Distortions of rectangular pulse with linear frequency modulation during trans-ionospheric sounding of the Martian surface

Specific features of propagation of a wideband rectangular pulse along the route spacecraft-Martian surface-spacecraft caused by the influence of the planetary ionosphere are considered as applied to the problem of radio pulse sounding of the subsurface Martian soil from the Mars-Express satellite. The night Martian ionosphere considerably reduces the energy of the pulse, but does not lead to degradation of its envelope or uncertainty function. When sounding a two-layer surface, the influence of the ionosphere is also manifested in limitation from below of the thickness of the upper layer accessible for measurement, which is more essential than when sounding with the use of a wideband Gaussian pulse. It is demonstrated that the surface sounding is possible through the dayside planet ionosphere at the parameters of operating pulse of the MARSIS radar.     

Quasiperiodic oscillations of the sub-mHz band in near-sun plasma according to the coherent radio occultation data

In 2013 and 2015, investigations of the internal solar wind were carried out using the method of two-frequency radio sounding by signals from the Mars Express European spacecraft. The values of the S- and X-bands’ frequency and the differential frequency were registered with a sampling rate of 1s at the American and European networks of ground-based tracking stations. The spatial distribution of the frequency fluctuation’s level has been studied. It has been shown that the intensity of frequency fluctuation considerably decreases at high heliolatitudes. In some radio sounding sessions, quasiperiodic oscillations of sub-mHz band have been observed in the temporal spectra of frequency fluctuations; they are supposed to be associated with the density inhomogeneities, the sizes of which are close to the turbulence outer scale.     

Disturbance of the upper atmosphere after crash launch of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Proton</Emphasis> carrier rocket

The data of inclined sounding obtained on July 5, 1999 after explosion of the Proton carrier launcher in the upper atmosphere are discussed. A comparative analysis is performed of the detected disturbances with disturbances recorded during explosion of the Soyuz rocket in the middle atmosphere and with disturbances typical for the standard mode of the rocket flight.     

多GNSS掩星大气探测卫星星座设计

为减少无线电掩星(RO)大气探测星座的卫星数量并增加探测数据量,将北斗（BD）和GPS、Galileo、GLONASS共同作为探测信源,提出一种多全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）掩星大气探测星座概念和优化设计方法。融合先验大气模型和二维射线追踪算法,建立兼容多GNSS信源的掩星事件前向模拟算法,实现掩星事件快速精确仿真;给出多GNSS掩星大气探测星座参数对探测性能的影响特性,降低了星座模型的复杂度;并利用改进的蚁群算法实现星座参数寻优。设计结果与COSMICII星座相比,卫星数量减少2颗,探测数据量增加了40%,探测均匀性提高了67%。     

Using the Subsurface Soil Sounding Radar for Investigating the Structure and Total Electron Content of the Martian Ionosphere

The possibilities of using the Martian soil subsurface sounding radar for investigating the structure of the plasma shell surrounding the planet have been considered. Based on the numerical modeling results and actual soil sounding data, it has been shown that the soil sounding mode of the radio-locating MARSIS radar can be used to assess the structure of the Martian ionosphere. As the emitted signals pass to the planet’s surface, it is possible to use the reflected signals to estimate the total electron content of the Martian ionosphere along the flight track of the spacecraft.     

Frequency fluctuations of coherent signals from spacecraft observed during dual-frequency radio sounding of the circumsolar plasma in 2004–2008

