Artificial gravity: head movements during short-radius centrifugation.

Short-radius centrifugation is a potential countermeasure to long-term weightlessness. Unfortunately, head movements in a rotating environment induce serious discomfort, non-compensatory vestibulo-ocular reflexes, and subjective illusions of body tilt. In two experiments we investigated the effects of pitch and yaw head movements in participants placed supine on a rotating bed with their head at the center of rotation, feet at the rim. The vast majority of participants experienced motion sickness, inappropriate vertical nystagmus and illusory tilt and roll as predicted by a semicircular canal model. However, a small but significant number of the 28 participants experienced tilt in the predicted plane but in the opposite direction. Heart rate was elevated following one-second duration head turns. Significant adaptation occurred following a series of head turns in the light. Vertical nystagmus, motion sickness and illusory tilt all decreased with adaptation. Consequences for artificial gravity produced by short-radius centrifuges as a countermeasure are discussed. Grant numbers: NCC 9-58.     

Proton Events and X-ray Flares in the Last Three Solar Cycles

A database joining the available information about proton enhancements near the Earth and their possible solar sources is organized on the basis of proton measurements of the GOES and IMP-8 satellites, the data of neutron monitors, and GOES X-ray measurements. One thousand one hundred and forty-four proton events with energy > 10 MeV have been selected in the period from 1975 to 2003. More than a half of these events can be reliably related to X-ray solar flares. A statistical analysis shows the probability of observing solar protons near the Earth and their maximum flux value to be strongly dependent on the importance of a flare and its heliolongitude. Proton events are recorded after all suitably located (western) flares with X-ray importance > X5. The heliolongitude of a flare predetermines the character of the time profile of proton events in many respects. The relationship of proton events with the other characteristics of flares is established. The flares associated with proton enhancements are characterized by longer duration, slower rise to the X-ray maximum, smaller temperature, and larger length of the X-ray loops.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 3, 2005, pp. 171–185.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Belov, Garcia, Kurt, Mavromichalaki.     

Space motion sickness preflight adaptation training: preliminary studies with prototype trainers

Preflight training frequently has been proposed as a potential solution to the problem of space motion sickness. The paper considers successively the otolith reinterpretation, the concept for a preflight adaptation trainer and the research with the Miami University Seesaw, the Wright Patterson Air-Force Base Dynamic Environment Simulator and the Visually Coupled Airborne Systems Simulator prototype adaptation trainers.     

Stability of dynamic algorithms of determination of quasi-stationary satellite orbits

A method of estimating the stability of the problem of orbit determination under disturbances caused by finite accuracy of calculation and geographical siting of observation stations is proposed.     

无人机载毫米波成像雷达的三维合成孔径雷达概念研究

介绍了无人机载成像雷达的三维合成孔径雷达系统。此概念综合了机腹下方接收线阵和合成孔径雷达技术，并使用了线性调频（LFM）脉冲波形。该系统具有很多优点：对感兴趣区域三维成像；避免了所得图像上的阴影区并利于功率分配。本文阐述了在信号处理和实验方面的初步工作。已用仿真结果和采用Ka波段雷达进行的首次地面测量对该理论作了说明。     

Future earth observation missions for oceanographic applications: Indian perspectives

Significant progress has been achieved in India in demonstrating the utility of remote sensing data for various oceanographic applications during the last one decade. Among these, techniques have been developed for retrieval of ocean surface waves, winds, wave forecast model, internal waves, sea surface temperature and chlorophyll pigments. Encouraged from these results as well as for meeting the specific and increasing data requirements on an assured basis by oceanographers, India is making concerted efforts for developing and launching state-of-the-art indigenous satellites for ocean applications in the coming years.

The first in the series of ocean satellites planned for launch is Oceansat-1 (IRS-P4) by early 1999. Oceansat-1 carries on-board an Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and a Multi-frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR). OCM will have 8 narrow spectral bands operating in visible and near- infrared bands (402–885 nm) with a spatial resolution of 360 m and swath of 1420 km. The MSMR with its all weather capability is configured to have measurements at 4 frequencies viz., 6.6, 10.65, 18 & 21 GHz in dual polarisation mode with a spatial resolution of 120, 80, 40 & 40 km, respectively with an overall swath of 1360 km. The Oceansat-1 with repetitivity of once in two days will provide global data for retrieval of various oceanographic and meteorological parameters such as chlorophyll (primary productivity), sea surface temperature and wind speed, besides a host of other parameters of relevance to meteorology.

A full fledged satellite for ocean applications known as Oceansat-2 (IRS-P7) is also planned for launch during 2002. This satellite with payload mix of microwave (Scatterometer, Altimeter & Passive Microwave Radiometer), Thermal (TIR) and Optical (OCM) sensors, will provide greater in-sight into the global understanding of ocean dynamics/resources. This mission is expected to provide a complete set of oceanographic measurements, which are useful for providing operational oceanographic services.

