High energy cosmic ray nuclei results on Ulysses: 1. Mission overview

The cosmic ray flux observed with the Kiel Electron Telescope on board the ULYSSES spaceprobe varies with solar activity as well as with heliospheric position. Determination of the latitudinal gradients requires a careful analysis of the influences of the current sheet tilt angle, the number of major solar flares, interplanetary shocks and interaction regions evolving in the expanding solar wind. In this paper we concentrate on nuclei with rigidity above 1 GV. We discuss the effects of the variable solar activity in the declining phase of the present solar cycle and the variation with radial distance as a basis for separating latitudinal effects. We show that during this phase of the solar cycle modulation of GV nuclei is ordered by temporal evolution, radial distance and negligible latitudinal effects even at latitudes between 30° and 50° South.     

The importance of downstream aspects: what can space offer the user?

This report on the commercial benefits of space does not seek to cover in depth all user sectors, but rather to establish an overview of what can be expected by users from the use of space. The growth of applications of technology to projects in the space field has been so rapid and broad, that it has overtaken the level of awareness by many sectors of the community of the benefits that space applications can offer. There is therefore a great need to broaden and deepen the level of awareness by many in the world community of what space is all about. These opportunities apply as much to the developing countries of the world as the developed ones.     

Asia in space: The awakening of China and Japan

The increasingly important role of China and Japan in international space activities can be seen as a threat to the two great space-exporting powers, the USA and Europe. China is already a competitor on the satellite launch market, and will soon be able to market satellites which are simpler and cheaper than those offered by Western industry. Japan is making steady progress towards autonomy in all fields of space technology. This article details the space experience of China and Japan. They are following different paths but both will have a strong presence in the cosmos by the year 2000.     

Security implications of remote sensing

Major technical advances in remote sensing have developed sophisticated systems with both extensive military and civilian applications. Not only the USA and USSR, but a growing number of other countries such as China, France, India and Japan are actively engaged in remote-sensing R&D. This article reviews the capabilities of civilian satellite technologies and programmes of various nations, and examines the implications for national and international security. Many states are concerned about the commercial availability of data on their economic resources and national security-related activities. A particular problem is the possible misinterpretation of remotely-sensed data.     

High energy cosmic-ray nuclei results on Ulysses: 2. Effects of a recurrent high-speed stream from the southern polar coronal hole

Since June 1992 the Kiel Electron Telescope on board ULYSSES measures 26-day variations of the order of 6% in the fluxes of high energy H and He. In May 1993 ULYSSES entered into the unipolar region of the southern polar coronal hole, but continued to observe similar effects: increases in the MeV proton channels due to acceleration near the shocks of the corotating interaction region and decreases in the intensity of galactic nuclei associated with the same region. Amplitude variations are presented for different magnetic rigidities and the effects are discussed in view of corotating shock development in a 3-dimensional heliospheric structure.     

A cost-engineered launch vehicle for space tourism

The paper starts with a set of major requirements for a space tourism vehicle and discusses major vehicle options proposed for this purpose. It seems that the requirements can be met best with a Ballistic SSTO Vehicle which has the additional advantage of lowest development cost compared to other launch vehicle options — important for a commercial development venture.

The BETA Ballistic Reusable Vehicle Concept is characterized by the plug nozzle cluster engine configuration where the plug nozzle serves also as base plate and re-entry heat shield. In this case no athmospheric turn maneuver is required (as in case-of the front-entry Delta-Clipper DC-Y concept). In our specific case for space tourism this mode has the avantage that the forces at launch and reentry are in exactly the same direction, easing passenger seating arrangements. The second basic advantage is the large available volume on top of the vehicle providing ample space for passenger accomodation, visibility and volume for zero-g experience (free floating), one of the major passenger mission requirements. An adequate passenger cabin design for 100 passengers is presented, as well as the modern BETA-STV Concept with its mass allocations.