observation data into useful and practical information. Programs such as the Big Earth Data Science Engineering Program (CASEarth) provide opportunities to integrate data and develop "Big Earth Data" platforms to add value to data through analysis and integration. Such programs can offer products and services independently and in collaboration with international partners for data-driven decision support and policy development. With the rapid digital transformation of societies, and consequently increasing demand for big data and associated products, Digital Earth and the Digital Belt and Road Program (DBAR) allow Chinese experts to collaborate with international partners to integrate valuable Earth observation data in regional and global sustainable development.      

中国空间天文40周年

过去40年中国空间天文学研究取得了巨大的发展.尤其是近10年内发射了数颗天文卫星,未来几年还将有一些天文卫星计划发射.本文简要回顾了国际空间天文学的发展历程.对中国空间天文学过去40年的发展进行了回顾和总结,包括1970年代第一颗天文卫星计划、气球空间天文探测、基于载人航天工程的空间天文实验以及天文卫星等.此外,介绍了...     

2012–2014 China's Earth Observation and Earth Science Development

Human beings are now facing global and regional sustainable development challenges.In China, Earth observation data play a fundamental role in Earth system science research. The support given by Earth observation data is required by many studies, including those on Earth's limited natural resources, the rapid development of economic and social needs, global change, extreme events, food security, water resources, sustainable economic and urban development, and emergency response. Application operation systems in many ministries and departments in China have entered a stage of sustainable development, and the State Key Project of High-Resolution Earth Observation Systems has been progressing since 2006. Earth observation technology in China has entered a period of rapid development.     

RadioAstron orbit determination and evaluation of its results using correlation of space-VLBI observations

A crucial part of a space mission for very-long baseline interferometery (VLBI), which is the technique capable of providing the highest resolution images in astronomy, is orbit determination of the mission’s space radio telescope(s). In order to successfully detect interference fringes that result from correlation of the signals recorded by a ground-based and a space-borne radio telescope, the propagation delays experienced in the near-Earth space by radio waves emitted by the source and the relativity effects on each telescope’s clock need to be evaluated, which requires accurate knowledge of position and velocity of the space radio telescope. In this paper we describe our approach to orbit determination (OD) of the RadioAstron spacecraft of the RadioAstron space-VLBI mission. Determining RadioAstron’s orbit is complicated due to several factors: strong solar radiation pressure, a highly eccentric orbit, and frequent orbit perturbations caused by the attitude control system. We show that in order to maintain the OD accuracy required for processing space-VLBI observations at cm-wavelengths it is required to take into account the additional data on thruster firings, reaction wheel rotation rates, and attitude of the spacecraft. We also investigate into using the unique orbit data available only for a space-VLBI spacecraft, i.e. the residual delays and delay rates that result from VLBI data processing, as a means to evaluate the achieved OD accuracy. We present the results of the first experience of OD accuracy evaluation of this kind, using more than 5000 residual values obtained as a result of space-VLBI observations performed over 7 years of the RadioAstron mission operations.     

一种用于深空导航定位的新型DOR信标

甚长基线干涉测量(VLBI)是深空探测器导航定位的重要手段之一,深空探测器的VLBI观测通常采用差分单程测距(DOR)信标和双差单程测距(Delta-DOR)测量体制,精确地测量深空探测器相对于河外射电源的角距.相位杂散是影响Delta-DOR测量精度的主要误差源之一,针对这项误差研究了一种基于伪随机噪声调制方式的新型...     

空间物理学科发展战略研究

空间物理学是人类进入空间时代后迅速发展起来的一门新兴的多学科交叉的前沿基础学科。其将太阳和太阳风控制的日球层空间作为一个系统，研究太阳/太阳风与行星/彗星的上层大气、电离层、磁层乃至星际介质之间的相互作用。空间物理学从本质上讲是一门实验科学，空间物理探测是空间物理学发展的基础。进入新世纪，随着空间基础设施和人类高技术活动的日益频繁，空间物理学进入新的发展阶段，强调科学与应用的密切结合。近年来，空间物理学取得了一系列重要进展。本文对接国家自然科学基金委地球科学部“宜居地球-地球系统科学”的顶层战略设计，梳理总结近年来空间物理各学科发展动态和趋势，凝练中国空间物理学未来发展的重点领域，优化学科布局，推进空间物理各学科的高质量发展。     

National Report on Space Medicine Progress in 2010-2012

Accompanying the flourishing developments of China’s manned spaceflight, space medicine has achieved great development during the past two years in China. In this paper, scientific research of space medicine and its application in China during 2010?2012 have been briefly introduced.      

