Methodologies in user interface design

Software applications that require a high learning curve, a mountain of documentation, and weeks of training should be things of the past. Today's applications need to be simple to learn and to use. The human/computer interface should be intuitive and consistent. Context sensitive help should be available to keep the user on track. This paper provides some guidelines for taking commercial world concepts and applying them to the Automatic Test Equipment world. Examples included are from the Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS)     

Modelling of Ejecta as a Space Debris Source

When a micro-debris or a micrometeoroid impacts a spacecraft surface, a large number of secondary particles, called ejecta, are produced. These particles can contribute to a modification of the debris environment: either locally by the occurrence of secondary impacts on the components of complex and large space structures, or at great distance by the formation of a population of small orbital debris. This paper describes firstly, the ejecta overall production, and secondly, the lifetime and the orbital evolution of the particles. Finally the repartition of ejecta in LEO is computed. Some results describing the population as a function of size and altitude are presented.     

NASA''s small spacecraft technology initiative “Clark” spacecraft

The Small Satellite Technology Initiative (SSTI) is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program to demonstrate smaller, high technology satellites constructed rapidly and less expensively. Under SSTI, NASA funded the development of “Clark,” a high technology demonstration satellite to provide 3-m resolution panchromatic and 15-m resolution multispectral images, as well as collect atmospheric constituent and cosmic x-ray data. The 690-Ib. satellite, to be launched in early 1997, will be in a 476 km, circular, sun-synchronous polar orbit. This paper describes the program objectives, the technical characteristics of the sensors and satellite, image processing, archiving and distribution. Data archiving and distribution will be performed by NASA Stennis Space Center and by the EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.     

Space Shuttle UHF communications performance evaluation

Computational investigations and experimental measurements were performed to evaluate the Space Shuttle UHF communication system performance for payload bay antenna at the proposed new location. To insure adequate communication coverage at relocated new location, the link margin for the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) astronauts and between Space Shuttle Orbiter and International Space Station (SSO-ISS) during rendezvous were analyzed. The multipath effects from the vehicle structures surrounding the antenna were investigated. The Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation to the Orbiter Docking System (ODS) pyrotechnics was also analyzed to ensure the EMC/EMI compliances.     

TMA from bearings and multipath time delays

A novel approach for target motion analysis (TMA), which uses conventional passive bearing together with multipath time-delay measurements is examined. This so-called "Multipath TMA" offers two tactical advantages over the classical bearings-only TMA: no requirement for any ownship maneuver, and a good performance in terms of estimation error achieved in a shorter time. Both known and unknown multipath cases are addressed. Finally, Monte-Carlo simulations and at-sea trials demonstrate the practical efficiency of such a multipath TMA.     

Analysis of queuing behavior of automatic ESM systems

Radar electronic support measures (ESM) systems detect active emitters in a given area and determine their identities and bearings. The high arrival rate of radar pulses in dense emitter environments demands fast automatic processing of arriving pulses so that the ESM system can fulfill its functions properly in real time. Yet, the performance analysis of automatic ESM system in real life Is difficult since both pulse arrivals and widths can be specified only probabilistically. The success of queuing theory in many applications such as computer communication networks and flow-control has encouraged designers to utilize queuing theory in qualifying and judging the performance of automatic ESM systems in dense emitter environments. The queuing behavior of these systems is analytically evaluated under different service disciplines and elaborate computer simulations validate the results. The analysis involves statistical modeling of arrival and departure processes as well as distribution of service times. It permits estimating the blocking probability due to high arrival rates of intercepted radar pulses or due to limited speed of the deinterleaver processor. Queuing analysis is shown to be quite useful to quantitatively assess tradeoffs in ESM systems design     

Millimeter wave radar with clutter measurements

A portable millimeter wave test radar system, also suitable for battery operation, gives interesting possibilities for clutter recordings at hard-to-reach sites. The designed system covers all common radar frequencies from the Ka- to V-bands and enables spatial detection of targets or clutter elements within an adjustable time gate, whereby spatial clutter profiles of rain can be analyzed. The construction allows full operation with non-scanning antennas as well. This is advantageous when measuring temporal RCS variations of selected targets or surface clutter from snow dunes.