Five millinewton field emission thruster testing

A compact cluster of two 80-mm-wide emitters has been designed, built and tested. The field emission thruster using this cluster is able to produce thrust in excess of 5 mN at high mass efficiency.     

The Tracking Index: A Generalized Parameter for ? ? ? and ? ? ? ? Target Trackers

A generalized, optimal filtering solution is presented for the target tracking problem. Applying optimal filtering theory to the target tracking problem, the tracking index, a generalized parameter proportional to the ratio of the position uncertainty due to the target maneuverability to that due to the sensor measurement, is found to have a fundamental role not only in the optimal steady-state solution of the stochastic regulation tracking problem, but also in the track initiation process. Depending on the order of the tracking model, the tracking index solution yields a closed form, consistent set of generalized tracking gains, relationships, and performances. Using the tracking index parameter, an initializing and tracking procedure in recursive form, realizes the accuracy of the Kalman filter with an algorithm as simple as the well-known ? ? ? filter or ? ? ? ? ? filter depending on the tracking order.     

Improved representation of the night and twilight E-region critical frequency

Measurement data from the Malvern, UK incoherent-scatter radar are comparedwith differing IRI and CCIR formulations and proposals offered for the way ahead.     

Dielectric properties and microwave remote sensing

The importance of the dielectric properties of earth, ocean and snow surfaces in microwave remote sensing is reviewed. Data on dielectric properties of materials in the microwave frequency range are very scarce and their behaviour is not fully understood. In this paper the need for dielectric properties of ocean and snow surfaces, the earth's surface and subsurface materials is discussed for the quantitative and qualitative interpretation of microwave remote sensing data of developing countries.     

Evolution of a phase separated gravity independent bioreactor.

The evolution of a phase-separated gravity-independent bioreactor is described. The initial prototype, a zero head-space manifold silicone membrane based reactor, maintained large diffusional resistances. Obtaining oxygen transfer rates needed to support carbon-recycling aerobic microbes is impossible if large resistances are maintained. Next generation designs (Mark I and II) mimic heat exchanger design to promote turbulence at the tubing-liquid interface, thereby reducing liquid and gas side diffusional resistances. While oxygen transfer rates increased by a factor of ten, liquid channeling prevented further increases. To overcome these problems, a Mark III reactor was developed which maintains inverted phases, i.e., media flows inside the silicone tubing, oxygen gas is applied external to the tubing. This enhances design through changes in gas side driving force concentration and liquid side turbulence levels. Combining an applied external pressure of four atmospheres with increased Reynolds numbers resulted in oxygen transfer intensities of 232 mmol O2/l/h (1000 times greater than first prototype and comparable to a conventional fermenter). A 1.0 liter Mark III reactor can potentially deliver oxygen supplies necessary to support cell cultures needed to recycle a 10 astronaut carbon load continuously.     

Development of a CELSS bioreactor: oxygen transfer and micromixing in parabolic flight.

The gas exchange portion of a phase-separated loop bioreactor was tested with respect to oxygen mass transfer and micromixing in accelerations of 0.01g, 1g, and 2g. A plot of the overall mass transfer coefficient versus gravity indicates the rate of oxygen transfer does not change as a function of acceleration. Also, it was determined that the micromixing did not exhibit significant changes in the various gravitational fields. These observations indicate the loop bioreactor should function independent of acceleration.     

Latitudinal asymmetry in electron and ion density distribution in southern and northern hemispheres

With data of satellite INTERCOSMOS-BULGARIA-1300 northern and corresponding southern hemisphere plasma densities have been compared. Southern densities are greater in the ?90 to ?180 and +30 to +120° ranges. The opposite is true for ?60 to +30°. No asymmetry has been observed during daytime. These results are explained by the variations of the magnetic declination.     

A multi-formalisms approach for codesign in the development ofavionics

This paper presents a new approach in the development of avionics at AEROSPATIALE. The approach is based on a selective use of specification languages. Its aim is to compose partial avionics specifications in a unified format which is used for later concurrent hardware/software design steps. A demonstrator of the approach is currently in progress. It deals with the re-design of an avionics on-board system that belongs to the family of AIRBUS A340. The multi-languages specification is achieved through three graphical specification languages: Harel's StateCharts, SDL and SAO. The status of work and future perspectives are outlined     

Alterations in adenylate ratios in plant cells after accelerated ion irradiation.

Levels of adenylate metabolism have been studied in cells of Nicotiana tabacum growing in vitro, and in root apex extracts of Pisum sativum irradiated at the 95-in. isochronous cyclotron U-240, Institute for Nuclear Research, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Kyiv. Particle beams of accelerated helium ions with energy 9.34 keV/micrometer were used. Replacement and rapid freezing of the irradiated plants samples in liquid nitrogen were carried out with a manipulator and a remote control system. After doses of 5, 20, 50, and 100 Gy of gamma-irradiation, as well as 50 and 100 Gy 4He irradiation, the cellular ATP/ADP ratio increased during early stages of the response. This effect was absent at higher doses and after exposure to sparesly-ionizing radiation, when a rapid decline in the cellular ATP concentration and the ATP/ADP ratio occurred.     

Rocket observation of the ultraviolet spectrum of comet Halley

An ultraviolet sounding rocket telescope/spectrograph experiment observed Comet Halley on 26 February 1986, 17 days after perihelion. From the long-slit spectra, the production rates of O, C, and CO are calculated. The derived water production rate is a lower limit of 5.0 × 10²⁹ s⁻¹ and the volume mixing ratio of CO to H₂O is 21%. The predicted brightness distribution from a radial outflow model with H₂O and CO as parent molecules are in accordance with the measured spatial profiles of OI and CO emissions. The ratio of the production rates of CO to C is 2.7 which is consistent with the carbon source being the photodissociation of CO. However, the radial outflow model which best fits the CO data predicts significantly weaker CI emissions than was observed. A better fit to the carbon data is found when an inner coma source of C at a rate of 3% of the water production rate is included in the model.