Perspective on space radiation for space flights in 2020–2040

The Sun undergoes several well known periodicities in activity, such as the Schwabe 11 year cycle, the Gleissberg 80–90 year cycle, the Suess 200–210 year cycle and the Halstatt 2200–2300 year cycle. In addition, there is evidence that the 20th century levels of solar activity are unusually high. The years 2020–2040 are expected to coincide with increased activity in human space flight beyond low Earth orbit. The solar cycles and the present level of solar activity are reviewed and their activities during the years 2020–2040 are discussed with a perspective on space radiation and the future program of space flight. It is prudent to prepare for continuing levels of high solar activity as well as for the low levels of the current deep minimum, which has corresponded to high galactic cosmic ray flux.     

High-Power Wide-Band RF Amplifiers

The theory and procedures pertinent to the design of wide-band high-power amplifiers and the classical theory of broadband voltage amplifiers is briefly reviewed; the differences between the design constraints for voltage amplifiers and for power amplifiers are pointed out. The requisite changes in analytical models of the amplifier are inferred; an analytical model appropriate to the design of high-power wide-band amplifiers is constructed. The observed characteristics of an amplifier are presented and compared with competitive devices. Differences between wide-band voltage amplifiers and wide-band power amplifiers are inferred directly from voltage and power gain; a procedure for designing efficient wide-band power amplifiers is presented; and application of this procedure is shown to be adequate for the design of VHF amplifiers providing average power output of 1 kW over a 50 percent bandwidth with overall efficiency of 33 percent and a power gain of 15 dB.     

Gas exchange rates of potato stands for bioregenerative life support

Plants can provide a means for removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) while generating oxygen (O₂) and clean water for life support systems in space. To study this, 20 m² stands of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants were grown in a large (113 m³ vol.), atmospherically closed chamber. Photosynthetic uptake of CO₂ by the stands was detected about 10 DAP (days after planting), after which photosynthetic rates rose rapidly as stand ground cover and total light interception increased. Photosynthetic rates peaked ca. 50 DAP near 45 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ under 865 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF (average photosynthetic photon flux), and near 35 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ under 655 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF. Short term changes in PPF caused a linear response in stand photosynthetic rates up to 1100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF, with a light compensation point of 185 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF. Comparisons of stand photosynthetic rates at different CO₂ concentrations showed a classic C₃ response, with saturation occurring near 1200 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ and compensation near 100 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂. In one study, the photoperiod was changed from 12 h light/12 h dark to continuous light at 58 DAP. This caused a decrease in net photosynthetic rates within 48 h and eventual damage (scorching) of upper canopy leaves, suggesting the abrupt change stressed the plants and/or caused feedback effects on photosynthesis. Dark period (night) respiration rates increased during early growth as standing biomass increased and peaked near 9 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ ca. 50 DAP, after which rates declined gradually with age. Stand transpiration showed a rapid rise with canopy ground cover and peaked ca. 50 DAP near 8.9 L m⁻² d⁻¹ under 860 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF and near 6.3 L m⁻² d⁻¹ under 650 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPF. Based on the best photosynthetic rates from these studies, approximately 25 m² of potato plants under continuous cultivation would be required to support the CO₂ removal and O₂ requirements for one person.     

Microphysics of Cosmic Plasmas: Background, Motivation and Objectives

With the maturing of space plasma research in the solar system, a more general approach to plasma physics in general, applied to cosmic plasmas, has become appropriate. There are both similarities and important differences in describing the phenomenology of space plasmas on scales from the Earth’s magnetosphere to galactic and inter-galactic scales. However, there are important aspects in common, related to the microphysics of plasma processes. This introduction to a coordinated collection of papers that address the several aspects of the microphysics of cosmic plasmas that have unifying themes sets out the scope and ambition of the broad sweep of topics covered in the volume, together with an enumeration of the detailed objectives of the coverage.     

Simultaneous determination of aerosol- and surface characteristics from top-of-atmosphere reflectance using MERIS on board of ENVISAT

The determination of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from nadir scanning multi-spectral radiometers, like SeaWiFS, MERIS or MODIS, requires the separation of spectral atmospheric and surface properties. Since SeaWiFS and MERIS do not provide information at 2.1 μm, like MODIS, the estimation of the surface reflectance cannot be made by the cross correlation approach described by Kaufman et al., 1997. The BAER approach (Bremen AErosol Retrieval), von Hoyningen-Huene et al., 2003, uses a linear mixing model of spectra for ‘green vegetation’ and ‘bare soil’, tuned by the NDVI, determining an apparent surface to enable this separation of aerosol and surface properties from VIS and NIR channels. Thus AOT can be derived over a wide range of land surfaces for wavelengths <0.67 μm. Using MERIS L1 data over Europe, the AOT retrieved is comparable with ground-based observations, provided by AERONET. Regional variation of AOT can be observed, showing the atmospheric variability for clear sky conditions by: large scale variation of aerosol turbidity, regional pollution, urban regions, effects of contrails and cases of aerosol-cloud interaction. Simultaneously with the spectral AOT also spectral surface reflectance is obtained, where all atmospheric influences have been considered (molecules, aerosols and absorbing gases (O₃)) for channels with wavelengths <0.67 μm. The AOT is extrapolated by Angström power law to NIR channels and the atmospheric correction for land surface properties is performed, enabling the further investigation of land use and spectral land properties.     

Pressure and Temperature Profiles in the Solar Nebula

Pressure and temperature profiles in several recent solar nebula models are reviewed. These parameters are important to cosmochemists because they determine the mineral assemblages that could form or exist in the nebula. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A composite focal plane assembly for the GERB instrument

In this paper, we present the design and construction of a composite focal plane assembly (FPA) for the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) Earth observing, visible–infrared imaging radiometer. The FPA is a complex structure that incorporates a number of features aimed at reducing mass, power and volume. These include the use of silicon and ceramic substrates for high density tracking and temperature stabilisation, removable test structures for component verification prior to final assembly and high levels of integration.