Radiation protection problems for the space station and approaches to their mitigation.

With the advent of a permanent manned space station the longstanding problems of radiation protection in manned spaceflight have acquired an immediacy. This paper endeavors to emphasize the gaps of our knowledge which must be closed for effective radiation protection. The information that is required includes the accurate determination of the exposure inside the space station to the various components of tile ionizing radiation, the evaluation of the biological importance of the different radiation qualities and the depth dose distribution of the less penetrating component. There is also the possibility of an interaction with weightlessness. It is necessary to establish adequate radiation protection standards and a system of dosimetric surveillance. There is a need for studies of possible methods of hardening selective shielding of the space station. Spaceflight experiments, which might contribute to the solution of some of these problems are discussed.     

The infrared synthetic spectrum of comet Halley

In order to prepare infrared sounding of comet Halley from the flyby VEGA probes, we have computed the synthetic spectrum between 2.5 and 15 μ of a typical comet at a heliocentric distance of ～ 0.8 AU. The present paper is particularly devoted to the contribution from the cometary gases. For a selection of 20 possible parent molecules, the most efficient excitation process is resonant fluorescence by the solar radiation field. The H₂O, CO, CO₂, CH₄, NH₃ and H₂CO molecules are the best candidates for detection by the IKS infrared spectrometers aboard the VEGA probes. For the water molecule, collisions are too rare to ensure thermal equilibrium in the whole coma ; therefore a limited number of fluorescence lines are expected to be present in the H₂O vibrational bands.     

Adaptive Pulse Doppler Ambiguity Resolution

This paper demonstrates and tests a new algorithm for extracting velocity information from a pulse Doppler radar signal. The system is adaptive and performs weil in the presence of target scintillation. This paper also shows a special steady-state version of the adaptive algorithm. lt is computationally attractive and produces near optimal velocity estimates.     

Significance of fluid dynamics aspects for material science experiments

Fluid dynamics aspects for material science experiments may be treated with respect to purely space experiments and preparatory experiments on the ground. Preparatory experiments are necessary because little experience of material science experiments in space is available. Preparatory experiments on earth are needed in the field of surface tension and viscosity, surface layers, forming and positioning of liquids. Concerning space experiments the following subjects may be treated: convection phenomena, capillarity and kinetics of liquids. Convection phenomena (Marangoni convection) can be studied without disturbance by gravitation which has a considerable technological relevance. Under space conditions the kinetics of fluids may be studied in large model structures with changing capillarity and wetting properties.     

Analysis of the Switched Self-Balancing Comparsion Radiometer

Analysis of the switched self-balancing comparison radiometer with coupling between the channels is given. The comparison source is a stationary, zero-mean white noise generator of known spectral density. An expression for the power spectrum at the output of the radiometer is derived. It is shown that measurement errors due to interchannel coupling can be corrected by phase switching. Radiometer sensitivity is also calculated. The switched version of the radiometer has been simulated at low frequencies and is under construction at X-band.     

Subgravity states: key to understanding the role of terrestrial gravity in human behaviour

The early orbital flights, although undertaken with considerable confidence, involved some uncertainty because of the impossibility of simulating under terrestrial conditions all of the conditions encountered in space. However, space-flight achievements by both the American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts have firmly established that man, if appropriately selected, trained, and protected by suitable life-support systems, can perform efficiently for long periods of time in the hostile environment of space. We know that the side effects of vestibular origin pose important problems in space exploration, and the neurophysiological effects of any extensive, rapid adaptation processes in subgravity states have enabled a better understanding of man's compensatory capabilities. With the successful establishment of orbiting research laboratories, an unparalleled opportunity exists that will undoubtedly enable better understanding of the role played by gravity in normal terrestrial activity, not only as it affects our vestibular physiology, but also as it may or may not concern other systems and at different organizational levels in the body.     

The relevant atomic data

The current status of the theoretical methods for producing the relevant atomic data is surveyed.Proceedings of the Conference Solar Physics from Space, held at at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), 11–14 November 1980.     

Stable mid-latitude red arcs: Observations and theory

Summary The observational features of the arc are fairly well established. At present, the thermal conduction model appears to explain the red arc features most consistently, but it must be noted that a soft electron flux would give very similar results. Ion temperature measurements in the vicinity of an arc, which should be forthcoming in the very near future, can establish conclusively whether transverse electric fields play any important role in the formation of the arcs. Accepting the assumption that the arcs are the result of energy flowing down from the plasmasphere, the major remaining question is: where does the energy come from and how does it get into the plasmasphere? The various proposed mechanisms discussed in the previous chapter appear feasible, but much work needs to be done before this problem is completely resolved.On leave from the Department of Electrical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Evaluation of Multipoint Interaction in the Design of a Thin Diffraction-Limited Active Mirror

Active control of a thin, deformable mirror is one approach to obtaining diffraction-limited performance from large orbiting telescopes. The control system design requires knowledge of the mirror reaction to the multiple forces used to maintain the desired mirror figure. A structural analysis program is used to obtain estimates of the static deflections of a point-loaded, thin, shallow, spherical primary mirror. The calculated deflections are compared to experimentally measured deflections for a specific configuration.     

Auroral electrons

Satellite and rocket measurements of auroral electrons (which have been made since Brown's (1966) and Pfister's (1967) papers have appeared) are reviewed, and the salient characteristics of auroral electrons which emerge from all types of measurements are summarized. Effects of the atmosphere on the energy distribution of electron fluxes are discussed. Ionization rates associated with typical fluxes are derived. Observable effects produced in the atmosphere and the fate of auroral electrons are briefly described.This paper does not discuss the role of auroral protons (or particles). A recent review on the subject has been given by Eather (1967).