Overlapping search with scanned beam applications

Acquisition and false acquisition probabilities are derived for search including overlap between observation regions. (Gap-free search, important in many applications, frequently involves overlap.) Search patterns are included, together with system parameters and observation sequences minimizing search time. Design curves applicable to laser, radar, sonar, and other methods are used in practical examples. These examples, accounting for beam shape and receiver characteristics, show that the small overlap in these patterns compensates for beam edge effects     

Effects of Reduced SAR Azimuth Processing

Several approaches are evaluated for reducing the large data handling and processing loads associated with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems. The effects of data abbreviation on SAR images were studied theoretically as well as experimentally with SEASAT-A data. Image degradation was measured in terms of azimuth resolution and signal-to-clutter ratio. It was found that the degradation of image quality to data rate reduction is graceful. With high time-bandwidth product signals, little or no azimuth resolution degradation was noticed with several data bandwidth reduction techniques that achieve data reduction factors of up to 8. The signal-to-clutter ratio was found to decrease slowly with increasing reduction in data rate.     

Calibration techniques for magnetometers implementing on-board de-spinning algorithms

The Fluxgate Magnetometer experiments on-board the European Space Agency’s four spacecraft Cluster Mission have the capability to store sampled magnetic field vectors in the instrument memory, either as a full resolution ‘event capture’ or as spin-resolution vectors transformed into a non-spinning co-ordinate system (de-spun). The latter capability has ensured a dataset is available which extends the partial orbital coverage achieved during nominal operations in the first years of operation. The on-board de-spin is achieved using a Walsh function with Haar coefficients and allows for up to 27 h additional data per non-coverage interval. A number of commissioning orbits were used to verify the accuracy of data collected by the de-spin mode, whereby individual spacecraft were operated separately in a number of standard normal sampling and de-spin mode combinations. Up to the present time, this data has not been available to the Cluster community. We present results here comparing the performance of the on-board de-spin algorithm versus the normal sampling modes over a number of boundary layer crossings, describe the techniques used for calibration and timeline recovery, and outline the context in which the data may be usable in future studies.     

Results from the ESA SREM monitors and comparison with existing radiation belt models

The Standard Radiation Environment Monitor (SREM) is a simple particle detector developed for wide application on ESA satellites. It measures high-energy protons and electrons of the space environment with a 20° angular resolution and limited spectral information. Of the ten SREMs that have been manufactured, four have so far flown. The first model on STRV-1c functioned well until an early spacecraft failure. The other three are on-board, the ESA spacecraft INTEGRAL, ROSETTA and PROBA-1. Another model is flying on GIOVE-B, launched in April 2008 with three L-2 science missions to follow: both Herschel and Planck in 2008, and GAIA in 2011). The diverse orbits of these spacecraft and the common calibration of the monitors provides a unique dataset covering a wide range of B-L* space, providing a direct comparison of the radiation levels in the belts at different locations, and the effects of geomagnetic shielding. Data from the PROBA/SREM and INTEGRAL/IREM are compared with existing radiation belt models.     

Design for a bioreactor with sunlight supply and operations systems for use in the space environment.

An experiment was carried out to determine the characteristics of an operations system that can support fast cultivation of algae at high densities in the weightlessness of space. The experiment was conducted in glass bioreactor tanks, in which light was supplied by radiator rods connected to optical fiber cables. The illumination areas of the tanks were 2600 cm2, 6000 cm2, and 9200 cm2 per liter of solution. The characteristics of O2-CO2 gas exchange, concentration and separation of chlorella in the growth medium, dialysis of ionic salts in the growth medium, etc. were examined. Chloralla ellipsoidea was used in the experiment, yielding the following results: (1) By increasing the ratio of illumination area to volume, growth rates of up to approximately 0.6 g/L h could be obtained in a highly concentrated solution (one that contains 20 g/L or more of algae). (2) The most suitable proportions of carbon dioxide and oxygen gases for growing algae quickly at high concentrations were found to be 10% CO2 and 10% O2 (by volume). (3) There was a high optimum concentration for fast cultivation, and the data obtained resembled the theoretical curve postulated by P. Behrens et al. (4) It was possible to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen using gas-permeable membrane modules. (5) It was possible to separate the chlorella from the growth medium and recycle the medium.     

The Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) on ASTROSAT

The Scanning Sky Monitor is one of the experiments onboard the ASTROSAT, an Indian multiwavelength astronomy satellite mission. This experiment will detect and monitor X-ray transients in the energy band 2–10 keV. It is similar in design to the ASM on RXTE. It consists of position-sensitive proportional counters with one-dimensional mask. We describe the configuration of the experiment. We also discuss some of the results obtained using a detector which has already been fabricated and tested in our laboratory.     

Assessing exposure to cosmic radiation on board aircraft.

The assessment of exposure to cosmic radiation on board aircraft is one of the preoccupations of organizations responsible for radiation protection. The cosmic radiation particle flux increases with altitude and latitude and depends on the solar activity. The radiation exposure has been estimated on several airlines using transatlantic, Siberian and transequatorial routes on board subsonic and supersonic aircraft, to illustrate the effect of these parameters. Measurements have been obtained with a tissue equivalent proportional counter using the microdosimetric technique. Data have been collected at maximum solar activity in 1991-92 and at minimum in 1996-98. The lowest mean dose rate measured was 3 microSv/h during a Paris-Buenos Aires flight in 1991; the highest was 6.6 microSv/h during a Paris-Tokyo flight using a Siberian route and 9.7 microSv/h on Concorde in 1996-97. The mean quality factor is around 1.8. The corresponding annual effective dose, based on 700 hours of flight for subsonic aircraft and 300 hours for Concorde, can be estimated between 2 mSv for least-exposed routes and 5 mSv for more exposed routes.     

Performance and reliability of the NASA Biomass Production Chamber.

The Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) at the Kennedy Space Center is part of the Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) Breadboard Project. Plants are grown in a closed environment in an effort to quantify their contributions to the requirements for life support. Performance of this system is described. Also, in building this system, data from component and subsystem failures are being recorded. These data are used to identify problem areas in the design and implementation. The techniques used to measure the reliability will be useful in the design and construction of future CELSS. Possible methods for determining the reliability of a green plant, the primary component of a CELSS, are discussed.     

Oscillations of axial plant organs.

The tips of roots and shoots commonly show lateral movements as they grow forwards. These occur as both circumnutations (with long periods and large amplitudes) and micronutations (with short periods and small amplitudes). Their properties are reviewed, with emphasis on roots, and possible ways in which they could be regulated are discussed. The mechanisms could include long-range controls (for circumnutations) that depend on transmissible signals using steps common to gravitropism, and short-range controls (for micronutations) that operate within the elongation zone. The former are a property of the apex as a whole, while the latter may be confined to localized groups of cells. Simulation of nutations is presented with a view to isolating key physiological processes. However, this approach is limited by the current inadequate understanding of the growth mechanisms involved.     

A program to measure new energetic particle nuclear interaction cross sections.

The Transport Collaboration, consisting of researchers from institutions in France, Germany, Italy and the USA, has established a program to make new measurements of nuclear interaction cross sections for heavy projectiles (Z > or = 2) in targets of liquid H2, He and heavier materials. Such cross sections directly affect calculations of galactic and solar cosmic ray transport through matter and are needed for accurate radiation hazard assessment. To date, the collaboration has obtained data using the LBL Bevalac HISS facility with 20 projectiles from 4He to 58Ni in the energy range 393-910 MeV/nucleon. Preliminary results from the analysis of these data are presented here and compared to other measurements and to cross section prediction formulae.