Validation of the stratospheric sounding unit

The Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU) is part of the TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder) on NOAA operational meteorological satellites. SSU measurements can be validated by comparison with temperature measurements from colocated rocket sondes. Systematic differences are found which vary with rocket station and sonde and are a function of height. However, these measurements are not adequate to define the performance of individual SSUs to a precision which would allow the observations from different SSUs to be combined in the study of diurnal and semidiurnal tides and of long term trends in stratospheric temperature. Instead this is achieved by detailed radiometric and spectroscopic investigation of each individual SSU, both prior to launch and during its operational life. Using the techniques descirbed, it is demonstrated that measurements from different SSUs can be combined with a relative error of less than 0.2K in equivalent brightness temperature.     

Aircraft vertical profile implementation using directed-graphmethods

Aircraft vertical profile simulation is realized using a demand-driven minimal-calculation directed graph structure to reduce calculation time and to force synchronization of the performance measurement functions with the system state variables. Performance-directed model adaptation makes dynamic vertical profile path corrections, in the presence of fixed drag variations, possible. Drag variations ranging from +10% to -10% yielded fuel consumption improvements of less than 1% in the majority of the cases. Calculation time improvement for path simulation ranges from a factor of 1.19 in the worst case to 1.5 in the best case     

Experimental work on the aerodynamics of integrated slender wings for supersonic flight

This paper reviews an extensive programme of experimental work which was aimed at the production of integrated slender wings which had volume distributions and cross-section shapes compatible with the requirements of a supersonic transport aircraft. The wings were also to be cambered so that they were trimmed at the cruise condition about a centre of gravity position located at the aerodynamic centre position at the approach condition; furthermore the camber was to be chosen so that the drag was as low as possible. The main work was carried out about 20 years ago, but the involvement in specific design applications resulted in no overall account of the programme being published, although a number of reports on individual wings, or groups of wings, have appeared. This paper reviews the whole programme from the initial tests on very simple delta wings with diamond cross-sections to the final tests on realistic shapes which achieved almost all of the design requirements.     

An Optimal Normalization Scheme

An attitude normalization scheme, based on quaternion updates' of the attitude matrix in a strapdown system, is presented which is optimal in the two-norm sense. Furthermore, the algorithm requires minimal computer time and memory load.     

Earth benefits from space life sciences

Contributions of space exploration which are widely recognized are those dealing with the impact of space technology on public health and medical services in both urban and remote rural areas. Telecommunications, image enhancement, 3-dimensional image reconstructions, miniaturization, automation, and data analysis, have transformed the delivery of medical care and have brought about a new impetus to the field of biomedicine. Many areas of medical care and biological research have been affected. These include technological breakthroughs in such areas as: (1) diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, (2) new approaches to the understanding of osteoporosis, (3) early detection of genetic birth defects, (4) emergency medical care, and (5) treatment of chronic metabolic disorders. These are but a few examples where technology originally developed to support space medicine or space research has been applied to solving medical and health care delivery problems on Earth.     

Performance Degradation of MTI Circuits Due to Amplitude Limiting

The loss in output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to amplitude limiting is obtained for a radar circuit consisting of a bandpass limiter, coherent demodulator, matched filter, and moving-target-indicator (MTI) filter. The circuit is used in scanning MTI radars. The tandem connection of the limiter and coherent demodulator is a model for the saturation of the intermediate-frequency (IF) demodulator of an MTI radar. Results on special functions are used to obtain simple formulas for the loss in output SNR relative to a linear IF demodulator when the input SNR is less than -15 dB and the number of hits per 3-dB beamwidth exceeds 15.     

Role of calcium in gravity perception of plant roots

Calcium ions may play a key role in linking graviperception by the root cap to the asymmetric growth which occurs in the elongation zone of gravistimulated roots. Application of calcium-chelating agents to the root cap inhibits gravitropic curvature without affecting growth. Asymmetric application of calcium to one side of the root cap induces curvature toward the calcium source, and gravistimulation induces polar movement of applied ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ across the root cap toward the lower side. The action of calcium may be linked to auxin movement in roots since 1) auxin transport inhibitors interfere both with gravitropic curvature and gravi-induced polar calcium movement and 2) asymmetric application of calcium enhances auxin movement across the elongation zone of gravistimulated roots. Indirect evidence indicates that the calcium-modulated regulator protein, calmodulin, may be involved in either the transport or action of calcium in the gravitropic response mechanism of roots.     

Application of remote sensing techniques in mineral resources survey — a case study pertaining to Singhbhum Shear Zone,Bihar, India

Geological analysis and evaluation of digitally processed and enhanced LANDSAT MSS data products for three test areas of Singhbhum Shear Zone, India has led to certain significant results regarding optimisation and utility of such techniques for geological studies and obtaining additional/new information regarding lithology and structure. Three band-to-band ratio images are found to give best results. Lithologic formations could be subdivided into a number of units. The Westward and southeastward extension of the shear zone could be delineated thereby indicating scope of mineralisation in these parts.     

Skylab experiment results: hematology studies

These studies were designed and coordinated to evaluate specific aspects of man's immunologic and hematologic systems which might be altered by or respond to the space flight environment. The biochemical functions investigated included cytogenetic damage to blood cells, immune resistance to disease, regulation of plasma and red cell volumes, metabolic processes of the red blood cell, and physical chemical aspects of red blood cell functions. Only minor changes were observed in the functional capacity of erythrocytes as determined by measuring the concentrations of selected intracellular enzymes and metabolites. Tests of red cell osmotic regulation indicated some elevation in the activity of the metabolic dependent Na-K pump, with no significant alterations in the cellular Na and K concentrations or osmotic fragility. A transient shift in red cell specific-gravity profile was observed on recovery, possibly related to changes in cellular water content. Measurements of hemoconcentration (hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, red cell count) indicated significant fluctuations postflight, reflecting observed changes in red cell mass and plasma volume. There was no apparent reticulocytosis during the 18 days following the first manned Skylab mission in spite of a significant loss in red cell mass. However, the reticulocyte count and index did increase significantly 5 to 7 days after completion of the second, longer duration, flight. There were no significant changes in either the while blood cell count or differential. However, the capacity of lymphocytes to respond to an in vitro mitogenic challenge was repressed postflight, and appeared to be related to mission duration. The cause of this repression is unknown at this time. Only minor differences were observed in plasma protein patterns. In the second mission there were changes in the proteins involved in the coagulation process which suggested a hypercoagulative condition.     

Theoretical consideration of the chemical pathways for radiation-induced strand breaks.

A theoretical approach to the understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of indirect action of ionizing radiation on SV40 DNA in aqueous solution is presented. The extent of OH attack on the sugar moiety and bases has been calculated. A realistic model for the DNA (in B form) based on available X-ray diffraction data is used and specific reaction sites for the OH radicals are obtained. A Monte Carlo scheme is used to follow the diffusion and reaction of the OH radicals. Effects of track structure have been considered and the single strand break D37 values for 14 MeV electrons (low-LET) and 670 MeV/u and 40 MeV/u neon particles are presented. Calculated results are in agreement with available experimental data. It has been found that regardless of the qualities of radiation, 80% of the OH attack on DNA is on the bases and 20% is on the deoxyribose. From probability considerations only, it appears that the number of double strand breaks varies linearly with dose.