Chaos and its avoidance in spinup dynamics of an axial dual-spin spacecraft

Attitude dynamics of a dual-spin spacecraft (DSSC) and a torque-free angular motion of a coaxial bodies system are considered. Some regimes of the heteroclinic chaos are described. The local chaotization of the DSSC is investigated at the presence of polyharmonic perturbations and small nutation restoring/overturning torques on the base of the Melnikov method and Poincaré Maps. Reasons of the chaotic regimes initiation at the spinup maneuver realization are studied. An approach for the local heteroclinic chaos escape/avoidance at the modification of the classical spinup maneuver is suggested.     

Arthropod model systems for studying complex biological processes in the space environment.

Three arthropod systems are discussed in relation to their complementary and potential use in Space Biology. In a next biosatellite flight, Drosophila melanogaster pre-adapted during several months to different g levels will be flown in an automatic device that separates parental from first and second generations. In the same flight, flies will be exposed to microgravity conditions in an automatic unit in which fly motility can be recorded. In the International Microgravity Laboratory-2, several groups of Drosophila embryos will be grown in Space and the motility of a male fly population will be video-recorded. In the Biopan, an ESA exobiology facility that can be flown attached to the exterior of a Russian biosatellite, Artemia dormant gastrulae will be exposed to the space environment in the exterior of the satellite under a normal atmosphere or in the void. Gastrulae will be separated in hit and non-hit populations. The developmental and aging response of these animals will be studied upon recovery. With these experiments we will be able to establish whether exposure to the space environment influences arthropod development and aging, and elaborate on some of the cellular mechanisms involved which should be tested in future experiments.     

A review of geostationary satellite alternatives for retrieving data from long duration balloon flights

Low speed data from high altitude scientific balloon flights can be retrieved by geostationary satellites through existing data collection platform systems. Higher speed data of the order of 1 kbit/s create a more difficult problem, particularly if a response is to be made to the balloon payload in near real time. Different geostationary satellite methods to achieve these more demanding requirements are reviewed, and the more interesting cases identified for possible future experiments.     

Synchrotron radiation as a probe of the inner magnetosphere of Jupiter

A short review is given on the characteristics of Jupiter's inner magnetosphere derived from radio observations in the decimetric wavelength range. A comparison of the data with sophisticated model calculations yields information on the magnetic field configuration and the electron distribution, its density, energy spectrum, and pitch angle dependence as a function of spatial coordinates. The latter information can be used to derive e.g. the radial diffusion parameters plus the effects of the satellites, Jupiter's ring, and wave-particle interactions upon the electron distribution.     

Plasma resonance stimulation in space plasmas

Relaxation sounders proved to work very well in dilute plasmas far from the Earth. They provide a very powerful diagnostic tool. In the solar wind and magnetosheath, they give a sure and precise measurement of the electron density. In the magnetosphere, where detailed measurements on the f_Q resonances are possible, they provide, in addition, a determination of the electron temperature and drift velocity. Moreover, the possibility of oblique echoes in this region gives the perspective of obtaining even more information on the medium by detailed interpretation of the signals.     

OB Associations, Wolf–Rayet Stars, and the Origin of Galactic Cosmic Rays

We have measured the isotopic abundances of neon and a number of other species in the galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) using the Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer (CRIS) aboard the ACE spacecraft. Our data are compared to recent results from two-component (Wolf–Rayet material plus solar-like mixtures) Wolf–Rayet (WR) models. The three largest deviations of galactic cosmic ray isotope ratios from solar-system ratios predicted by these models, ¹²C/¹⁶O, ²²Ne/²⁰Ne, and ⁵⁸Fe/⁵⁶Fe, are very close to those observed. All of the isotopic ratios that we have measured are consistent with a GCR source consisting of ∼20% of WR material mixed with ∼80% material with solar-system composition. Since WR stars are evolutionary products of OB stars, and most OB stars exist in OB associations that form superbubbles, the good agreement of our data with WR models suggests that OB associations within superbubbles are the likely source of at least a substantial fraction of GCRs. In previous work it has been shown that the primary ⁵⁹Ni (which decays only by electron-capture) in GCRs has decayed, indicating a time interval between nucleosynthesis and acceleration of >10⁵ y. It has been suggested that in the OB association environment, ejecta from supernovae might be accelerated by the high velocity WR winds on a time scale that is short compared to the half-life of ⁵⁹Ni. Thus the ⁵⁹Ni might not have time to decay and this would cast doubt upon the OB association origin of cosmic rays. In this paper we suggest a scenario that should allow much of the ⁵⁹Ni to decay in the OB association environment and conclude that the hypothesis of the OB association origin of cosmic rays appears to be viable.