What we have not learned from the troubles with the Hubble

The Hubble space-based telescope is a great tribute to our progress in space. The ability to place an optical telescope at a significant distance from the Earth's surface, away from the interference of the planet's unsteady atmosphere, have already paid off by producing magnificent records of astronomical activities in the depths of outer space. In the past the problems with the alignment of the Hubble's optics were blamed on the manufacturers of it's optical components. The hastily set investigation concluded that the problem is a spherical aberration of the primary mirror (the primary mirror is said to be 2 microns too flat at the edges). It is suggested that the real culprit is the Parker Effect. Since the time of Galileo Galilei, all telescopes were built, aligned, and used on the Earth's surface. Hubble is the first telescope to be built and aligned on Earth for use in space. Because of this we have to consider the fundamental differences between the alignment of surface-based and space-based telescopes. For those who missed our article “The Parker Effect and Navigation in Space” published in the January issue. The Parker Effect describes the result of interaction between inertial bodies (anything that has mass) and non-inertial media (light or other E/M fields)     

Estimates of disturbances of space vehicle orbits in the upper ionosphere prior to strong earthquakes

Estimates of drag characteristics of the space vehicles with orbit heights of 450–540 and 700–900 km before and after strong (with a magnitude M ≥ 6.5) crust earthquakes of 2000–2006 are presented. The method of estimation of seismic orbital effects is presented using as an example the small Mozhaets-4 spacecraft. Two weeks prior to earthquakes, variations in the drag of low-orbital spacecraft increase. 3–6 days prior to strong crust earthquakes with epicenters on the land, the drag of low-orbit spacecraft in the upper atmosphere increases. The effect of increased viscosity of the neutral component of the atmosphere at spacecraft heights 3–6 days prior to strong crust earthquakes is consistent with the results of studies of disturbances in the ionization density variations in the ionospheric F region prior to earthquakes. No anomalies are found in the day of the earthquake. In the future, it is proposed to use elements of space debris for diagnostics of seismic orbital effects and disturbances of the upper atmosphere.     

Using sunshine for elementary space science education: A model for IHY scientist–teacher partnerships

An elementary science education professional development partnership between Culver City Unified School District teachers and UCLA has been formed. The project was designed to assist teachers to comfortably present introductory space science concepts, to support them in their efforts, and to aid them in encouraging their students to develop inquiry skills related to space sciences. The project encourages teacher use of observational science techniques in their classrooms, the use of NASA solar mission images and enhanced use of astronomical observation to facilitate discovery learning. The integrated approach of the project has fostered collegial learning activities among the participating teachers and offered them opportunities for continued renewal and professional development of teacher competencies in astronomy and space science. The activities used in the classroom were developed by others, classroom tested, and specifically address National Science Education and California Science Content Standards. These activities have been sustained through on-going collaboration between the scientist and the teachers, a summer Research Experience for Teachers program, and on-going, grade-specific, district-sponsored workshops. Assessment of the value of the program is done by the school district and is used to continuously improve each workshop and program component. Culver City (California) Unified School District is a small urban school district located on the Westside of Los Angeles. This paper describes the program and the plans for incorporating IHY-themed science into the classroom.     

Design calculation of superlight piston-engined aircraft flight characteristics

Algorithms for determining fixed-pitch propeller parameters and some flight characteristics of a superlight aircraft at the early stage of designing are described.     

Observing the earth radiation budget from satellites: Past,present, and a look to the future

Satellite measurements of the radiative exchange between the planet Earth and space have been the objective of many experiments since the beginning of the space age in the late 1950's. The on-going mission of the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) experiments has been and will be to consider flight hardware, data handling and scientific analysis methods in a single design strategy. Research and development on observational data has produced an analysis model of errors associated with ERB measurement systems on polar satellites. Results show that the variability of reflected solar radiation from changing meteorology dominates measurement uncertainties. As an application, model calculations demonstrate that measurement requirements for the verification of climate models may be satisfied with observations from one polar satellite, provided we have information on diurnal variations of the radiation budget from the ERBE mission.     

