A Study of a Possible Method of Observing Solar Eclipses from Satellite Orbits

We study a possibility of observing the eclipses of the Sun by the Moon from satellite orbits. The scientific tasks planned to be solved onboard satellites are considered. The requirements for the observation of eclipses and for the appropriate satellite trajectories are formulated. A technique of the analysis and synthesis of such trajectories is developed, and some results of preliminary ballistic studies are presented. These results confirm the efficiency of observing the eclipses onboard satellites.     

Bursts of geomagnetic pulsations in the frequency range 0.2-5 Hz excited by large changes of the solar wind pressure

We present the results of studying the magnetospheres’s response to sharp changes of the solar wind flow (pressure) based on observations of variations of the ions flux of the solar wind onboard the Inreball-1 satellite and of geomagnetic pulsations (the data of two mid-latitude observatories and one auroral observatory are used). It is demonstrated that, when changes of flow runs into the magnetosphere, in some cases short (duration ~ < 5 min) bursts of geomagnetic pulsations are excited in the frequency range Δf~ 0.2–5 Hz. The bursts of two types are observed: noise bursts without frequency changes and wide-band ones with changing frequency during the burst. A comparison is made of various properties of these bursts generated by pressure changes at constant velocity of the solar wind and by pressure changes on the fronts of interplanetary shock waves at different directions of the vertical component of the interplanetary magnetic field.     

Spacecraft “Foton-M” in-flight thermal conditions

The problem of thermal conditions aboard the “Foton-M” spacecraft during its orbital flight is under consideration in this paper. The problem is very acute for performing microgravity experiments onboard of the orbital platform, because on one hand, many experiments need a definite temperature range to be performed, and on the other hand all electrical devices aboard radiate heat. To avoid uncontrolled heating of the environment special heat exchangers are used. To transport heat from different places of the capsule to heat exchanger special fans are installed given definite orientation. All the heat exchange facilities should be designed in advance being adjusted to current capsule loading and heat radiation by equipment. Thus special tools are needed predicting the capsule thermal conditions being function of equipment placement.The present paper introduces a new developed prognostic mathematical model able to forecast temperature distribution inside the capsule with account of fan induced air flows, thermal irradiation by scientific equipment and heat losses due to cooling system.     

AVS-F observations of γ-ray emission during January 20, 2005 solar flare up to 140 MeV

The solar flare of January 20, 2005 (X7.1, 06:36–07:26 UT, maximum at 07:01 UT by the GOES soft X-ray data) was the most powerful one in January 2005 series. The AVS-F apparatus onboard CORONAS-F registered γ-emission during soft X-ray rising phase of this flare in two energy ranges of 0.1–20 MeV and 2–140 MeV. The highest γ-ray energy registered during this flare was ∼140 MeV. Six spectral features were registered in energy spectrum of this solar flare: annihilation + αα (0.4–0.6 MeV), ²⁴Mg + ²⁰Ne + ²⁸Si + neutron capture (1.7–2.3 MeV), ²¹Ne + ²²Ne + ¹⁶O + ¹²С (3.2–5.0 MeV), ¹⁶O (5.3–6.9 MeV), one from neutral pions decay (25–110 MeV) and one in energy band 15–21 MeV. Four of them contain typical for solar flares lines – annihilation, nuclear de-excitation and neutron capture at ¹H. Spectral feature caused by neutral pions decay was registered during several flares too. Some spectral peculiarities in the region of 15–21 MeV were first observed in solar flare energy spectrum.     

Dark matter in very poor galaxy groups

We have analyzed a sample of 7000 galaxies in the Local Supercluster (LS) (V < 3100 km/s) selected from the LEDA database [Makarov, D.I., Karachentsev, I.D. A new catalogue of multiple galaxies in the local supercluster small galaxy groups. Small Galaxy Groups ASP Confer. Ser. 209, 40–46, 2000]. We have derived physical properties of poor LS groups selected by dynamical and 3D-Voronoi tessellation methods. Median values of mass-to-luminosity ratios for poor LS groups selected by these methods are 50 M_⊙/L_⊙ and 34 M_⊙/L_⊙, respectively. Physical parameters of LS galaxy triplets in comparison with other samples were evaluated. We suggest that the Dressler effect is present even in such poor groups as galaxy triplets. The data suggest that dark matter haloes are associated with the individual galaxies for LS triplets, which we find are dynamically younger systems. This contrasts with the properties of the Interacting and Northern & Southern triplet samples. For these two samples, the data suggest that the dark matter resides in a common halo. The median values of the mass-to-luminosity ratios for LS triplets, Northern & Southern triplets, and Interacting triplets are 35 M_⊙/L_⊙, 47 M_⊙/L_⊙, and 13 M_⊙/L_⊙, respectively.     

A Data Compression Technique for Synthetic Aperture Radar Images

A data compression technique is developed for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. The technique is based on an SAR image model and is designed to preserve the local statistics in the image by an adaptive variable rate modification of block truncation coding (BTC). A data rate of approximately 1.6 bit/pixel is achieved with the technique while maintaining the image quality and cultural (pointlike) targets. The algorithm requires no large data storage and is computationally simple.     

On different sensitivities of microorganisms to lowered gravitation

The influence of lowered gravitation on biomass and CO₂ production in $\text{B.megaterium}$, a xerophyte, and $\text{Spirillum azotocolligens}$, an aqueous spirillum, in liquid nutrient medium on a horizontal clinostat at 0.1 $\text{g}$ has been studied. As controls we considered: 1) growth under stationary conditions of cultivation with test tubes oriented horizontally; 2) growth on a synchronously revolving centrifuge; and 3) growth on a swing with stirring. A horizontal clinostat at 0.1 g stimulates biomass production and CO₂ release in $\text{B.megaterium}$ as compared with the controls. $\text{Spirillum azotocolligens}$ growth is reduced as a result of clinostating. The best development and CO₂ production are observed under stationary conditions. The results do not support the assumption that microorganisms living in water are more resistant to lowered gravitation than those living in soil.     

Computational modeling of interference between helicopter main and tail rotors based on nonlinear blade vortex model

The Mi-2 helicopter was taken as an example for modeling the main and tail rotors operation with account for the interference at low speed sliding flight. Aerodynamic characteristics were calculated. The form of nonlinear vortical wake was obtained.     

Profiling of flow passage in axial radial-flow compressor impellers

A procedure of calculating an axial radial-flow centrifugal stage is considered. Using the gas-dynamically expedient load ratio distribution in profile, the process of impeller flow passage profiling is described. Also given are some techniques for decreasing or eliminating a wake zone as well as a graph of loss dependence on the divergence factor and velocity deceleration on the rarefaction side of the blade channel at the impeller outlet.