Intelsat's next generation satellite for the Americas

In order to meet the growing demand for high performance C- and Ku-Band services in the Americas, INTELSAT contracted with Astrium in February 2000 to procure a high capacity communications spacecraft for its 310°E operational location. The spacecraft platform is based on Astrium's next generation platform, the Eurostar 3000. Several new technologies such as integrated Data Handling System, Plasma Propulsion System, etc. are integral features of this platform. The communication payload comprises 36 C-Band and 20 high power Ku-Band transponders. The beam coverages are tailored for the 310°E orbital location and are implemented using a hybrid shaped antenna design approach, where multiple C-Band coverages are generated from a single shaped reflector utilizing a pair of Tx/Rx feed horns for each coverage. The Ku-Band coverages are generated by the classical dual Gregorian shaped reflector antenna design approach. With a total dry mass on the order of 2650 kg and a separated launch mass of 5400 kg, the spacecraft is compatible with most of the available launch vehicles providing mission life of greater than 13 years. The paper will provide technical details of the spacecraft.     

DIRECT NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF MULTIPHASE FLOWS

INTRODUCTIONMultiphase and multifluid flows are commonin many natural and technologically importantprocesses. Rain,spray combustion,spray paint-ing,and boiling heat transfer are just a few ex-amples.While it is the overall,integral charac-teristics of such flows that are of most interest,the global behavior is determined to a large de-gree by the evolution of the smallestscales in theflow.The combustion of sprays,for example,depends on the size and the number density ofthe drops.Generally…     

On ULF Signatures of Lightning Discharges

Recent works on magnetic signatures due to distant lightning discharges are reviewed. Emphasis is laid on magnetic signatures in the ULF range (in the old definition from less than 1 mHz up to 1 Hz), that is in the frequency range below the Schumann resonance. These signatures are known to be of importance for the excitation of the ionospheric Alfvén resonator (IAR) which works only at night time conditions. This emphasizes the difference between night and day time ULF signatures of lightning. The IAR forms a link between the atmosphere and magnetosphere. Similarities and differences of this link in the VLF (Trimpi effect) and ULF range are worked out. A search for a unique signature of sprite-associated positive cloud-to-ground (⁺CG) lightning discharges ended with a negative result. In this context, however, a new model of lightning-associated induced mesospheric currents was built. Depending on mesospheric condition it can produce magnetic signatures in the entire frequency range from VLF, ELF to ULF. In the latter case it can explain signatures known as the Ultra Slow Tail of ⁺CG lightning discharges. A current problem on the magnetic background noise intensity has been solved by taking more seriously the contribution of ⁺CG lightning discharges to the overall background noise. Their low occurrence rate is more than compensated by their large and long lasting continuing currents. By superposed epoch analysis it could be shown that the ULF response to ^?CG is one to two orders smaller that in case of ⁺CG with similar peak current values of the return stroke.     

Updated Review of Planetary Atmospheric Electricity

This paper reviews the progress achieved in planetary atmospheric electricity, with focus on lightning observations by present operational spacecraft, aiming to fill the hiatus from the latest review published by Desch et al. (Rep. Prog. Phys. 65:955–997, 2002). The information is organized according to solid surface bodies (Earth, Venus, Mars and Titan) and gaseous planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune), and each section presents the latest results from space-based and ground-based observations as well as laboratory experiments. Finally, we review planned future space missions to Earth and other planets that will address some of the existing gaps in our knowledge.     

Asymmetric precipitation in a coronal loop as explanation of a singular observed spectrum

Almost 10 years of solar submillimeter observations have shown new aspects of solar activity, such as the presence of rapid solar spikes associated with the launch of coronal mass ejections and an increasing submillimeter spectral component in flares. We analyse the singular microwave–submillimeter spectrum of an M class solar flare on 20 December, 2002. Flux density observations measured by Sun patrol telescopes and the Solar Submillimeter Telescope are used to build the radio spectrum, which is fitted using Ramaty’s code. At submillimeter frequencies the spectrum shows a component different from the microwave classical burst. The fitting is achieved proposing two homogeneous sources of emission. This theoretical fitting is in agreement with differential precipitation through a magnetically asymmetric loop or set of loops. From a coronal magnetic field model we infer an asymmetric magnetic structure at the flare location. The model proposed to quantify the differential precipitation rates due to the asymmetry results in a total precipitation ratio Q₂/Q₁≈10⁴–10⁵, where Q₁(Q₂) represents the total precipitation in the loop foot with the high (low) magnetic field intensity. This ratio agrees with the electron total number ratio of the two sources proposed to fit the radio spectrum.     