An empirical model of electron density for low and middle latitudes below 200 km

Our empirical model of electron density (n_e) for quiet and weakly disturbed geomagnetic conditions (Kp not greater 4) takes account of comparative analysis of existing models and of experimental data obtained by rockets and incoherent scatter radar. The model describes the n_e distribution in the 80 to 200 km height range at low and middle latitudes, and to some extent, in the subauroral region. It is presented in analytical form thus allowing one to calculate electron density profiles for any time. The electron density distribution at 140 km depends on the season (day of the year) and on the solar zenith angle. Profile variations during the day are for one season shown. Different from other models, ours specifies the variations during sunrise and sunset and reflects the particular profile shape at night admitting the occurrence of an intermediate layer.     

A method of airfoil shape completing

An iteration method for airfoil shape completing using the pressure coefficient distribution specified on its sought part is proposed. The incompressible flow viscosity is taken into account by the boundary layer model, the iteration process is constructed with the use of G.Yu. Stepanov’s idea. The solution algorithm is compiled and a set of numerical calculations is carried out. It is shown that the method proposed offers advantages over the well-known numerical-analytical scheme of solving mixed inverse boundary-value problems of aerohydrodynamics in the case of viscous incompressible fluid.     

Antiparticle content in the magnetosphere

In the present work we assess the stable and transient antiparticle content of planetary magnetospheres, and subsequently we consider their capture and application to high delta-v space propulsion. We estimate the total antiparticle mass contained within the Earth’s magnetosphere to assess the expediency of such usage. Using Earth’s magnetic field region as an example, we have considered the various source mechanisms that are applicable to a planetary magnetosphere, the confinement duration versus transport processes, and the antiparticle loss mechanisms. We have estimated the content of the trapped population of antiparticles magnetically confined following production in the exosphere due to nuclear interactions between high energy cosmic rays (CR) and constituents of the residual planetary upper atmosphere.The galactic antiprotons that directly penetrate into the Earth’s magnetosphere are themselves secondary by its nature, i.e. produced in nuclear reactions of the cosmic rays passing through the interstellar matter. These antiproton fluxes are modified, dependent on energy, when penetrating into the heliosphere and subsequently into planetary magnetospheres. During its lifetime in the Galaxy, CR pass through the small grammage of the interstellar matter where they produce secondary antiprotons. In contrast to this, antiprotons generated by the same CR in magnetosphere are locally produced at a path length of several tens g/cm² of matter in the ambient planetary upper atmosphere. Due to the latter process, the resulting magnetically confined fluxes significantly exceed the fluxes of the galactic antiprotons in the Earth’s vicinity by up to two orders of magnitude at some energies.The radiation belt antiparticles can possibly be extracted with an electromagnetic-based “scoop” device. The antiparticles could be concentrated by and then stored within the superimposed magnetic field structure of such a device. In future developments, it is anticipated that the energy of the captured antiparticles (both rest energy and kinetic energy) can be adapted for use as a fuel for propelling spacecraft to high velocities for remote solar system missions.     

Determination of surface parameters and fluxes for climate studies from space observation. Methods,results and problems

Climate being the result of many interconnected processes, it can hardly be understood without models which describe these various processes as quantitatively as possible and define the parameters which are relevant for climate studies. Among those, surface processes and therefore surface parameters are now recognized to be of great importance. Some examples are discussed in the first part, showing the great interest to measure the relevant parameters on a multi-year basis, over large areas with sufficiently dense array and on a stable basis, in order to monitor climate changes or to study the impact on climate of the modifications of some relevant parameters which are analysed. Since space observations from satellites fulfil these requirements, it is clear that they will become very soon a fundamental tool for climate studies. Unfortunately, as it is discussed in the second part, satellites do measure only spectral radiances at the top of the atmosphere and the determination of the relevant surface parameters (or fluxes) from these radiances still raises many problems which have to be solved, although many progresses have already been made.The aim of this paper is therefore to review and discuss these problems and the various ways they have been tackled until now. The first part is devoted to an overview of what needs to be measured and why, while the existing methods for determining the most important surface parameters from space observations are presented in the second part where a particular attention is given to the theoretical and experimental validations of these methods, their limits and the problems still to be solved.     

SAMBO-GEOS: On three-dimensional substorm dynamics — A case study for 4 March 1979

For investigations of the isolated magnetospheric substorm the ground-based and satellite geophysical data are discussed. The active phase of the substorm has two parts: an active-convective phase and a classical active phase. The analysed data show that the breakup of the substorm takes place at closed and not very much stretched magnetic field lines.