收敛形进气道数值研究的验证

介绍一种新型的、具有最小喉道面积的三维高超声速进气道 (称之为收敛形进气道 )的数值和实验研究结果。表明使用这种形式的进气道 ,在整个飞行速度范围内可以降低阻力和高超声速发动机表面的热防护要求 ,通过降低外压缩表面的倾斜度和减少进气道及燃烧室壁的面积就可以做到这一点。在采用低维次流动的气体动力设计方法的基础上设计成这种形式的进气道。计算是在无粘气体模型构架内用有限体积法进行的。同时用边界层方程计算出计及粘性的气流特性和进气道特性。数值算法是通过收敛形进气道的有限宽楔形外压缩表面的计算和实验数据来验证的。进行实验研究的马赫数M=2～ 1 0 7,基于模型进气道高度的雷诺数Re=( 1～ 5) × 1 0 6。数值计算与实验结果一致性很好。这些结果也和通常的二维进气道的数据作了比较。     

Dynamics of Planetary Waves in the Ionosphere as Observed from GPS Satellites

The GPS satellite data are used to study the dynamics of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) over Central Europe in the summer season from June 23 to September 30, 1996. The TEC variations within the range of periods typical of the planetary waves were found to be nearly synchronous with the neutral wind variations in the mesosphere and with the variations in the occurrence of ionospheric sporadic layers. The observed TEC variations were interpreted as the result of penetration of energy carried by nonstationary Rossby waves to the upper atmospheric altitudes.     

Deorbiting with electrodynamic tethers: comparison between different tether configurations

Electrodynamic tethers have been recently proposed for satellite and rocket upper stage deorbiting to mitigate the debris problem at Low Earth Orbits (LEOs). The deorbiting performance of several electrodynamic tethers, where the electron collection from the ionosphere is obtained with either simple bare wires or bare wires terminated with conducting spherical collectors, was analyzed and compared. Our results indicate that the use of the spherical collectors at the positive termination of the system significantly enhances the deorbiting capabilities of the electrodynamic bare tethers.     

Orbiting solar telescope on “Salyut-4” station

The orbiting solar telescope on Salyut-4 (F = 2,5 m, d = 250 mm) produces images of the Sun on the entrance slit of a stigmatic two-grating spectrograph (R₁ = 1 m, N₁ = 1200 lines/mm; R₂ = 0.5 m, N₂ = 2400 lines/mm, dispersion 16 Å/mm, spectral resolution 0,3 Å). The automatic system keeps the observed solar features on the slit of the spectrograph with an accuracy of 3–4 arc sec. The far UV-spectra (970–1400 Å) of solar flares, brightenings, flocculi and prominences were photographed and fresh coatings of mirrors were made during the flight.     

Advanced Pulsed Plasma Thrusters and Their Application as a Part of Small Spacecraft Propulsion Systems

The paper presents the research results of the effect of a capacitor energy storage device configuration on the specific characteristics of advanced modern propulsion systems based on the ablative pulsed plasma thrusters (APPT). These thrusters are designed to perform specific tasks within the small spacecrafts with the onboard power capacity up to 200 W.     

A broad climatology of very high latitude substorms

Magnetic data from a newly commissioned Indian Antarctic station Bharati (corrected geomagnetic (CGM) coordinates 74.7°S, 97.2°E) and closely-spaced IMAGE chain observatories (∼100° magnetic meridian in Northern hemisphere) has been analyzed to study the climatology of substorms which were localized poleward of the standard auroral oval. We considered four austral summers (year 2007–2010) when data from Bharati was available. Several very high latitude substorms were observed in this duration when the solar activity remained unexpectedly low for a long time. Various features of very high latitude substorms, e.g., local time dependence, interplanetary state, hemispherical asymmetry and their nightside low latitude signatures are examined. Events studied here, suggested the following properties of substorms occurring at very high latitudes: (1) maximum occurrence was observed near magnetic midnight (21:00–02:00 MLT). (2) In contradiction to earlier reports, many substorms were observed even during negative IMF Bz condition. In addition, majority of substorms occurred during low or moderate solar wind streams. (3) Magnetic signatures were often pronounced in the winter hemisphere. (4) Even if widely used standard AE indices fail to monitor very high latitude substorms, their low latitude signatures are often evident.     

Longitudinal variation of the equatorial ionosphere: Modeling and experimental results

We describe a new version of the Parameterized Regional Ionospheric Model (PARIM) which has been modified to include the longitudinal dependences. This model has been reconstructed using multidimensional Fourier series. To validate PARIM results, the South America maps of critical frequencies for the E (foE) and F (foF2) regions were compared with the values calculated by Sheffield Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) and IRI representations. PARIM presents very good results, the general characteristics of both regions, mainly the presence of the equatorial ionization anomaly, were well reproduced for equinoctial conditions of solar minimum and maximum. The values of foF2 and hmF2 recorded over Jicamarca (12°S; 77°W; dip lat. 1°N; mag. declination 0.3°) and sites of the conjugate point equatorial experiment (COPEX) campaign Boa Vista (2.8°N; 60.7°W; dip lat. 11.4°; mag. declination −13.1°), Cachimbo (9.5°S; 54.8°W; dip lat. −1.8°; mag. declination −15.5°), and Campo Grande (20.4°S; 54.6°W; dip lat. −11.1°; mag. declination −14.0°) have been used in this work. foF2 calculated by PARIM show good agreement with the observations, except during morning over Boa Vista and midnight-morning over Campo Grande. Some discrepancies were also found for the F-region peak height (hmF2) near the geomagnetic equator during times of F₃ layer occurrences. IRI has underestimated both foF2 and hmF2 over equatorial and low latitude sectors during evening-nighttimes, except for Jicamarca where foF2 values were overestimated.     

A statistical study of C IV regions in 20 Oe-stars

In this paper, using the Gauss-Rotation model (GR model), we analyse the UV C IV resonance lines in the spectra of 20 Oe-stars of different spectral subtypes, in order to detect the structure of C IV region. We study the presence and behavior of absorption clouds and analyse their characteristics. From this analysis we can calculate the values of a group of physical parameters, such as the apparent rotational and radial velocities, the random velocities of the thermal motions of the ions, the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), the optical depth, as well as the absorbed energy and the column density of the independent regions of matter, which produce the main and the satellite clouds of the studied spectral lines. Finally, we present the relations between these physical parameters and the spectral subtypes of the studied stars and we give our results about the structure of the C IV region in their atmosphere.     

Remote upgrading of a space-borne instrument

The main purposes of experiment “Obstanovka” (“Environment” in Russian) consisting of several instruments are to measure a set of electromagnetic and plasma phenomena characterizing the space weather conditions, and to evaluate how such a big and highly energy consuming body as the International Space Station disturbs the surrounding plasma, and how the station itself is charged due to the operation of so many instruments, solar batteries, life supporting devices, etc. Two identical Langmuir electrostatic probes are included in the experiment “Obstanovka”. In this paper the Langmuir probes for “Obstanovka” experiment are described, including the choice of geometry (spherical or cylindrical), a more reliable method for the sweep voltage generation, an adaptive algorithm for the probe’s operation. Special attention is paid to the possibility for remote upgrading of the instrument from the ground using the standard communication channels.