On the different approaches of Rayleigh optical depth determination

Rayleigh optical depth is an integral part of many radiative transfer problems. This paper discusses different elements and approaches of its determination. Then, it presents a method, which ensures more realistic estimate of Rayleigh optical depth by using refractive index and depolarization factor (including rotational Raman lines) adjusted according to the state and composition of the atmosphere. It is based on the published experimental and theoretical results. The Rayleigh optical depth calculations are compared with the Elterman’s model calculations for trend analysis purpose. Rayleigh optical depths are found to be around 3.4% lower than previous researchers, as they ignored the constraints of conservation of angular momentum in the rotational/vibrational transitions of the molecules during scattering.     

Plasmaspheric Density Structures and Dynamics: Properties Observed by the CLUSTER and IMAGE Missions

Plasmaspheric density structures have been studied since the discovery of the plasmasphere in the late 1950s. But the advent of the Cluster and Image missions in 2000 has added substantially to our knowledge of density structures, thanks to the new capabilities of those missions: global imaging with Image and four-point in situ measurements with Cluster. The study of plasma sources and losses has given new results on refilling rates and erosion processes. Two-dimensional density images of the plasmasphere have been obtained. The spatial gradient of plasmaspheric density has been computed. The ratios between H⁺, He⁺ and O⁺ have been deduced from different ion measurements. Plasmaspheric plumes have been studied in detail with new tools, which provide information on their morphology, dynamics and occurrence. Density structures at smaller scales have been revealed with those missions, structures that could not be clearly distinguished before the global images from Image and the four-point measurements by Cluster became available. New terms have been given to these structures, like “shoulders”, “channels”, “fingers” and “crenulations”. This paper reviews the most relevant new results about the plasmaspheric plasma obtained since the start of the Cluster and Image missions.     

Composition of Interstellar Neutrals and the Origin of Anomalous Cosmic Rays

Knowledge of the elemental composition of the interstellar gas is of fundamental importance for understanding galactic chemical evolution. In addition to spectroscopic determinations of certain element abundance ratios, measurements of the composition of interstellar pickup ions and Anomalous Cosmic Rays (ACRs) have provided the principal means to obtain this critical information. Recent advances in our understanding of particle acceleration processes in the heliosphere and measurements by the Voyagers of the energy spectra and composition of energetic particles in the heliosheath provide us with another means of determining the abundance of the neutral components of the local interstellar gas. Here we compare the composition at the termination shock of six elements obtained from measurements of (a) pickup ions at ～5 AU, (b) ACRs in the heliosphere at ～70 AU, and (c) energetic particles as well as (d) ACRs in the heliosheath at ～100 AU. We find consistency among these four sets of derived neutral abundances. The average interstellar neutral densities at the termination shock for H, N, O, Ne and Ar are found to be 0.055±0.021 cm^?3, (1.44±0.45)×10^?5 cm^?3, (6.46±1.89)×10^?5 cm^?3, (8.5±3.3)×10^?6 cm^?3, and (1.08±0.49)×10^?7 cm^?3, respectively, assuming the He density is 0.0148±0.002 cm^?3.     

The Dynamic Heliosphere: Outstanding Issues

Properties of the heliospheric interface, a complex product of an interaction between charged and neutral particles and magnetic fields in the heliosphere and surrounding Circumheliospheric Medium, are far from being fully understood. Recent Voyager spacecraft encounters with the termination shock and their observations in the heliosheath revealed multiple energetic particle populations and noticeable spatial asymmetries not accounted for by the classic theories. Some of the challenges still facing space physicists include the origin of anomalous cosmic rays, particle acceleration downstream of the termination shock, the role of interstellar magnetic fields in producing the global asymmetry of the interface, the influence of charge exchange and interstellar neutral atoms on heliospheric plasma flows, and the signatures of solar magnetic cycle in the heliosheath. These and other outstanding issues are reviewed in this joint report of working groups 4 and 6.