We have performed spectral processing of the data of experiments on radio sounding of circumsolar plasma by coherent S- and X-band signals from the spacecraft Ulysses, Mars Express, Rosetta, and Venus Express carried out from 1991 to 2009. The experiments were realized in the mode of coherent response, when a signal stabilized by the hydrogen standard is transmitted from the ground station to a spacecraft, received by the onboard systems, and retransmitted to the Earth with conserved coherence. Thus, the signal sounding the coronal plasma passes twice through the medium: on the propagation path ground station — spacecraft and on the same path in the opposite direction. The spectra of frequency fluctuations in both the bands are obtained and, using them, the radial dependences of fluctuation intensities are found, which can be approximated by a power law. It is shown that the ratio of intensities of frequency fluctuations in the S- and X-bands is comparable with the theoretical value and characterizes the degree of correlation of irregularities of the electron density along the propagation path ground station — spacecraft and back. Analysis of the correlation of frequency fluctuations on the two paths allows one to get a lower estimate of the outer scale of the circumsolar plasma turbulence. For heliocentric distances R = 10 solar radii (R _S ) the outer scale is larger than 0.25R _S .     

Venus Express: Scientific goals, instrumentation, and scenario of the mission

The first European mission to Venus (Venus Express) is described. It is based on a repeated use of the Mars Express design with minor modifications dictated in the main by more severe thermal environment at Venus. The main scientific task of the mission is global exploration of the Venusian atmosphere, circumplanetary plasma, and the planet surface from an orbiting spacecraft. The Venus Express payload includes seven instruments, five of which are inherited from the missions Mars Express and Rosetta. Two instruments were specially designed for Venus Express. The advantages of Venus Express in comparison with previous missions are in using advanced instrumentation and methods of remote sounding, as well as a spacecraft with a broad spectrum of capabilities of orbital observations.     

基于卫星导航定位应用的高空气象探测系统

高空气象探测系统是人们获取地球大气层内气象信息的不可缺少的常规手段,由于受到常规手段本身的制约,探测精度、机动能力等重要指标难以得到进一步的提高;通过发展在常规手段上集成基于卫星导航定位应用模块的空间应用技术,可以极大地改善其探测精度,提高其机动应用效能,同时,也拓展了卫星导航定位应用的新的领域,促进了卫星导航定位应用产业的发展。     

基于深度学习的毫米波和亚毫米波成像仪的图像增强技术

风云四号卫星毫米波和亚毫米波成像仪(MMSI)数据根据采样方式分为过采样和非过采样数据。由于采样方式的影响,非过采样数据在采样过程中会有一定的信息损失。为解决采用简单的线性插值方法做精细化处理时提升精度有限问题,采用基于深度学习的方法增强MMSI亮温图像,设计卷积神经网络重建风云四号卫星MMSI的亮温图像和风云三号卫星微波成像仪亮温图像。实验结果显示:相比传统的双三次插值方法,在风云三号卫星微波成像仪亮温图像样本上峰值信噪比提升了1.13dB,结构相似度提升了0.01。实验结果表明:对于非过采样亮温数据,采用基于深度学习的方法增强图像具有更高的精度,同时可在其他微波探测仪数据中使用,具有很强的普适性。     

Exploration of Mars in the SPICAM-IR experiment onboard the Mars-Express spacecraft: 2. Nadir observations: Simultaneous observations of water vapor and O2 glow in the Martian atmosphere

The SPICAM experiment onboard the Mars-Express spacecraft includes sounding the Martian atmosphere in the ultra-violet (118–320 nm) and near IR (1–1.7 μm) ranges. The infrared spectrometer operates in the range of 1–1.7 μm with a resolution of 3.5 cm^?1 in the mode of nadir observations and solar and stellar occulations. This paper is devoted to analyzing the basic results of nadir observations of the infra-red SPICAM channel during the first Martian year of the instrument operation: from January 2004 to November 2005. One of the primary goals of SPICAM-IR is water vapor monitoring in the atmosphere of Mars in the band of 1.37 μm and ozone abundance determination from the day-time airglow of molecular oxygen O₂(a ¹Δ_g) in the band of 1.27 μm. Simultaneous measurements of these minor constituents of the planet are necessary for understanding photochemical processes in the Martian atmosphere. The degree of their anticorrelation and a comparison with the results of photochemical modeling of the atmosphere will contribute to our knowledge of the Martian atmosphere stability.     

