The Tien-Shan mountain cosmic ray station of the Ionosphere Institute of Kazakhstan Republic

The mountain cosmic ray (CR) station of the Ionosphere Institute of Kazakhstan Republic (CR station Alma-Ata B, 43.1N latitude, 76.6E longitude, geomagnetic rigidity cutoff 6.69 GV) is a center for an experimental study of the non-stationary processes caused by cosmic rays of different origin in the interplanetary and near-Earth space, so as their influence on the state of the Earth’s magnetosphere and the upper atmosphere layers. This paper summarizes efforts performed over the years by the Almaty CR group till its present status.     

Malfunction of satellite navigation systems GPS and GLONASS caused by powerful radio emission of the Sun during solar flares on December 6 and 13, 2006, and October 28, 2003

Poor quality of functioning of GPS during solar flares on December 6 and 13, 2006 is analyzed in this paper. These flares were accompanied by extremely high (unexampled) level of the solar radio emission flux. A comparison is made of these events with the solar flare on October 28, 2003. Statistically reliable experimental evidence is obtained that GPS positioning was partially paralyzed on the sunlit side of the Earth during the strongest bursts of solar radio emission. The obtained results give a serious ground to revise the role played by space weather factors in operation of modern satellite systems and to take these factors into account more carefully, when such systems are designed and exploited.     

ICAN: A novel laser architecture for space debris removal

The development of a fiber based laser architecture will enable novel applications in environments which have hitherto been impossible due to size, efficiency and power of traditional systems. Such a new architecture has been developed by the International Coherent Amplification Network (ICAN) project. Here we present an analysis of utilizing an ICAN laser for the purpose of tracking and de-orbiting hyper-velocity space debris. With an increasing number of new debris from collisions of active, derelict and new payloads in orbit, there is a growing danger of runaway debris impacts. Due to its compactness and efficiency, it is shown that space-based operation would be possible. For different design parameters such as fiber array size, it is shown that the kHz repetition rate and kW average power of ICAN would be sufficient to de-orbit small 1–10 cm debris within a single instance via laser ablation.     

Navigation support for the RadioAstron mission

A developed method of determination of orbital parameters allows one to estimate, along with orbit elements, some additional parameters that characterize solar radiation pressure and perturbing accelerations due to unloadings of reactiion wheels. A parameterized model of perturbing action of solar radiation pressure on the spacecraft motion is described (this model takes into account the shape, reflecting properties of surfaces, and spacecraft attitude). Some orbit determination results are presented obtained by the joint processing of radio measurements of slant range and Doppler, laser range measurements used to calibrate the radio measurements, optical observations of right ascension and declination, and telemetry data on spacecraft thrusters’ firings during an unloading of reaction wheels.     

Training astronauts using three-dimensional visualisations of the International Space Station

Recent advances in personal computer technology have led to the development of relatively low-cost software to generate high-resolution three-dimensional images. The capability both to rotate and zoom in on these images superposed on appropriate background images enables high-quality movies to be created. These developments have been used to produce realistic simulations of the International Space Station on CD-ROM. This product is described and its potentialities demonstrated. With successive launches, the ISS is gradually built up, and visualised over a rotating Earth against the star background. It is anticipated that this product's capability will be useful when training astronauts to carry out EVAs around the ISS. Simulations inside the ISS are also very realistic. These should prove invaluable when familiarising the ISS crew with their future workplace and home. Operating procedures can be taught and perfected. "What if" scenario models can be explored and this facility should be useful when training the crew to deal with emergency situations which might arise. This CD-ROM product will also be used to make the general public more aware of, and hence enthusiastic about, the International Space Station programme.     

运动声呐空时自适应处理中的多普勒影响分析

为了将空时自适应处理(STAP)理论更好地应用于水下环境,提高运动声呐对混响的抑制性能,研究了多普勒对运动声呐STAP的影响。具体分析了由多普勒造成的回波脉宽伸缩变换以及目标空时导向向量失配带来的影响。分析结果表明,回波包络脉宽变化对于匹配滤波输出信噪比影响较小,而对空时导向向量修正可以有效提高目标方位估计精度以及混响抑制能力。     

Effects of various dissipation range onset models on the 26-day variations of low-energy galactic cosmic-ray electrons

The effect of various models presented by Leamon et al. (2000) for the dissipation range cutoff wavenumber on the 26-day variations of galactic cosmic-ray electrons in a Fisk-Parker hybrid field is investigated, by means of a three-dimensional steady-state numerical modulation code. Analytical expressions for the mean free paths parallel and perpendicular to the heliospheric magnetic field are adapted from the works of 31 and 28, respectively. Note that only solar minimum conditions are considered, and that only qualitative agreement with data is sought. Effective diffusion for galactic electrons pertaining to 26-day variations is found to be dominated by the ratio of the perpendicular to parallel mean free paths at low energies, and the relationship between changes in cosmic-ray intensities and the modulation parameter postulated by Zhang (1997) is found to no longer hold when this ratio drops below a critical value. Use of ion inertial scale dependent models for the dissipation range cutoff leads to possible second linearities in the relative amplitudes as functions of latitude gradient.     

Identification of planetary wave patterns associated with ice seasonal sublimation/condensation dynamics in the polar regions of mars,based on IR mapping spectrometer OMEGA onboard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mars Express</Emphasis>

Channel C of the orbital hyperspectrometer OMEGA onboard Mars Express spacecraft has delivered data on the distribution and seasonal variability of water ice spectral features at 1.25, 1.5, 2.0 μm, based on which one may conclude about the thickness of ice coverage and microstructure of the upper, optically active ice layer on the Martian surface. Data covering polar regions during spring-to-summer periods of both hemispheres have been analyzed. Microstructure of the North polar cap, as well as the residual frost deposits of the seasonal South polar cap, have revealed remarkable zonal variations with regularly located maxima. Based on the comparison with the atmospheric general circulation model results, it has been proposed that these variations result from the impact of mesoscale inertial waves in the circumpolar vortex on water exchange processes between the atmosphere and planetary surface.