中国空间生命科学40年回顾与展望

我国空间生命科学的探索起源于20世纪60年代,1981年随着空间生命专业委员会的正式成立,依托此专业的学术交流平台,空间生命科学进入多学科并进多机构建设的新阶段.随着中国载人航天及空间探索研究的深入发展,以分支学科或重大问题为牵引,我国在空间生命科学的几个重要领域取得了一系列关键成果.本文从发展历程、研究成果、平台模型...     

The physical mechanism of the solar variability influence on electrical and climatic characteristics of the troposphere

Possible mechanisms of solar–climatic connections, which may be of importance over short and long time intervals, are discussed. The variations of energetic balance of Earth’s climatic system for the last 50 years are estimated. It is ascertained that the imbalance between the flux of solar energy that comes to the Earth and radiates to space is of 0.1% for the last ten years. The significance is analyzed for the possible influence of variations of solar constant upon the energetic balance of the atmosphere.The physical mechanism of the influence of solar activity on climatic characteristics and the atmospheric circulation is suggested and theoretically substantiated. The mechanism is based on the redistribution in lower-troposphere of condensation nuclei by the vertical electric field. This electric field is determined by the ionosphere–Earth electric potential, which in the Polar Regions is controlled not only by tropical thunderstorms and by the galactic cosmic-ray intensity but also by solar cosmic-ray fluxes. The height redistribution in the atmosphere of condensation nuclei with a change of the electric field of the atmosphere is accompanied by a change in total latent heat (phase transition of water vapor), by changes in radiation balance, and by subsequent changes of the thermobaric field of troposphere. The results of analysis of thermobaric field variations for the periods of invasion of abnormally powerful solar cosmic ray fluxes and magnetic storms confirm the reality of manifestation of heliogeophysical disturbances.     

Polarization VLBI observations of AGN jets now and into the future

The history of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations has been characterized predominantly by an ongoing quest for increasingly high resolution and sensitivity. VLBI monitoring of relatively large samples of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) with uniform quality and linear polarization sensitivity are now available at the moderately high frequencies of 15 and 43 GHz. This has enabled considerable advances in our understanding of the relativistic jets of AGNs, but gaps in the available observational material remain, which must be addressed in future VLBI polarization observations. Linear polarization observations at frequencies above 43 GHz remain non-routine, and the availability of multi-frequency and circular polarization measurements is still limited. It is of interest both to push inward toward the jet base and to study details of the jets themselves on parsec scales, such as magnetic field structures along and across the jets, which are intrinsically related to their formation, launching and propagation. Requirements for future VLBI polarization observations are considered, highlighting the key role that can be played by space VLBI observations. Unique opportunities are offered by relatively low-frequency space VLBI observations that are sensitive to effects such as Faraday rotation, opacity, and low-frequency absorption.     

A balloon-borne very long baseline interferometry experiment in the stratosphere: Systems design and developments

The balloon-borne very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) experiment is a technical feasibility study for performing radio interferometry in the stratosphere. The flight model has been developed. A balloon-borne VLBI station will be launched to establish interferometric fringes with ground-based VLBI stations distributed over the Japanese islands at an observing frequency of approximately 20?GHz as the first step. This paper describes the system design and development of a series of observing instruments and bus systems. In addition to the advantages of avoiding the atmospheric effects of absorption and fluctuation in high frequency radio observation, the mobility of a station can improve the sampling coverage (“uv-coverage”) by increasing the number of baselines by the number of ground-based counterparts for each observation day. This benefit cannot be obtained with conventional arrays that solely comprise ground-based stations. The balloon-borne VLBI can contribute to a future progress of research fields such as black holes by direct imaging.     

