Electrodynamic stabilization of earth-orbiting satellites in equatorial orbits

A satellite with electrodynamic stabilization system is considered. Based on the method of Lyapunov functions, sufficient conditions of the asymptotic stability of direct equilibrium position of this satellite in the orbital coordinate system under perturbing action of a gravitational moment are obtained. These conditions allow one to ensure a rational choice of parametric control coefficients depending on parameters of the satellite and its orbit.     

Critique of some neural network architectures and claims forcontrol and estimation

While there is great potential for successful use of neural network (NN) algorithms in automatic target recognition (ATR) and other pattern identification/classification applications, significant barriers have been encountered that, to date, defy rigorous use of NNs within feedback control designs. The status of several problems and contradictions involving NNs relating to control and estimation theory applications (and to practical failure detection within INS/GPS navigation systems) are summarized here. To give a positive spin and for a balanced perspective, we also mention many novel laudable NN results obtained by invoking the techniques and results of control and estimation theory     

Neoplastic transformation of hamster embryo cells by heavy ions

We have studied the induction of morphological transformation of Syrian hamster embryo cells by low doses of heavy ions with different linear energy transfer (LET), ranging from 13 to 400 keV/μm. Exponentially growing cells were irradiated with ¹²C or ²⁸Si ion beams generated by the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC), inoculated to culture dishes, and transformed colonies were identified when the cells were densely stacked and showed a crisscross pattern. Over the LET range examined, the frequency of transformation induced by the heavy ions increased sharply at very low doses no greater than 5 cGy. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the heavy ions relative to 250 kVp X-rays showed an initial increase with LET, reaching a maximum value of about 7 at 100 keV/μm, and then decreased with the further increase in LET. Thus, we confirmed that high LET heavy ions are significantly more effective than X-rays for the induction of in vitro cell transformation.     

Repair of DNA double-strand breaks and cell killing by charged particles.

It has been suggested that it is not simple double-strand breaks (dsb) but the non-reparable breaks which correlate well with the high biological effectiveness of high LET radiations for cell killing (Kelland et al., 1988; Radford, 1986). We have compared the effects of charged particles on cell death in 3 pairs of cell lines which are normal or defective in the repair of DNA dsbs. For the cell lines SL3-147, M10, and SX10 which are deficient in DNA dsb repair, RBE values were close to unity for cell killing induced by charged particles with linear energy transfer (LET) up to 200 keV/micrometer and were even smaller than unity for the LET region greater than 300 keV/micrometer. The inactivation cross section (ICS) increased with LET for all 3 pairs. The ICS of dsb repair deficient mutants was always larger than that of their parents for all the LET ranges, but with increasing LET the difference in ICS between the mutant and its parent became smaller. Since a small difference in ICS remained at LET of about 300 keV/micrometer, dsb repair may still take place at this high LET, even if its role is apparently small. These results suggest that the DNA repair system does not play a major role in protection against the attack of high LET radiations and that a main muse of cell death is non-reparable dsb which are produced at a higher yield compared with low LET radiations. No correlation was observed between DNA content or nuclear area and ICS.     

Empirical modeling of the total electron content in the ionosphere

A method of modeling the total electron content (TEC) based on the semi-empirical ionospheric model developed in Irkutsk State University is suggested. Comparison with the Klobuchar model has shown that the proposed method provides a more accurate presentation of TEC. A conclusion is drawn that the use of this method for compensation of the ionospheric error in single-frequency navigation receivers would lead to a substantial increase in the accuracy of their positioning.     

EXOSAT LE-CMA observations of the Vela supernova remnant

Presented here are Exosat LE1-CMA images of fields in the Vela SNR. Soft X-ray emission is observed in the north of the remnant indicating a filamentry structure. No X-ray emission was seen in two fields to the west and south-west which have optical filaments but were not studied by Einstein. The Vela pulsar is observed and is significantly broader than a point source indicating the presence of a small nebula as seen by the Einstein HRI. The flux seen from the point source in the CMA is consistent with blackbody radiation from a 10⁶ degree neutron star of approx. 10 km radius. A bright ridge of emission is seen north of the pulsar which may be part of the extended synchroton nebula seen in the 2–10 keV range.     

Ground assisted rendezvous with geosynchronous satellites for the disposal of space debris by means of Earth-oriented tethers

Previous studies have shown that extended length Earth-oriented tethers in the geosynchronous (GEO) region can be used to re-orbit satellites to disposal orbits. One such approach involves the extension of a GEO based tether, collection of a debris object, and retraction of the tether, which transfers the retracted configuration to a higher energy orbit for debris disposal. The re-extension of the tether after debris disposal returns the configuration to the near-GEO altitude. The practical feasibility of such a system depends on the ability to collect GEO debris objects, attach them to a deployed tether system, and retract the tethers for transfer to the disposal orbits.This study addresses the collection and delivery of debris objects to the deployed tether system in GEO. The investigation considers the number, type and the characteristics of the debris objects as well as the collection tug that can be ground controlled to detect, rendezvous and dock with the debris objects for their delivery to the tethers system.A total of more than 400 objects are in drift orbits crossing all longitudes either below or above the geostationary radius. More than 130 objects are also known to librate around the stable points in GEO with periods of libration up to five or more years. A characterization of the position and velocity of the debris objects relative to the collection tug is investigated. Typical rendezvous performance requirements for uncooperative GEO satellites are examined, and the similarities with other approaches such as the ESA's CX-OLEV commercial mission proposal to extend the life of geostationary telecommunication satellites are noted.     

New evidence for strong non-thermal effects in Tycho’s supernova remnant

For the case of Tycho’s supernova remnant (SNR), we present the relation between the blast wave and contact discontinuity radii calculated within the nonlinear kinetic theory of cosmic ray (CR) acceleration in SNRs. It is demonstrated that these radii are confirmed by recently published Chandra measurements which show that the observed contact discontinuity radius is very close to the shock radius. Therefore a consistent explanation of these observations can be given in terms of efficient CR acceleration which makes the medium more compressible.     

Biological UV dosimeters in simulated space conditions.

Polycrystalline uracil thin layers participate in the phage and uracil response (PUR) experiment, assigned to the biological dosimetry of the extraterrestrial solar radiation on the International Space Station (ISS). In ground based experiments (experiment verification tests), the following space parameters were simulated and studied: temperature, vacuum and short wavelength UV (UV-C, down to 200 nm) radiation. The closed uracil samples proved to be vacuum-tight for 7 days. In the tested temperature range (from -20 to +40 degrees C) the uracil samples are stable. The kinetic of dimer formation (dimerization) and reversion (monomerization) of uracil dimers due to short wavelength UV radiation was detected, the monomerization efficiency of the polychromatic deuterium lamp is higher than that of the germicidal lamp. A mathematical model describing the kinetic of monomerization-dimerization was constructed. Under the influence of UV radiation the dimerization-monomerization reactions occur simultaneously, thus the additivity law of the effect of the various wavelengths is not applicable.