Organics produced by ion irradiation of ices: some recent results.

Some results, recently obtained from laboratory experiments of ion irradiation of ice mixtures containing H, C, N, and O, are here summarized. They are relevant to the formation and evolution of complex organics on interstellar dust, comets and other small bodies in the external Solar System. In particular the formation of CN-bearing species is discussed. Interstellar dust incorporated into primitive Solar System bodies and subsequently delivered to the early Earth, may have contributed to the origin of life. The delivery of CN-bearing species seems to have been necessary because molecules containing the cyanogen bond are difficult to be produced in an environment that is not strongly reducing as that of the early Earth probably was. Moreover we report on an ongoing research program concerning the interaction between refractory materials produced by ion irradiation of simple ices and biological materials (amino acids, proteins, cells).     

Robotic Air Vehicle: A Pilot's Perspective

This paper focuses on concepts and technologies required to develop a robotic air vehicle (RAV). A vehicle of this type has the capability to be a launch and forget weapon system. The authors are engineers and pilots so they view both the technical approach and piloting issues with equal importance. RAV must have the machine intelligence to make decisions within the mission and battlefield constraints. This requires a piloting expert system and route planner to perform passive terrain following, terrain avoidance, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous navigation based on low cost sensor inputs such as a multifunction FLIR, digital terrain map, and directional reference systems. RAV is a cost effective way to fight in a threat environment where aircrew loss rates would be unacceptable. RAV provides the Air Force a means to expand its combat capabilities.     

Machine vision monitoring of plant health.

Techniques and algorithms to detect and diagnose disorders in plants grown in a controlled environment have been developed. A video camera senses features of plants which are indicative of disorders. Images are calibrated for size and color variations by using calibration templates. Different image segmentation techniques for separating object from background, have been implemented. Plant size and color properties have been investigated, temporal, spectral and spatial variation of leaves were extracted from the segmented images. Neural network and statistical classifiers were used to determine plant condition.     

Analysis of cytogenetic effects of the secondary radiation resulting from 70 GeV protons of Chinese hamster cells.

The cell culture of a Chinese hamster was irradiated on a Serpuchov proton synchrotron at a dose of 0.5-4 Gy and a dose rate of 1 Gy/min and by gamma-irradiation at dose 1-5 Gy and dose rate 1.2-1.4 Gy/min. The effect of radiation on the cell culture was judged from chromosomal aberrations in G2-stage of cell cycle and micronuclear test. The relative biological efficience of the secondary radiation was approximately 3. Modifying effect of caffeine on the cells irradiated by secondary radiation of synchrotron was not observed. In the presence of caffeine the effect of gamma-irradiation practically is increased up to the level observed upon secondary irradiation. This suggests that secondary radiation inhibits the repair of the cytogenetic damage.     

Earth and ocean tides from long-term analysis of satellite orbits

Precision laser tracking data on three close-earth satellites (Geos 1, Geos 2, and Lageos) are analyzed to obtain measurements of ocean tides, core-mantle resonance, and other mass displacements.Mean elements are computed for 6.0 years for Geos 1, 4.9 years for Geos 2, and 2.1 years for Lageos. Ocean tides T2, S2, K2, P1, K1, and φ1 are measured, along with the core-mantle resonance at the K1 and P1 frequencies, as predicted by Molodensky. Also measured are the Sa and Ssa tides and radiation-pressure area-to-mass ratios.     

Satellite data as a basis for planning studies of infrastructure and related rural development in Atacora Province,Benin, West Africa

Landsat satellite data has been used to provide information for integrated land resources, agriculture and rural access road planning in Atacora Province, Benin, to ensure that correct decisions are made on the location of feeder roads and best use is made of the terrain. A significant aspect of the interpretation programme involved using a method of terrain evaluation and land classification to provide a framework for planning and assessing all subsequent development projects and highway engineering activities within the Province. Use of this terrain classification, in conjunction with further sequential satellite coverage, is considered as a basis for monitoring and subsequently analysing the rleationship between feeder road construction and induced benefits within the rural agricultural development sector, and for the establishment of a system of data storage. The value of a data storage system is evaluated as a means of preventing wasteful repetition of survey effort and facilitating the transfer of relevant data on rural development to similar areas within Benin and throughout West Africa.     

High resolution measurements of nightside ion troughs at venus: Evidence of electrodynamic perturbations

The Bennett rf ion mass spectrometer (OIMS) on the Pioneer Venus Orbiter was particularly designed to provide variable temporal resolution for measurements of thermal ion composition and density. An Explore-Adapt mode is used to obtain priority for measurement of most prominent ion species, and in a 2/16 configuration, the two dominant ions within the available range of 16 species are selectively sampled at the highest rate of 0.2 sec/sample. The high resolution measurements are combined with independent observations from the magnetic field (OMAG), neutral mass spectrometer (ONMS), and electron temperature (OETP) experiments to investigate sharply structured troughs in the low altitude nightside ion concentrations. The results indicate a close correlation between the structure in the ion distributions and the structured configuration of the magnetic field which is draped about the planet. In the regions of the ion depletions, sharp fluctuations in electron temperature and anomalous increases in the density of neutral gases indicate that the ion depletion may be associated either with dynamic perturbation in the ion and neutral flows, and/or local joule heating. The configuration of the ion flow/magnetic field draping and consequent electric fields for these events must be analyzed in detail to understand the relationships.     

The first decade of regular observation of land transformation from space

Data for all of the landmass of Canada has been received and archived since the launch of LANDSAT-1 in July 1972. This data has been used in a number of mapping and monitoring programs such as: revising topographic maps, mapping forest fire burns, mapping the variability of water levels in shallow prairie lakes and sloughs, evaluating rangeland conditions, mapping sedimentation levels due to natural phenomena or human activities, monitoring the environmental effects of major hydro electric projects.     

Intrepid digital microwave. A new approach to bistatic radar

Southwest Microwave, Inc. (SMI) introduced the world's first commercially viable bistatic microwave intrusion detection sensor in 1971. Bistatic microwave has become the paradigm for high security perimeters, and SMI products have become industry standards. With the introduction of the Intrepid Digital Microwave, SMI brings the latest in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and power and data networking to this proven sensor technology