Data processing center of RadioAstron space VLBI project

In this paper, questions on development, implementation, and operation of RadioAstron project Data Processing Center (DPC) are reviewed. The main components of the dedicated DPC are the computer complex with 1 TFlops/s performance, storage with memory capacity of approximately 10 PB, the network infrastructure, and the corresponding communication channels. Performance enhancement methods and resolution of information storage, archiving, and process problems of space VLBI high-speed digital data flows are analyzed. It is shown that successful operation of DPC is mainly provided by optimal organization of computer system structure, storage, and networking transmission. Some of the important key features of RadioAstron project DPC and its comparative differences from the standard VLBI procedures are considered.     

Land use and cover change (LUCC) impacts on Earth’s eco-environments: Research progress and prospects

Land use and cover change (LUCC) is one of the key variables dominating land–atmosphere interactions and strongly affects the Earth’s eco-environments by altering surface properties. Numerous studies have been carried out to assess the impact of LUCC. However, the Earth is a large, open and complex system characterized by complex interactions between its eco-environments and drivers. This study aimed to summarize previous studies of the impact of LUCC on the Earth’s eco-environments and discuss the progress and limitations in suggesting future directions. Previous studies have confirmed that LUCC has a wide range of impacts on the Earth’s eco-environments, which are represented by the alternation of climate (temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity), hydrology (soil moisture, runoff, and evapotranspiration), ecology and environmental (air, water, and soil) pollution. Physically, the impacts were mainly attributed to the disturbance of the surface radiation budget and matter conservation caused by LUCC. Although great achievements have been made, several challenges remain because of the unavoidable uncertainties in data sources and methodologies and the complexity of eco-environmental evolution. Therefore, data assimilation, physical-based investigations, contribution isolation, and full-process analysis are required to overcome these challenges in future research. The results of this study helped to capture the impact of LUCC and its physical mechanisms, which provide useful clues for future research and support the relative land use management for sustainable development.     

Space law education in China: Status quo,shortcomings and possible ways out

Space law education has an essential role in the space capacity building of a country because of its importance for human resources development in space law. Comparisons between Canada and China, the European Union and China and the United States of America (USA) and China in space law degree education, course, teaching methodology, institute and practice and communication platform are provided in an attempt to review some issues which exist within the Chinese space law educational system and to seek a better choice for China’s space law education reform. Chinese space law education has achieved noticeable progress over the past two decades. However, it is still limited in comparison to its counterparts in Europe and Northern America. The range of the space law degree education programmes and space-law-related courses is comparatively limited. A gap remains between space law education and practice in China. Chinese space law classes are still dominated by the teacher-centred teaching methodology, although several universities have some new teaching practices. The establishment of seven space law-related research institutes plays an increasingly important role in Chinese space law education, space law and policy research and legal advisory services for the Chinese government and non-governmental sectors. However, these institutes still have a long way to go in comparison with their counterparts in Europe and Northern America. While China has established domestic research platforms for space law communication through international cooperation, it does not provide space law practice platforms for space law education. While international space law does not provide a direct legal foundation for space law education in China, Chinese educational laws can lay a profound legal foundation for Chinese space law education. To promote its national expertise and capacity in space law, based on the three-pillar model and the experiences of its counterparts in North America and Europe, China should adopt a systematic and sustainable regime for its space law education.     

