Growth and development of plants flown on the STS-3 Space Shuttle mission

Pre-germinated pine seedlings and germinating oat and mung bean seeds were flown on the STS-3 Space Shuttle mission. Overall, the seedlings grew and developed well in space. Some oat and mung bean roots, however, grew upward. Lignin content was slightly lower in flight tissues and protein content was higher.     

Superclustering of galaxies and X-ray sources

An attempt is made to compare optical properties of Abell clusters with X-ray sources.     

FIGARO: An experiment for pulsar and variable source studies in the MeV range

We present a large area, balloon borne, NaI(Tl) detector for low-energy gamma rays with temporal signature : FIGARO.The main detector is a mosaic of 12 NaI(Tl) tiles 22.5 × 15 × 5 cm, for a total geometric area of 4050 cm².In the energy band 140 keV - 6 MeV, the expected background counting rate at float altitude is in the range of two to three thousands counts per second.For pulsar analysis the expected 3δ sensitivity for 5 hours exposition time is 2.5 10^?4 ph/cm².s.MeV (150–500 keV) 1.5 10^?4 ph/cm².s.MeV (1–6 MeV). This performance, together with the large effective area and the relatively short duration of a balloon flight, make FIGARO particularly suitable for the identification of sources by means of temporal analysis.For objectives in the Northern sky, including the Crab pulsar, a transmediterranean flight is planned for the summer of 1982 ; a Southern mission is scheduled in Brazil for the fall of 1983 (Vela, PSR 1822-09).     

Measurements of solar total irradiance and its variability

The development of electrically self calibrated cavity pyrheliometric instrumentation that occurred in the early 20th century provided the technological base for experiments to detect variability of the solar total irradiance. Experiments from ground based observatories, aircraft and balloons during the 1st half of the 20th century were unable to achieve sufficient accuracy or long term precision to unambiguously detect irradiance variations of solar origin. Refinements in pyrheliometric technology during the 1960's and 1970's and the accessibility of extended experimental opportunities above the Earth's atmosphere in recent years have provided the first direct observations of solar total irradiance variability and provided the cornerstone observations of a long term database on solar irradiance. A program of solar irradiance monitoring has evolved to sustain the database over at least 22 years, corresponding to a single cycle of solar magnetic activity, and the shortest well identified cycle of climate variation. Direct links between total irradiance variations, solar magnetic activity and the solar global 5 min oscillation phenomena have been derived from recent space flight observations by the SMM/ACRIM I experiment.     

Initial results from COMPTEL onboard GRO

COMPTEL is the first imaging telescope to explore the MeV gamma-ray range (0.7 to 30 MeV). At present, it is performing a complete sky survey. In later phases of the mission selected celestial objects will be studied in more detail. The data from the first year of the mission have demonstrated that COMPTEL performs very well. First sky maps of the inner part of the Galaxy clearly identify the plane as a bright MeV-source (probably due to discrete sources as well as diffuse radiation). The Crab and Vela pulsar lightcurves have been measured with unprecedented accuracy. The quasars 3C273 and 3C279 have been seen for the first time at MeV energies. Both quasars show a break in their energy spectra in the COMPTEL energy range. The 1.8 MeV line from radioactive ²⁶A1 has been detected from the central region of the Galaxy and a first sky map of the inner part of the Galaxy has been obtained in the light of this line. Upper limits to gamma-ray line emission at 847 keV and 1.238 MeV from SN 1991T have been derived. Upper limits to the interstellar gamma-ray emissivity have been determined at MeV-energies. Several cosmic gamma-ray bursts within the field-of-view have been located with an accuracy of about 1°. On 1991 June 9, 11 and 15, COMPTEL observed gamma-ray emission (continuum and line) from three solar flares. Also neutrons were detected from the June 9 and June 15 flares.     

A review of recent results on cosmic gamma-ray bursts

The results obtained on cosmic gamma-ray bursts over the last several years are reviewed and compared with the older “historical” results. Fine time resolution measurements of burster light curves continue to reveal structure at the millisecond and sub-millisecond level, suggesting a compact object origin. Similarly, the evolution of the low energy X-ray spectra of bursts towards shapes consistent with 1–2 keV blackbodies may be interpreted in terms of a neutron star origin, as can the continuing detection of absorption and emission features. The statistical evidence, however, argues strongly for an isotropic distribution which has been completely sampled. To reconcile this with galactic neutron stars requires the assumption that they are Population II objects. Counterpart searches have evolved to the point where they may be carried out within days of an event, and a soft X-ray source has now been detected in the error box of one recent burst.     

Pulsar studies with GRO-COMPTEL

Pulsar measurements performed by the experiment COMPTEL, aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, are described. The main results refer to the Crab and Vela pulsars whose pulse shape characteristics are given in some detail and light curves are compared with those above 50 MeV, as observed by the COS-B satellite. No other gamma-ray pulsars have been detected to date by COMPTEL, the upper limit on the pulsed signal from Geminga being compatible with indications by other experiments.     

Minimum Number of Satellites for Three-Dimensional Continuous Worldwide Coverage

Global positioning by means of satellites requires simultaneous observation by at least four satellites. The problem is to determine the minimum number of satellites and the corresponding orbital geometry necessary to satisfy this requirement on a continuous basis. To model the problem, a fixed number of users are assumed uniformly distributed in a known manner over the surface of the earth, and the satellites are restricted to exist in either three or four orbital planes. However, the orbit radius and inclination angle are left as variables. Under these assumptions, and starting with a small number of satellites which will be increased afterwards, an algorithm is developed to determine the visibility of satellites at each surface location. In this way it is possible to specify the minimum number of satellites needed by any desired orbital geometry. It is found that the number of satellites required for three-dimensional continuous worldwide coverage decreases as the orbit radius is increased. There appears to be no general trend regarding the effect of the inclination angle on the minimum number of satellites.     

Microprocessor-Controlled Digital Shunt Regulator

A new approach to the design of power systems is presented in which a microprocessor is used as a controller for a digital shunt regulator (DSR). This approach meets the demands of future space and ground missions, i. e., high efficiency, high reliability, low weight, low volume, increased flexibility, and less development time. This approach responds to future demands by permitting realtime modification of system parameters for system optimization. This feature is especially important in the event of an anomaly. As the microprocessor need not be dedicated to the DSR, it can simultaneously be used for battery management and for charge regulator/discharge regulator control. This approach also reduces the component count, simplifies assembly and testing of the unit, results in significant time saving, and increases the reliability.     

On the stereoselective aminoacylation of RNA

Aminoacylation of the “internal” 2′-hydroxyl groups of poly(A) with the imidazolide of racemic DL-leucine resulted in the formation of an enantiomeric excess of the D-ester, whereas aminoacylation with the imidazolide of racemic N-3,5-dinitrobenzoyl-DL-leucine gave an enantiomeric excess of the L-ester. Comparison of these results with those obtained earlier for alanine shows that the larger side chain tends to favor the formation of the D-ester. High resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on the D- and L-alanyl “internal” 2′-esters of 3′,5′-ApA. The resonance of the side chain methyl group of the D-ester is upfield from that of the L-ester, and the separation of the peaks increases with a decrease in temperature.