An algorithm for computer-aided design calculation of aircraft stability and controllability parameters

An algorithm is proposed for computer-aided calculation of required values of aircraft controlling moments and aerodynamic moment coefficients for stable fulfillment of flight trajectories specified by design flight performance.     

Analysis of static loading of a helicopter tubular skid landing gear

A three-dimensional design model of a helicopter tubular skid landing gear based on the application of the large beam displacement theory is presented. The design model takes into account special features of constructive, physical and geometrical deformation nonlinearity. The analysis of a real helicopter structure is given that confirms sufficient validity of calculation results obtained using the model developed by comparing with the results of the finite element analysis.     

Antideuteron based dark matter search with GAPS: Current progress and future prospects

The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is a new approach to the indirect detection of dark matter. It relies on searching for primary antideuterons produced in the annihilation of dark matter in the galactic halo. Low energy antideuterons produced through Standard Model processes, such as collisions of cosmic-rays with interstellar baryons, are greatly suppressed compared to primary antideuterons. Thus a low energy antideuteron search provides a clean signature of dark matter. In GAPS antiparticles are slowed down and captured in target atoms. The resultant exotic atom deexcites with the emission of X-rays and annihilation pions, protons and other particles. A tracking geometry allows for the detection of the X-rays and particles, providing a unique signature to identify the mass of the antiparticle. A prototype detector was successfully tested at the KEK accelerator in 2005, and a prototype GAPS balloon flight is scheduled for 2011. This will be followed by a full scale experiment on a long duration balloon from Antarctica in 2014. We discuss the status and future plans for GAPS.     

An interior point linear programming approach to two-scan dataassociation

We present an efficient two-scan data association method (TSDA) based on an interior point linear programming (LP) approach. In this approach, the TSDA problem is first formulated as a 3-dimensional assignment problem, and then relaxed to a linear program; the latter is subsequently solved by the highly efficient homogeneous, self-dual interior point LP algorithm. When the LP algorithm generates a fractional optimal solution, we use a technique similar to the joint probabilistic data association method (JPDA) to compute a weighted average of the resulting fractional assignments, and use it to update the states of the existing tracks generated by Kalman filters. Unlike the traditional single scan JPDA method, our TSDA method provides an explicit mechanism for track initiation. Extensive computer simulations have demonstrated that the new TSDA method is not only far more efficient in terms of low computational complexity, but also considerably more accurate than the existing single-scan JPDA method     

Microperturbations on the <Emphasis Type="Italic">International Space Station</Emphasis> during physical exercises of the crew

The results of a preliminary analysis of microperturbations on the International Space Station during physical exercises of the crew are presented. The goal of this paper is to identify the parameters of perturbations when physical exercises are performed. The results of measurements by sensors of microaccelerations of both Russian and American segments during physical exercises in the service module of the Russian segment are analyzed.     

A method to ensure energy security of satellite communication systems

A method is substantiated to ensure energy security for the satellite communication systems (SCS) at a close position of the radio interception receiver. This is done by lowering the carrier frequency down to f ₀ = 60…80 MHz and by applying spaced measurements with n ≥ 4 receiving antennas.     

Stellar coronagraph using the principle of achromatic null-interferometer

In order to observe exoplanets we propose a space-based achromatic stellar coronagraph combined with a 0.8–1.5 m telescope. We develop an achromatic common path interferometer for observing an exoplanet (a faint off-axis source) on the background of a hoste star (bright axial source). An image of the star and its copy acquire an achromatic phase shift by 180° and interfere in antiphase. The achromatic phase shift is caused by geometric phase in the scheme of a three-dimensional interferometer. The interference process divides spatially the dark and light fields of the star image redirecting them to the opposite sides of a beam splitter. The interference process does not weaken the image of a planet, with equal intensities it is redirected to both sides of a beam splitter. The suggested scheme of common path interferometer ensures mechanical stability. The background signal is experimentally demonstrated to be reduced by six orders of magnitude.     

Evolution of salt finger convection with steady wind shear

In oceanographics situations where salt fingers may be an important mechanism for the transport of heat and salt in the vertical direction, velocity shears may also be present. Salt finger convection is analogous to Bénard convection in that the kinetic energy of the motions is obtained from the potential energy stored in the unstable distribution of a stratifying component. On the basis of the thermal analogy it is of interest to discover whether salt fingers are converted into two-dimensional sheets by wind shear, and how the vertical fluxes of heat and salt are changed by wind shear. Salt finger convection under the effect of steady wind shear is theoretically examined in this paper. The evolution of instability developing in the presence of a vertical density gradient disturbance and the horizontal Couette flow is considered near the onset of salt fingers under a moderate rate of shear. We use velocity as the basic variable and solve the pressure Poisson equation in terms of the associated Green function. Growth competition between the longitudinal rolls (LR) and the transverse rolls (TR), whose axes are, respectively, in the direction parallel to and perpendicular to the Couette flow, is investigated by the weakly nonlinear analysis of coupled-mode equations. The results show that the TR mode is stable under a small wind shear and the LR mode is stable for a higher wind shear.     

Solution to the problem of stability of regular precessions of a symmetrical gyrostat in Newtonian field

The constraints imposed on parameters of a force field and of a symmetrical gyrostat in it are determined, at which regular precession of this gyrostat demonstrate Lyapunov stability (or, respectively, instability).     

Gravitropism of basidiomycetous fungi--on Earth and in microgravity.

In order to achieve perfect positioning of their lamellae for spore dispersal, fruiting bodies of higher fungi rely on the omnipresent force gravity. Only accurate negatively gravitropic orientation of the fruiting body cap will guarantee successful reproduction. A spaceflight experiment during the STS-55 Spacelab mission in 1993 confirmed that the factor gravity is employed for spatial orientation. Most likely every hypha in the transition zone between the stipe and the cap region is capable of sensing gravity. Sensing presumably involves slight sedimentation of nuclei which subsequently causes deformation of the net-like arrangement of F-actin filament strands. Hyphal elongation is probably driven by hormone-controlled activation and redistribution of vesicle traffic and vesicle incorporation into the vacuoles and cell walls to subsequently cause increased water uptake and turgor pressure. Stipe bending is achieved by way of differential growth of the flanks of the upper-most stipe region. After reorientation to a horizontal position, elongation of the upper flank hyphae decreases 40% while elongation of the lower flank slightly increases. On the cellular level gravity-stimulated vesicle accumulation was observed in hyphae of the lower flank.