Automated and dynamic scheduling for geodetic VLBI – A simulation study for AuScope and global networks

As we move into the next era of geodetic VLBI, the scheduling process is one focus for improvement in terms of increased flexibility and the ability to react with changing conditions. A range of simulations were conducted to ascertain the impact of scheduling on geodetic results such as Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs) and station coordinates. The potential capabilities of new automated scheduling modes were also simulated, using the so-called ‘dynamic scheduling’ technique. The primary aim was to improve efficiency for both cost and time without losing geodetic precision, particularly to maximise the uses of the Australian AuScope VLBI array.We show that short breaks in observation will not significantly degrade the results of a typical 24?h experiment, whereas simply shortening observing time degrades precision exponentially. We also confirm the new automated, dynamic scheduling mode is capable of producing the same standard of result as a traditional schedule, with close to real-time flexibility. Further, it is possible to use the dynamic scheduler to augment the 3 station Australian AuScope array and thereby attain EOPs of the current global precision with only intermittent contribution from 2 additional stations. We thus confirm automated, dynamic scheduling bears great potential for flexibility and automation in line with aims for future continuous VLBI operations.     

Progress of 2014—2016 China's Earth Observation and Earth Science

The support given by Earth observation data and Earth system science play an increasingly important role in global change, regional sustainable development, extreme events, and the development of social and economic needs. This field is also moving towards systematization, platforms, and standardized development. In December 2015, nearly 200 parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed in Paris to make arrangements for global action in response to climate change by 2020. China jointly issued a climate change adaptation strategy for cities in 2016 and then elevated national action to respond to climate change. China's Earth Observation and Earth Science development is facing new challenges as it supports the national civil space infrastructure and high-resolution Earth observation system.      

Ionospheric storm due to solar Coronal mass ejection in September 2017 over the Brazilian and African longitudes

Coronal mass ejection (CME) occurs when there is an abrupt release of a large amount of solar plasma, and this cloud of plasma released by the Sun has an intrinsic magnetic field. In addition, CMEs often follow solar flares (SF). The CME cloud travels outward from the Sun to the interplanetary medium and eventually hits the Earth’s system. One of the most significant aspects of space weather is the ionospheric response due to SF or CME. The direction of the interplanetary magnetic field, solar wind speed, and the number of particles are relevant parameters of the CME when it hits the Earth’s system. A geomagnetic storm is most geo-efficient when the plasma cloud has an interplanetary magnetic field southward and it is accompanied by an increase in the solar wind speed and particle number density. We investigated the ionospheric response (F-region) in the Brazilian and African sectors during a geomagnetic storm event on September 07–10, 2017, using magnetometer and GPS-TEC networks data. Positive ionospheric disturbances are observed in the VTEC during the disturbed period (September 07–08, 2017) over the Brazilian and African sectors. Also, two latitudinal chains of GPS-TEC stations from the equatorial region to low latitudes in the East and West Brazilian sectors and another chain in the East African sector are used to investigate the storm time behavior of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). We noted that the EIA was disturbed in the American and African sectors during the main phase of the geomagnetic storm. Also, the Brazilian sector was more disturbed than the African sector.     

A priori zenith wet delays in the analysis of VLBI CONT sessions

Tropospheric delay is one of the major sources of error in VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) analysis. The principal component of this error can be accurately computed through reliable surface pressure data —hydrostatic delay— yet there is also a small but volatile component —wet delay— which is difficult to be modelled a priori. In VLBI analysis, troposphere delay is typically modelled in the theoretical delays using Zenith Hydrostatic Delays (ZHD) and a dry mapping function. Zenith Wet Delay (ZWD) is not modelled but estimated in the analysis process. This work studies inter alia the impact of including external GNSS estimates to model a priori ZWD in VLBI analysis, as well as other models of a priori ZWD.In a first stage, two different sources of GNSS troposphere products are compared to VLBI troposphere estimates in a period of 5 years. The solution with the best agreement to VLBI results is injected in the VLBI analysis as a priori ZWD value and is compared to other options to model a priori ZWD. The dataset used for this empirical analysis consists of the six CONT campaigns.It has been found that modelling a priori ZWD has no significant impact either on baseline length and coordinates repeatabilities. Nevertheless, modelling a priori ZWD can change the magnitude of the estimated coordinates a few millimeters in the up component with respect to the non-modelling approach. In addition, the influence of a priori ZWD on Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP) and troposphere estimates —Zenith Total Delays (ZTD) and gradients—has also been analysed, resulting in a small but significant impact on both geodetic products.