Determining total ozone content in the atmosphere using satellite measurements

In this paper a simple method is presented which is applicable for fast determination of total ozone content in the earth atmosphere by using IR radiation intensity data from satellite measurements. The method is based on the property that transmittance of inhomogeneous atmosphere in the 9.6 μm band can be well approximated by the transmittance of a homogeneous ozone slab characterized by its effective pressure and temperature. The effective pressure and temperature were determined as mean values weighted by the average ozone profile of each season. The transmission functions were computed from an empirical formula. Free parameters in the formula were determined by a multiple regression scheme, on the basis of the transmittance data either measured in the laboratory or evaluated by computations using a line by line integration procedure. The main advantage of the described method is an easy and fast computation procedure. According to comparison with direct ozone sounding the accuracy is good enough: the average relative error lies between 5 and 7%.     

Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Large Scale Disturbances of Electron Density Observed in the Ionospheric F-Region before Strong Earthquakes

The spatial dimensions and temporal dynamics of large scale disturbances of electron density in the ionospheric F-region during the preparatory phase of destructive earthquakes are estimated. The most appropriate data (as far as the moments of satellite passages are concerned) were selected out of more than 300 investigated cases. In order to demonstrate effects at different latitudes, the cases of high-latitude (Alaska), mid-latitude (Central Italy), and low-latitude (New Zealand) earthquakes were considered. Using the data of external vertical sounding of the ionosphere performed by the Alouette-1 and Interkosmos-19 satellites together with the data of vertical sounding of the ionosphere by ground-based instruments, we get for the first time with reasonable accuracy the spatial characteristics of precursors in the ionosphere. It is shown that seismic ionospheric disturbances are strongly time-dependent before the beginning of the main shock. Seismic ionospheric disturbances are generated weakly several days before the first shock, but at that moment the disturbed region is located not above the epicenter, but rather a little displaced from it. As the moment of the earthquake approaches, the disturbance covers more and more space; moreover, its value also increases. Several hours after the shock the disturbance migrates in the reverse order. Under some conditions, the disturbances may appear not only above epicenter regions. They can be transferred along the magnetic field lines into conjugate regions in the opposite hemisphere.     

The use of radio images for analyzing the results of narrow-band radio location of asteroids

We investigate a method of getting radio images of asteroids by single-position radar with narrowband sounding signal. A model is presented for calculation of power spectra of echo signals of a rotating rough ellipsoid. This model is a useful tool for analyzing the results of radio-location experiments. The accuracy of determination of the shape of an asteroid and its roughness is estimated based on the analysis of two-dimensional radio images.     

Multi-frequency doppler radio sounding of the ionosphere in the “Equatorial trigger” experiment

Results of processing the data of multi-frequency Doppler sounding of the low-latitude ionosphere are presented. Interesting features in the behavior of time variations of the Doppler frequency shift are found. These features are interpreted as manifestations of wave disturbances in the ionospheric plasma density.     

机载GNSS掩星观测反演大气折射率廓线研究

作为星载掩星技术的推广,基于飞机平台的无线电掩星技术备受关注。为了将机栽掩星技术更好地应用到工程实践中,文章通过介绍机载掩星探测的基本原理和主要特点、模拟仿真,对机载掩星的反演算法进行了探讨,并给出模拟结果：包括利用STK仿真软件生成仿真场景;采用3维射线追踪技术模拟机载无线电掩星,预报掩星事件出现的时间、仰角,模拟信号传播特征;详细研究大气层内折射率反演技术并给出反演结果。研究结果表明,模拟仿真对机载掩星工程化实现是有益的。最后展望了机载掩星探测的发展趋势,提出了弱掩星信号的捕获跟踪、飞机平台的精度定位测速以及反射信号的抗干扰三项技术及工程化中需解决的技术难点。     