Efforts are also on towards development of missions having multi-frequency, multipolarisation and multi-look angle microwave payloads including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and advanced millimeter wave sounders, besides development of imaging spectrometers by 2005.

A well-knit plan has been initiated in India for utilisation of planned Oceansat data. Important efforts initiated in this direction include SATellite Coastal and Oceanographic Research and Ocean Information Services, which are being carried out on an integrated basis aiming at providing services to the down stream users. The paper highlights these efforts in India towards providing an operational ocean information services in the coming years.     

Determination of the Attitude Motion of a Satellite Based on a Kinematical Model of Motion and Using Data of Measurements of Its Angular Velocity and the Earth’s Magnetic Field Strength

An integral statistical procedure of determination of the attitude motion of a satellite using the data of onboard measurements of angular velocity vectors and the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field (EMF) is suggested. The procedure uses only the equations of kinematics of a solid body and is applicable to determining both controlled and uncontrollable motions of a satellite at any external mechanical moments acting upon it. When applying this procedure, the data of measurements of both types, accumulated during a certain interval of time, are processed jointly. The data of measuring the angular velocity are smoothed by discrete Fourier series, and these series are substituted into kinematical Poisson equations for elements of the matrix of transition from a satellite-fixed coordinate system to the orbital coordinate system. The equations thus obtained represent a kinematical model of the satellite motion. The solution to these equations (which approximate the actual motion of a satellite) is found from the condition of the best (in the sense of the least squares method) fit of the data of measuring the EMF strength vector to its calculated values. The results of testing the suggested procedure using the data of measurements of the angular velocity vectors onboard the Foton-12 satellite and measurements of EMF strengths are presented.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 4, 2005, pp. 295–305.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Abrashkin, Volkov, Voronov, Egorov, Kazakova, Pankratov, Sazonov, Semkin.     

Estimation of the Probability of Radiation Failures and Single Particle Upsets of Integrated Microcircuits onboard the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fobos-Grunt</Emphasis> Spacecraft

When designing the radio-electronic equipment for long-term operation in a space environment, one of the most important problems is a correct estimation of radiation stability of its electric and radio components (ERC) against radiation-stimulated doze failures and one-particle effects (upsets). These problems are solved in this paper for the integrated microcircuits (IMC) of various types that are to be installed onboard the Fobos-Grunt spacecraft designed at the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Lavochkin Research and Production Association.” The launching of this spacecraft is planned for 2009.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 3, 2005, pp. 237–239.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuznetsov, Popov, Khamidullina.     

COLUMBUS Orbital Facility and Automated Transfer Vehicle: a challenge for agency & industry

Long term continuous operation of the COLUMBUS Orbital Facility (COF) flight- and ground segment requires continuous mission control and operations support capability to ensure proper operation and configuration of the COF systems in support of ongoing science and technology payloads. The ISS logistics scenario will be supported by the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). These operational needs require the built-up of a new ground infrastructure in Europe and USA, enabling an efficient operations for preparation, planning and mission execution. The challenge for the European space community consists in the development and operation of a user friendly operational environment but keeping costs within budgetary constraints. Results of detailed definition studies performed by both agency and industry for the ground infrastructure indicate solutions to those technical and programmatic requirements by using of existing centers and facilities, re-use of C/D phase products (Hardware, Software) and COTS equipment to avoid costly new developments, using engineering expertise of the industrial personnel from flight element phase C/D. The concept for operations execution defines the task sharing between Operations Control Facilities (OCF), Operations Support Facilities and User Operations Sites. Operations support consists of on-line engineering support, off-line engineering support, payload integration, logistics support and crew training support performed by industry. DASA RI has made internal investments in organizational concepts for mission operations as well as in mission technologies and tools based on the standard COLUMBUS Ground Software (CGS) toolset and on knowledge based systems to enable an efficient industrial operations support. These tools are available as prototypes being evaluated in a simulated operational environment.     

Extremophiles may be irrelevant to the origin of life

In recent years, Bacteria and Archaea have been discovered living in practically every conceivable terrestrial environment, including some previously thought to be too extreme for survival. Exploration of our solar system has revealed a number of extraterrestrial bodies that harbor environments analogous to many of the terrestrial environments in which extremophiles flourish. The recent discovery of more than 105 extrasolar planets suggests that planetary systems are quite common. These three findings have led some to speculate that life is therefore common in the universe, as life as we know it can seemingly survive almost anywhere there is liquid water. It is suggested here that while environments capable of supporting life may be common, this does not in itself support the notion that life is common in the universe. Given that interplanetary transfer of life may be unlikely, the actual origin of life may require specific environmental and geological conditions that may be much less common than the mere existence of liquid water.