Investigations of the Mars Upper Atmosphere with ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

Space Science Reviews - Time measured by an ideal clock crucially depends on the gravitational potential and velocity of the clock according to general relativity. Technological advances in...     

Alfvén Waves in the Solar Atmosphere

Alfvén waves are considered to be viable transporters of the non-thermal energy required to heat the Sun’s quiescent atmosphere. An abundance of recent observations, from state-of-the-art facilities, have reported the existence of Alfvén waves in a range of chromospheric and coronal structures. Here, we review the progress made in disentangling the characteristics of transverse kink and torsional linear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. We outline the simple, yet powerful theory describing their basic properties in (non-)uniform magnetic structures, which closely resemble the building blocks of the real solar atmosphere.     

Analytic expansions of luni-solar gravity perturbations along rotating axes for trajectory optimization—Part 2: The multipliers system and simulations

An efficient self-contained trajectory optimization software is generated by making use of de Pontécoulant's analytic lunar theory removing the need for an outside third body ephemeris program to compute the lunar and solar position vectors at each integration step. The accelerations being further resolved along the rotating Euler–Hill frame after expansion to third order in the spacecraft radial distance, the adjoint differential equations are derived in a direct manner complementing the generation of the dynamic system of equations for full compatibility. Because the variation of parameters equations are cast in terms of the nonsingular equinoctial elements with the perturbation accelerations resolved in their analytic form along the rotating axes, the adjoint equations are also derived in the same manner providing a highly efficient and accurate system of equations for rapid computations in conjunction with Aerospace Corporation's NLP2 nonlinear programming codes to search for the initial values of the multipliers that steer the spacecraft towards its target orbit in minimum time. Numerical simulations show that the solutions obtained by the analysis developed in this paper are essentially identical to the more indirect approach based on the use of inertial accelerations obtained from a separate ephemeris generator and subsequent conversions to the thrust frame and equinoctial system.     

Infrared Spectroscopy of Solar-System Planets

Most of our knowledge regarding planetary atmospheric composition and structure has been achieved by remote sensing spectroscopy. Planetary spectra strongly differ from one planet to another. CO₂ signatures dominate on Mars, and even more on Venus (where the thermal component is detectable down to 1 μm on the dark side). Spectroscopic monitoring of Venus, Earth and Mars allows us to map temperature fields, wind fields, clouds, aerosols, surface mineralogy (in the case of the Earth and Mars), and to study the planets’ seasonal cycles. Spectra of giant planets are dominated by H₂, CH₄ and other hydrocarbons, NH₃, PH₃ and traces of other minor compounds like CO, H₂O and CO₂. Measurements of the atmospheric composition of giant planets have been used to constrain their formation scenario.     

In situ measurements to determine if Phobos is layered

The complex system of linear features on Phobos—the inner moon of Mars—found by the Viking Orbiters in 1976, can be classified morphologically into three types according to their appearance as well as their geometrical distribution on the surface. One kind of grooves appears to form arcs of small circles normal to the Phobos-Mars direction. We propose that these grooves are the surface manifestation of layering within Phobos[4–6] which could have been formed when Phobos was a part of a much larger and geologically active parent planet.Here we suggest some measurements to observe whether Phobos has a layered structure or not. The suggestion contains remote sensing measurements (particularly determination of the magnetic field by magnetometer and by electron reflection method) by a spacecraft orbiting around Mars as well as surface measurements (active seismic reflection experiment) by a landing module on Phobos.     

Angles-only relative orbit determination in low earth orbit

The paper provides an overview of the angles-only relative orbit determination activities conducted to support the Autonomous Vision Approach Navigation and Target Identification (AVANTI) experiment. This in-orbit endeavor was carried out by the German Space Operations Center (DLR/GSOC) in autumn 2016 to demonstrate the capability to perform spaceborne autonomous close-proximity operations using solely line-of-sight measurements. The images collected onboard have been reprocessed by an independent on-ground facility for precise relative orbit determination, which served as ultimate instance to monitor the formation safety and to characterize the onboard navigation and control performances. During two months, several rendezvous have been executed, generating a valuable collection of images taken at distances ranging from 50?km to only 50?m. Despite challenging experimental conditions characterized by a poor visibility and strong orbit perturbations, angles-only relative positioning products could be continuously derived throughout the whole experiment timeline, promising accuracy at the meter level during the close approaches. The results presented in the paper are complemented with former angles-only experience gained with the PRISMA satellites to better highlight the specificities induced by different orbits and satellite designs.     

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.     

The MELISSA pilot plant facility as as integration test-bed for advanced life support systems.

The different advances in the Micro Ecological Life Support System Alternative project (MELISSA), fostered and coordinated by the European Space Agency, as well as in other associated technologies, are integrated and demonstrated in the MELISSA Pilot Plant laboratory. During the first period of operation, the definition of the different compartments at an individual basis has been achieved, and the complete facility is being re-designed to face a new period of integration of all these compartments. The final objective is to demonstrate the potentiality of biological systems such as MELISSA as life support systems. The facility will also serve as a test bed to study the robustness and stability of the continuous operation of a complex biological system. This includes testing of the associated instrumentation and control for a safe operation, characterization of the chemical and microbial safety of the system, as well as tracking the genetic stability of the microbial strains used. The new period is envisaged as a contribution to the further development of more complete biological life support systems for long-term manned missions, that should be better defined from the knowledge to be gained from this integration phase. This contribution summarizes the current status of the Pilot Plant and the planned steps for the new period.     

Onboard sensor orientation analysis with kriging method

We propose in this paper a method to analyse the efficiency of the direction pointed by an infrared sensor dedicated to forest fire detection on board of a space vehicle. The objective is to use these sensors to detect forest fires on a defined territory with a specified probability. One way to verify that the system stands this specification is to test each possible configuration (pointing direction of the sensor and number of space vehicles) and estimate the corresponding probability of forest fire detection. However, when the coverage territory is wide or when the number of vehicles is important, it is hardly possible to simulate every configuration in a reasonable amount of time. We propose to use kriging method for the prediction of forest fire detection probability for all possible configurations.