微波辐射计静止轨道遥感试验技术

在地球静止轨道上对大气进行微波遥感探测尚无先例。为验证静止轨道微波探测仪器关键技术,研究高轨微波辐射传输特性并积累遥感数据,研制了微波探测试验载荷,搭载于风云四号A星进行在轨试验。微波探测载荷采用真实孔径圆周扫描体系,配置双频段(183,425 GHz)五通道。载荷在轨试验中,各项指标正常,183GHz频段灵敏度优于0.5K,425GHz灵敏度优于1.9K,性能稳定并超过3个月考核寿命。对微波探测载荷183GHz与极轨载荷先进技术微波辐射计(advanced technology microwave sounder,ATMS)进行亮温交叉比对的结果显示,两者亮温相近,变化趋势一致,验证了探测数据的有效性。载荷还在静止轨道获取了极轨无法探知的3K/h量级亮温变化,并在风云四号A星姿态调整期间完成了静止轨道微波遥感成像。验证了在静止轨道上进行真实孔径体制微波遥感探测的有效性。     

Deformation of the Envelope of a Broadband Signal during Propagation through the Martian Ionosphere

The regularities of propagation along the spacecraft-Martian surface-spacecraft path of a broadband Gaussian pulse in the condition of its dispersion distortions are considered in application to the problem of radiowave pulse sounding of the near-surface soil of Mars from onboard a satellite. The Martian night-side ionosphere reduces the energy considerably but does not lead to any distortion of the pulse envelope. At the sounding of a two-layer surface, the ionosphere influence, together with the signal absorption, manifests as the lower limit of the thickness of the upper layer reached for measurements in the scope of the planned experiment [1].     

瑞典的探空火箭综述

介绍了瑞典航天公司发射的云雀，黑雁和ＭＡＸＵＳ探空火箭及其所用的固体火箭发动机的性能，简要讨论了瑞典探空火箭发展特点。     

Sounding rocket developments in Spain

This paper contemplates the efforts and developments in the field of sounding rockets carried out in Spain from the decade of the 1960s to the early 1990s when the use of such vehicles was abandoned worldwide.The initial sounding rocket planning within the National Space Research Programs around 1964 (when Spain joined ESRO) is presented.The status of the rocket technology in Spain in 1964 is analysed, reviewing the main technology gaps and the way they were filled to make the planned developments possible.Three Spanish sounding rockets are presented: the INTA-255 (150 km apogee with formative objectives, first launched in 1969), the INTA-300 (300 km apogee with high characteristics and commercial capabilities, first launched in 1974) and the INTA-100 (115 km apogee being finally a totally national product, first launched in 1980).Some guided rocket vehicle projects which were based, on some way, on the previous sounding rockets activities are also mentioned in this paper.     

Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) locomotion during a sounding rocket flight

The locomotor activity of young Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) was studied during a Nike-Orion sounding rocket flight, which included a short-duration microgravity exposure. An infrared monitoring system was used to determine the activity level, instantaneous velocity, and continuous velocity of 240 (120 male, 120 female) fruit flies. Individual flies were placed in chambers that limit their motion to walking. Chambers were oriented both vertically and horizontally with respect to the rocket's longitudinal axis. Significant changes in Drosophila locomotion patterns were observed throughout the sounding rocket flight, including launch, microgravity exposure, payload re-entry, and after ocean impact. During the microgravity portion of the flight (3.8 min), large increases in all locomotion measurements for both sexes were observed, with some measurements doubling compared to pad (1 G) data. Initial effects of microgravity were probably delayed due to large accelerations from the payload despining immediately before entering microgravity. The results indicate that short-duration microgravity exposure has a large effect on locomotor activity for both males and females, at least for a short period of time. The locomotion increases may explain the increased male aging observed during long-duration exposure to microgravity. Studies focusing on long-duration microgravity exposure are needed to confirm these findings, and the relationship of increased aging and locomotion.