Lower and Upper Ionosphere of Mars

The ionosphere of Mars has been explored mostly with the radio occultation experiment onboard Mariners 6, 7, 9; Mars 2, 3, 4, 6; Viking 1, 2, and more recently on Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) and Mars Express (MEX). In addition to the radio occultation experiment, MEX also carried Mars Advanced Radar for the Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) experiment which provided electron density profiles well above the main ionospheric peak. The atmosphere of Mars was measured directly by the neutral mass spectrometer onboard Viking 1 and 2 Landers. Later, an accelerometer and radio occultation experiment on MGS provided large data sets of atmospheric density at various locations in the upper and lower atmospheres of Mars, respectively. In this paper we review results of these upper and lower atmospheric/ionospheric measurements. Results of these measurements have been compared with theoretical models by several workers; therefore, we also review various atmospheric and ionospheric models of Mars.     

Surface Composition of Vesta: Issues and Integrated Approach

The instruments on the Dawn spacecraft are exceptionally well suited to characterize and map the surface composition of Vesta in an integrated manner. These include a framing camera with multispectral capabilities, a high spectral resolution near-infrared imaging spectrometer, and a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer. Three examples of issues addressed at Vesta are: (1) What is the composition of Vesta??s interior and differentiation state as exposed by the Great South Crater? (2) How has space weathering affected Vesta, both globally and at a local scale? and (3) Are volatiles or hydrated material present on Vesta??s surface? We predict that Dawn finds many surprises, such as an olivine-bearing mantle exposed near the south-pole, a weakly or un-weathered surface that has been relatively recently resurfaced, and a very thin layer of surficial volatiles derived from interaction with the solar wind.     

Energy-efficient intensifiers of laminar heat transfer

In this paper, calculations of some thermo-hydraulic parameters of different intensified channels have been carried out and a grooved channel that is optimal in mass and energy expenditure is determined. A new variant of the intensified channel is proposed and recommendations for engineers are presented.     

Optimum parameters of a gravitational satellite-stabilizer system

Dynamics of a satellite-stabilizer system is studied. It is supposed that there is a viscous friction in a hinge connecting two bodies, but there is no elasticity. The attitude motion in a plane of circular orbit is considered, and parameters are determined, at which natural oscillations near a stable equilibrium position in the orbital coordinate system are damped out most rapidly. The rate of transient processes is estimated by a value of the degree of stability of linearized equations of motion. The optimization of the degree of stability is sequentially performed in dimensionless damping coefficient (the first stage) and in inertial system parameters (the second stage). The result of the first stage is the partition of system parameter space into the regions, in each of which the maximum of the degree of stability is reached on a particular configuration of roots of the characteristic equation. It is shown at the second stage that the global maximum is reached at two points of parameter space, where one of system bodies degenerates into a plate, and the characteristic equation has four equal real roots.     

Advanced materials for next generation NiMH portable, HEV and EVbatteries

While Ovonic NiMH batteries are already in high volume commercial production for portable applications, advances in materials technology have enabled performance improvements in specific energy (100 Wh/kg), specific power (600-1000 W/kg), high temperature operation, charge retention, and voltage stability. Concurrent with technology advances, Ovonic NiMH batteries have established performance and commercial milestones in electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, as well as scooter, motorcycle and bicycle applications. As important as these advances, significant manufacturing cost reductions have also occurred which allow continued growth of NiMH technology. In this paper, advances in performance, applications and cost reduction are discussed with particular emphasis on the improved proprietary metal hydride and nickel hydroxide materials that make such advances possible     

Influence of microgravity on mitogen binding and cytoskeleton in Jurkat cells.

The effects of microgravity on Jurkat cells--a T-lymphoid cell line--was studied on a sounding rocket flight. An automated pre-programmed instrument permitted the injection of fluorescent labelled concanavalin A (Con A), culture medium and/or fixative at given times. An in-flight 1 g centrifuge allowed the comparison of the data obtained in microgravity with a 1 g control having the same history related to launch and re-entry. After flight, the cells fixed either at the onset of microgravity or after a or 12 minute incubation time with fluorescent concanavalin A were labelled for vimentin and actin and analysed by fluorescence microscopy. Binding of Con A to Jurkat cells is not influenced by microgravity, whereas patching of the Con A receptors is significantly lower. A significant higher number of cells show changes in the structure of vimentin in microgravity. Most evident is the appearance of large bundles, significantly increased in the microgravity samples. No changes are found in the structure of actin and in the colocalisation of actin on the inner side of the cell membrane with the Con A receptors after binding of the mitogen.     

Rocket Exhaust Scattering Effects on Incident Microwave Propagation Characteristics

This paper considers the effect of the rocket exhaust turbulence and scattering within the surrounding medium upon the propagation characteristics of incident electromagnetic waves. The exhaust is represented by a cylindrical plasma beam, diffusing through the surrounding medium. The equations of propagation of EM waves are derived for both TE and TM modes. By using a quasi-linear perturbation technique the exhaust is further separated into an inner homogeneous cylindrical plasma beam, and an outer conical inhomogeneous turbulent region. The isotropic change in the temperature of the outer region and its effects on the fluctuations in the density of electrons, collision frequency, and plasma index of refraction are analyzed in detail. It is found that the exhaust turbulence and scattering effects produce linear fluctuations in the E and H fields computed from the exhaust inner region effect. The equations of this paper can be used in the prediction of the radar cross sections and the attenuation of microwaves by rocket exhaust plumes.     

Microminiature Loran-C Receiver/Indicator

A Loran-C Receiver is used as an example to show how an analog system could be converted to a digital one to take advantage of the expanding integrated circuit technology. The digital equivalents of the analog servo elements are described. Criteria for the design of a phase-tracking servomechanism is developed in detail. The Loran performance requirements are used to illustrate their application. The noise performance of a critically damped Type II servomechanism is derived in detail. Since the system will be employed in aircraft, tracking velocity becomes an important consideration. An analysis is made showing that an adaptive control is desirable.     

Reducing Undesirable Effects in the Human Centrifuge

The human centrifuge is used to train pilots and astronauts for flights where they are subject to large accelerations. This paper deals with the problems of simulating such linear accelerations with a rotating device and presents suitable means of reducing undesirable simulation error. The advantages of using three gimbals rather than the usual two are considered. Numerical results illustrate the problems of simulation and the improvement achieved by the use of a third gimbal.