Radiation measurements on the flight of IML-2.

The second flight of the International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2) on Space Shuttle flight STS-65 provided a unique opportunity for the intercomparison of a wide variety of radiation measurement techniques. Although this was not a coordinated or planned campaign, by sheer chance, a number of space radiation experiments from several countries were flown on this mission. There were active radiation measuring instruments from Japan and US, and passive detectors from US, Russia, Japan, and Germany. These detectors were distributed throughout the Space Shuttle volume: payload bay, middeck, flight deck, and Spacelab. STS-65 was launched on July 8, 1994, in a 28.45 degrees x 306 km orbit for a duration of 14 d 17 hr and 55 min. The crew doses varied from 0.935 mGy to 1.235 mGy. A factor of two variation was observed between various passive detectors mounted inside the habitable Shuttle volume. There is reasonable agreement between the galactic cosmic ray dose, dose equivalent and LET spectra measured by the tissue equivalent proportional counter flown in the payload bay with model calculations. There are significant differences in the measurements of LET spectra measured by different groups. The neutron spectrum in the 1-20 MeV region was measured. Using fluence-dose conversion factors, the neutron dose and dose equivalent rates were 11 +/- 2.7 microGy/day and 95 +/- 23.5 microSv/day respectively. The average east-west asymmetry of trapped proton (>3OMeV) and (>60 MeV) dose rate was 3.3 and 1.9 respectively.     

Study of the radiation environment on MIR space station with SILEYE-2 experiment.

In this work we present preliminary results of nuclear composition measurements on board space station MIR obtained with SILEYE-2 particle telescope. SILEYE-2 was placed on MIR in 1997 and has been working since then. It consists of an array of 6 active silicon strip detectors which allow nuclear and energetic identification of cosmic rays in the energy range between approximately 30 and 200 MeV/n. The device is attached to an helmet and connected to an eye mask which shields the cosmonaut eyes from light and allow studies of the Light Flashes (LF) phenomenon. In addition to the study of the causes of LF, the device is used to perform real time long term radiation environment monitoring inside the MIR, performing measurements in solar quiet and active days.     

A low cost steerable radio-telescope

We present the technical characteristics of a low-cost radio telescope for solar/non solar observations at decimetric (1200–1700 MHz) and centimetric (2700 and 5000 MHz) wavelengths known as Brazilian Decimetric Array (BDA). The technical specifications of the antenna, tracking system, log-periodic feed, preamplifier and the frequency-synthesised receiver with a Single Side Band (SSB) video output of 2.5 MHz are given.     

Improved space safety for astronauts

The 2003 Columbia accident demonstrated that spaceflight remains a risky and dangerous human endeavor, yet there have been few ‘unofficial’ investigations into astronaut safety. This report summarizes the findings of one such study by George Washington University's Space & Advanced Communications Research Institute—e.g. that simplicity of design may be better than complexity, that cargo missions would be better carried out robotically and that all new space transportation systems should be developed to common international standards—before examining ways that international cooperation can advance the cause of space safety. In establishing future space safety standards input from a wider range of participants (industry, universities and private research institutes, as well as space agencies, etc.) will need to be sought.     

P. Ruiz-Lapuente,R.; Canal,J.; and Isern (eds.). Thermonuclear Supernovae

Space Science Reviews -     

Nonlinear filtering methods application in INS alignment

The problem of course alignment of inertial navigation systems is considered. Error equations of nonlinear character have been obtained at a considerable level of a priori course uncertainty. The algorithm for solving the problem of optimal estimation of the state vector described by nonlinear equations from linear measurements has been developed for the analysis of a potential alignment accuracy with the piecewise-Gaussian approximation of a posteriori density used. The results of the study of efficiency of various suboptimal alignment algorithms obtained by the use of the software developed are presented and discussed.     

Baywatch practical automatic detection of intrusion over water

This paper describes one solution to the problem of providing Perimeter Intruder Detection, (PIDS), for sites whose boundary includes direct access from uncontrolled water. Two surveillance heads were proposed, each consisting of a TI camera and a Colour CCTV camera mounted on a pan and tilt unit     

Invariance of Charged Particle Time Profiles at Late Stages of SCR Events from the Data of Multisatellite Observations

Based on the data obtained in simultaneous measurements on the Helios-1 and Helios-2 spacecraft, the properties of the spatial and temporal invariance of spectra of protons with energies more than 4 MeV and electrons with energies more than 0.3 MeV are studied during the phase of intensity decay in events initiated by the following associations: a flare—coronal mass ejection—coronal and interplanetary shock waves. Emphasis is placed on research into the fluxes of electrons, whose possibility to be accelerated by shock waves is problematic. It is shown that the spectra and decay times of both protons and electrons are approximately invariant relative to the flare coordinates in a wide angular range. Depending on the western or eastern spacecraft position in relation to the front part of a shock wave, one observes a delay or advance of the onset of the invariant mode relative to the shock wave arrival, which increases with the growth of the corresponding angular distance.