Seasonal,annual, and interannual variability in MLT quasi-two-day waves over the low-latitude region Kolhapur (16.8°N; 74.2°E)

This study presents the quasi-two-day wave (Q2DW) characteristics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region obtained by taking hourly mean values of horizontal wind velocities for 4? years (August 2013–July 2017) through continuous measurements using a medium-frequency (MF) radar (operating frequency – 1.98?MHz) located at the low-latitude Indian station Kolhapur (16.8°N; 74.2°E). The MF radar located at Kolhapur was upgraded in 2013, and these results of Q2DW have been reported for the first time after upgrading. The present study investigated variability in seasonal, annual, interannual, and solar indices of Q2DWs traveling in zonal (EW) and meridional (NS) components in the MLT region. The Q2DW activity is observed to be stronger during austral summer (January–February) (EW?=?～5?m/s and NS?=?～8–10?m/s) than during boreal summer (June–July) (EW = ～5 m/s and NS = ～6–8?m/s). The Q2DW amplitudes are larger in the meridional component than in the zonal one. A strong semiannual oscillation (SAO) has been observed in Q2DWs, with peak during January–February and June–July. In addition, small enhancement is seen in meridional Q2DW in October (～5–6?m/s). It is observed that the entire spectrum (40–60?h) measured between 86 and 94?km contributes to the SAO amplitudes during January–February and June–July, whereas the waves measured between 42?h and 52?h contribute to enhancement in October similar to that reported elsewhere. In general, the Q2DW amplitude shows large interannual variability. The easterlies developed in the global circulation model in Northern hemisphere during May intensify up to around summer solstice. Q2DW activity peaks during westerly shear zone and intensifies with time at a lower thermospheric altitude (above 90?km). Small positive correlations (r?=?0.2 for sunspot number and r?=?0.1 for 10.7?cm solar flux) have been observed between Q2DW amplitudes and solar activity.     

Energetic neutron and gamma-ray spectra under the earth radiation belts according to “SALUTE-7”-“KOSMOS-1686” orbital complex and “CORONAS-i” satellite data

The spectra of neutrons >10 MeV and gamma-rays 1.5–100 MeV under the Earth Radiation Belts, restored from the data, obtained onboard orbital complex “SALUTE-7”-“KOSMOS-1686”, are presented. The spectra shapes are similar to those for albedo neutrons and gamma-rays, but absolute values of their fluxes (0.2 cm⁻² s⁻¹ for neutrons, 0.8 cm⁻² s⁻¹ for gamma-rays at the equator and 1.2 cm⁻² s⁻¹, 1.9 cm⁻² s⁻¹, accordingly, at L=1.9) are several times as large. It is possibly explained by the fact that most of the detected particles were produced by the cosmic ray interactions with the orbital complex matter. Neutron and gamma-ray fluxes obtained from “CORONAS-I” data are near those for albedo particles.     

Morphology of high latitude auroral electron precipitations obtained by the Aureol-3 satellite

Latitudinal distribution of auroral electron precipitations was studied using the Aureol-3 satellite data. Analysis of 148 events in the morning, night, and evening sectors showed that structures of all types have a wide MLT distribution. However, during low geomagnetic activity the distribution of latitudinally asymmetric events is close to Iijima and Potemra's Region 1 and 2 current picture: the equatorward events prevail in the morning and postmidnight sectors, and the polarward ones — in the evening and premidnight. An increase in geomagnetic activity makes the MLT distribution of different types of events more uniform. This fact may indicate existence of the multi-layer structure of currents and consequently medium scale electric fields, in which the maximum currents considerably exceed the average values observed in the Region 1 and 2.     

Some novel aspects of cometary research

In spite of numerous observations and intense theoretical work already accomplished, many important questions concerning comets remain unsolved. The origin of comets is far from being elucidated. The nature of comets, of their nuclei seems to be reasonably described by the model of Whipple, yet their very structure and constitution remain hypothetical. The complex internal dynamics of active comets awaits a detailed explanation. One of the outstanding problems pertains to the very nature of the residual material remaining after the outgasing of the cometary nucleus. The problem is connected with the presence of organic matter, of their constituents as well as aggregates important to the development of life and to the hypothetical influence of such ingredients on the evolution of its forms already existing on some celestial bodies.It is obvious that irrespective to the recently devised methods and instruments new developments are needed. The paper attempts to show some novel ways of exploration of comets by the use of astronautical means. Recommendations for the realization of such future cometary missions are presented.     

Simplified parametric cost trade-offs in satellite system design

In this paper, a parametric cost model for the space segment of a meteorological satellite system is derived and exercised to provide insight into the major economic trade-offs affecting the choice of the satellite's design life and replacement strategy. Trade-offs involving replacement strategy include launch via an expendable booster versus launch via the Space Shuttle; and recovery, repair, and reuse of a failed satellite versus simple replacement with no reuse.

The sensitivities of space segment costs to design life, launch costs, replacement costs, and refurbishment costs are examined with explicit inclusion of nonrecurring and recurring costs.

The results from an application of the model indicate that routine spacecraft retrieval and reuse of a modestly expensive spacecraft is not a significant economic benefit and that design lifetimes of three or four years are the best choice.     

The discovery of a 25 min regular modulation in the X-ray flux from 2S0142+61

A 13 hr observation of 2S0142+61 on 1984 August 27 by EXOSAT shows the X-ray flux of 2S0142+61 to be modulated with a period of 1456+/-6 s. The 1–10 keV spectrum is two component with a 0.7 keV thermal and 0.0 energy index power law, with 30% of the total luminosity in the thermal component. The spectrum is absorbed by 1 × 10²² H cm^-2. Only the hard component is pulsed with a 3 to 10 keV peak to mean amplitude of 35%. Below 2 keV the modulation is less than a few percent. The total 1–10 keV luminosity is 3.5 × 1032 erg s^-1 for a distance of 100 pc. Possible optical counterparts are discussed.     

Fine scale temporal structures in solar hard X-ray bursts observed by PHEBUS

We report here on preliminary results of a systematic study of fast temporal fluctuations in impulsive and extended solar X-ray bursts observed by PHEBUS at energies around 100 keV. Subsecond timescales are quite common in the impulsive events and are not observed in extended ones.     

Observations of fragmented energy release

Energy release into coronal plasmas is observable in the forms of heating and acceleration. In flares and active stars, heating and acceleration have been found to be related as indicated by an approximately constant ratio of microwave (synchrotron) and soft X-ray (thermal) emission. The discovery suggests a flare-like heating process for the quiescent coronae of active stars.The energy release in solar flares involves several time scales: (i) The largest is the rate of homologous flares in an active region of the order of one per five hours. (ii) Hard X-ray andH emissions suggest a total flare duration of ten minutes, (iii) with individual episodes of contiguous acceleration of one minute. (iv) Elementary hard X-ray peaks have 5–10 s duration, corresponding to groups of beams observable as type III radio bursts. (v) The effective injection time of these beams is of the order 0.1 s. (vi) The smaller time scale is observed in narrowband radio spikes in the 0.2–8 GHz range with durations of a few times 0.01 s.     

Dynamic compensator design in nonlinear aerospace systems

Based on differential algebraic results, dynamic controllers are proposed for the feedback regulation of typical aerospace systems. Fliess's generalized observability canonical form (GOCF) is used for specifying a dynamic compensator that smoothly regulates the plant dynamics. The synthesis approach used is also applicable to the design of nonlinear pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) controllers, as well as to sliding-mode control strategies. The three underlying nonlinear control techniques, explored with the aid of illustrative examples, are commonly encountered in aerospace control system design problems. Simulations are also included