Multiple hypothesis track maintenance with possibly unresolved measurements

In surveillance problems dense clutter/dense target situations call for refined data association and tracking techniques. In addition, closely spaced targets may exist which are not resolved. This phenomenon has to be considered explicitly in the tracking algorithm. We concentrate on two targets which temporarily move in close formation and derive a generalization of MHT methods on the basis of a simple resolution model.     

The observation of the galactic anticenter region by the balloon borne gamma-ray telescope Natalya-I

This paper presents the results of measurements of gamma radiation with energies above 5 MeV, from the galactic anticenter region. The balloon-borne gamma ray telescope “Natalya-I”, was launched on 6 November, 1980 from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research's Balloon Facility (Hyderabad, India) and reached ceiling altitude of 35 km. The results on the accelerator calibration of the telescope, using a “tagged” gamma ray beam are also presented.     

A critical look at space technology and the developing world

Technology is neutral, its use is not. Its introduction and use take place in social, cultural, political and economic contexts which can be at considerable variance with those of the introducing countries, and which are not homogeneous within countries having wide variations in knowldege, background skills, and interpretations of meaning and opportunity.This paper tries to take a dispassionate look at the social and cultural factors that are involved in the introduction, use, and maintenance of space technology in the developing world.     

Implementation of a new characteristic parameter into the IRI sub-peak electron density profile

The shape of electron density profile in the International Reference Ionosphere could be improved significantly if the height h_g and electron density N_g of the F region sub-peak inflexion point were entered in the set of the profile standard parameters. To study variations of these important parameters, the N(h) analysis of the statistically-summarized ionograms at the latitudes of 40–80°N of the Eastern hemisphere has been carried out for the two-hours intervals of local time, three seasons (winter, equinox and summer) and two levels of solar activities characterized by Covington indicesF_10.7 = 100 and 200. It is shown that the parameters of the inflexion point can be expressed in most cases via the peak parameters of the F2 layer ash_g= 0.8 hmF2 and N_g= 0.5 NmF2.     

Systems for long duration flights

This paper describes the systems for long duration flights developed in Japan for scientific observations. Much efforts have been expended to evolve systems for long duration flights in Japan, by controlling the balloon trajectories with a knowledge of wind pattern at high altitudes over Japan. These systems called “Cycling Balloon”, “Boomerang Balloon” and “New Boomerang Balloon” have been successfully used for the observations by keeping the balloons close to the balloon station.“Relay Balloon” is another system to extend the telemetry range by using an additional balloon as a relay station to link the telemetry from the main balloon.Some detailes of the exhaust valve, ascent meter and automatic level control devices used for the balloon control are also described in the paper.     

Observations of ultraviolet spectra of H II regions and galaxies with IUE

The ultraviolet spectra, obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer, of a sample of H II regions and the nuclear regions of spiral and elliptical galaxies are described. The star formation rates in the nuclei of spiral galaxies are similar to the star formation rate in the solar neighbourhood. The data indicate that the current thinking on the synthesis of carbon and nitrogen in galaxies has to be revised and the K-corrections determined from the ultraviolet spectra of galaxies when compared with the photometry of distant galaxies suggests colour evolution of galaxies at z > 0.3.     

INMARSAT integrity channels for global navigation satellite systems

The transmission of integrity information using a signal format compatible with the Global Positioning System (GPS) and relayed through a geostationary satellite repeater, which will be critical in achieving high integrity and availability of global navigation by satellite is discussed. The inclusion of navigation repeaters designed to fulfil this function, the next generation of INMARSAT spacecraft, INMARSAT-3 is examined. The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) integrity channel (GIC) will employ pseudorandom codes in the same family as, but distinct from, the codes reserved by GPS. The data format of the basic integrity channel is designed to convey user range error information for 24 to 40 satellites. A closed-loop timing compensation technique will be used at the uplinking Earth station, to make the signal's clock and carrier Doppler variations identical to those that would result from an onboard signal source. Therefore, the INMARSAT-3 satellites will increase the number of useful navigation satellites available to any user, and can also function as sources of precise timing. There is also a possibility that wide area differential corrections can be carried on the same signal     

On the effects of electron-cyclotron masers during flares

First recognized by Wu and Lee (Ap. J. 230, 621, 1979), electron-cyclotron masers can be activated under very mild conditions. Large growth rates can occur even for relatively mild anisotropies in the electron velocity distribution, e.g., the one-sided loss cones that commonly occur when electrons with small pitch angles precipitate into high density regions at the footpoints of flaring loops while others are reflected in the converging field in the corona. Maser action can plausibly occur at the second harmonic of the local gyrofrequency and so explain certain very bright (? 10¹⁰ K) microwave bursts from the sun and other stars. However, the preponderance of the energy is at the first harmonic.We suggest that masers operating at the local gyrofrequency in a flaring loop generate radiation at decimeter wavelengths that is a significant fraction of the total energy of the flare, in fact (and not coincidentally) comparable with the energy in electrons associated with hard X-ray bursts. Essentially all of the radio energy is trapped in the corona and serves to produce localized heating in a volume large compared with the energy release region. Thus it can transfer energy by radiation from one magnetic loop to another, possibly inducing further instabilities, and spreading the course of the flare. Eventually the energy probably escapes the corona as soft X-rays. The electron-cyclotron maser saturates by extracting the perpendicular energy of the electrons, thereby diffusing them into the loss cone at the maximum possible rate; the enhanced precipitation into the footpoints can produce bright emission in hard X-rays, EUV and Hα and remove any necessity for directive acceleration in the energy release region.Details of the proposed mechanism and effects are contained in two papers by Melrose and Dulk (Ap. J. 259, 1982).This work was sponsored by NASA under grants NAGW-91 and NSG-7287 to the University of Colorado.