The improvement of IRI profiles of O2+, NO+ and O+ by means of airglow measurements

Methods were suggested in /1,2,3/ to find the maximum electron density N_mF (or N_mF2) and the) corresponding height h_mF (h_mF2) in the ionosphere through a combination of measurements on two airglow lines: the UV oxygen line at λ135.6 nm and the red oxygen line near λ630 nm.     

Ion composition behaviour in low and mid-latitudes during high solar activity

In the present analysis, the mass spectrometer data from the ISS-b satellite, available in the form of contour plots at an average height of 1100 km for every alternate hour, is used. This analysis showed some interesting results in terms of the diurnal variation of the transition heights; at times dominance of He⁺ over the other ions, and the seasonal variations of different constituents. In the development of ion composition models, it is suggested that this type of result should be taken into consideration.     

Simulation of launch and re-entry acceleration profiles for testing of shuttle and unmanned microgravity research payloads

Microgravity experiments designed for execution in Get-Away Special canisters, Hitchhiker modules, and Reusable Re-entry Satellites will be subjected to launch and re-entry accelerations. Crew-dependent provisions for preventing acceleration damage to equipment or products will not be available for these payloads during flight; therefore, the effects of launch and re-entry accelerations on all aspects of such payloads must be evaluated prior to flight. A procedure was developed for conveniently simulating the launch and re-entry acceleration profiles of the Space Shuttle (3.3 and 1.7 × g maximum, respectively) and of two versions of NASA's proposed materials research Re-usable Re-entry Satellite (8 × g maximum in one case and 4 × g in the other). By using the 7 m centrifuge of the Gravitational Plant Physiology Laboratory in Philadelphia it was found possible to simulate the time dependence of these 5 different acceleration episodes for payload masses up to 59 kg. A commercial low-cost payload device, the “Materials Dispersion Apparatus” of Instrumentation Technology Associates was tested for (1) integrity of mechanical function, (2) retention of fluid in its compartments, and (3) integrity of products under simulated re-entry g-loads. In particular, the sharp rise from 1 g to maximum g-loading that occurs during re-entry in various unmanned vehicles was successfully simulated, conditions were established for reliable functioning of the MDA, and crystals of 5 proteins suspended in compartments filled with mother liquor were subjected to this acceleration load.     

An application of embedology to spatio-temporal pattern recognition

The theory of embedded time series is shown applicable for determining a reasonable lower bound on the length of test sequence required for accurate classification of moving objects. Sequentially recorded feature vectors of a moving object form a training trajectory in feature space. Each of the sequences of feature vector components is a time series, and under certain conditions, each of these time series has approximately the same fractal dimension. The embedding theorem may be applied to this fractal dimension to establish a sufficient number of observations to determine the feature space trajectory of the object. It is argued that this number is a reasonable lower bound on test sequence length for use in object classification. Experiments with data corresponding to five military vehicles (observed following a projected Lorenz trajectory on a viewing sphere) show that this bound is indeed adequate     

Regulative development of Xenopus laevis in microgravity.

To test whether gravity is required for normal amphibian development, Xenopus laevis females were induced to ovulate aboard the orbiting Space Shuttle. Eggs were fertilized in vitro, and although early embryonic stages showed some abnormalities, the embryos were able to regulate and produce nearly normal larvae. These results demonstrate for the first time that a vertebrate can ovulate in the virtual absence of gravity, and that the eggs can develop to a free-living stage.     

A study of biohazard protection for farming modules of lunar base CELSS.

For the Closed Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) of a manned lunar base which is planned to be built on the moon early in the 21st century, several proposed programs exist to grow vegetables inside a farming module. At the 40th IAF (Malaga, 1989) the author et al presented a proposal for supplying food and nutrients to a crew of eight members, a basic concept which is based on growing four kinds of vegetables. This paper describes measures for biohazard protection in farming modules. In this study, biohazard protection means prevention of the dispersion of plant diseases to other plant species or other portions of farming beds.     

New nonlinear control algorithms for multiple robot arms

Multiple coordinated robot arms are modeled by considering the arms as closed kinematic chains and as a force-constrained mechanical system working on the same object simultaneously. In both formulations, a novel dynamic control method is discussed. It is based on feedback linearization and simultaneous output decoupling technique. By applying a nonlinear feedback and a nonlinear coordinate transformation, the complicated model of the multiple robot arms in either formulation is converted into a linear and output decoupled system. The linear system control theory and optimal control theory are used to design robust controllers in the task space. The first formulation has the advantage of automatically handling the coordination and load distribution among the robot arms. In the second formulation, it was found that by choosing a general output equation it became possible simultaneously to superimpose the position and velocity error feedback with the force-torque error feedback in the task space     

An anticipative adaptive array for frequency-hopping communications

To fully utilize the theoretical processing gain achievable when an adaptive array and frequency hopping are combined, frequency compensation is required. Improved versions of an anticipative adaptive array are examined that provide efficient compensation by adapting the complex weights at each antenna element to the appropriate values for a carrier frequency before that frequency is received. The underlying adaptive algorithm used is the maximum algorithm. Computer simulation results are used to compare the different versions of anticipative processing. These results show that an appropriate version ensures the rapid convergence of weights to values that provide wideband nulling of the interference and noise     

Results from the Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Observatory

The Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory covers the high energy gamma ray energy range, approximately 30 MeV to 30 GeV, with a sensitivity considerably greater than earlier high energy gamma-ray satellites. Thus far, 4 pulsars have been detected and their properties measured, including in 3 cases the energy spectrum as a function of phase. The details of the galactic plane are being mapped and a spectra of the center region has been obtained in good agreement with that expected from cosmic ray interactions. The Magellanic clouds have been examined with the Large Magellanic Cloud having been detected at a level consistent with it having a cosmic ray density compatible with quasi-stable equilibrium. Sixteen Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN's) have been seen thus far with a high degree of certainty including 12 quasars and 4 BL Lac objects, but no Seyferts. Time variation has been detected in some of these AGN's.