Thermal model and thermo-mechanical stresses in cometary nuclei

Spherically symmetric radial temperature profiles of cometary nuclei have been determined numerically (and for simplified models analytically) in dependence on the orbital position of the periodic comet Halley. These temperature fields in the nucleus are connected with thermal stress fields which have been calculated with the assumption of elastic properties of cometary matter. The remarkable result is the possible existence of stresses, strong enough to cause internal cracking of the nucleus and break-ups of the cometary surface. This may be essential understanding normal cometary activity as well as outbursts and splits.     

Monitoring the changing aereal extent of irrigated lands of the gefara plain,libya

The inventory of large often non-homogeneous tracts of land by resource agencies has led to the development of estimation methods and sampling strategies that produce estimates of the aereal extent of various features from ‘limited’ observations of the universe of interest. Landsat data has furnished a tool that allows for potential improvement in estimates of resource parameters over extensive areas. This paper examines the methodology and results of a procedure which uses an economical sampling procedure allied with the large area covering qualities of the satellite imaging system to make improved estimates of irrigated land in a more timely, efficient and ‘accurate’ manner.     

WMO FGGE navaid system

To meet the scientific objectives of the Global Weather Experiment (FGGE) the availability of the detailed vertical wind structure especially in the tropics was considered to be crucial. The Tropical Wind Observing Ships (TWOS) System was implemented to supplement the land-based data during FGGE. Many of the ships which participated in this observing system did not have upper-air observing equipment on board. A Navaid-based sounding system was developed and purchased for these ships through WMO co-ordination and international funding.The paper describes the principles of the Navaid windfinding technique, the hardware solution for the WMO FGGE Navaid Sounding System, the implementation of Navaid data collection and processing, and an assessment of the quality of data acquired.     

Potential starter/generator technologies for future aerospaceapplications

This paper presents a search and comparative review of the literature available on variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) technologies. In particular, most of the progress made in the past ten years, using power electronics and electric machines for VSCF systems, is reported. Two VSCF systems, based on induction and switched reluctance machine technologies are presented. The research on the singly- and doubly-fed induction machines has focused on VSCF for wind power generation, whereas that on switched reluctance machines has been directly studied as a VSCF technology in aircraft systems. Results obtained so far favor the switched reluctance machine over the induction machine. Based on the foregoing comparative review, it is recommended that the induction machine be fully investigated as a VSCF drive for aircraft systems. The findings should then be compared with the counterpart SRM system. Issues of comparison may include fault tolerance and redundancy, power density, torque requirements, overload ratings, temperature range and cooling, efficiency and stability over expected operating speed range     

Formation of oligopeptides on the surface of small bodies in solar system by cosmic radiation.

The present experiment indicates that oligopeptides are easily produced in solid state from mixtures of simple amino acids by irradiating with high energy charged particles. We investigated such amino acids and their mixtures as tryptophan, tyrosine and glycine. The thin films was irradiated with protons (6.6 MeV). Such dipeptides as Trp-Trp, Gly-Tyr, Tyr-Gly, and Tyr-Tyr have been detected as products of irradiation. Cosmic rays might be an effective energy source for abiotic formation of bioorganic compounds on the surface of small bodies in the solar system on early stage of formation of planets as well as at present day.     

Extreme ultraviolet observations of the solar corona: First results from the coronal diagnostic spectrometer on SOHO

We present first results from the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) aboard the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). CDS is a double spectrometer operating in the 151–785 Å range. This region of the solar spectrum is rich in emission lines from trace elements in the solar atmosphere, which can be used to derive diagnostic information on coronal and transition region plasmas. Early spectra are presented and well identified lines are listed. In addition, examples of images in selected wavelength ranges are shown, for a prominence, a loop system and a bright point, demonstrating well the power of such extreme ultraviolet observations.     

Advanced Electronic Integration Techniques Architecture

RCA has developed an implementation independent architecture to integrate electrical/electronic subsystems. The architecture described in this paper is easily upgradable and features deep integration, a high degree of modularity and common modules structured around standard interfaces. These features give the architecture a degree of flexibility and technology robustness seldom found in military applications. Although the requirements driving the architecture were developed from land combat vehicle applications, the architecture is equally applicable to any embedded system. This paper describes the architecture, its key attributes and benefits, and stresses the importance of standard interfaces.     

Effects of electrostatic forces on the vertical structure of planetary rings

We have calculated the vertical structure of planetary dust rings as it results from a balance between an electrostatic force on the dust grains and the vertical component of the gravitational force from the central planet. The electrostatic force results from the charging of the dust grains by the ambient plasma and a large scale electric field due to a shielding electric field and the resulting vertical dust distribution are strongly dependent on dust size, dust and plasma density, plasma temperature and plasma ion type. The dust density distribution has a different dependence on these parameters in tenuous and in dense dust rings. We solve the relevant equations numerically and also by linearization in the limiting cases of tenuous or dense rings. Our results indicate that the effects treated in this paper may be important in both Jupiter's and Saturn's rings.     

3-D TV without glasses

A hologram-like, 3-D, high-resolution, stereoscopic video display technique based on a color CRT is described. The technique is unique in that it is autostereoscopic, i.e., no special glasses, goggles, panels, helmets, or two-channel optical systems are required by the viewer to see depth. Any image that can be put into a television-like format can be displayed. This allows real-time scanning sensor data to be viewed with depth in a format familiar to the viewer. An implementation using real-time sensors is shown     

Adaptive field-oriented control of an IM using predictive control

A novel adaptive control algorithm for the field-oriented control of a CSI-fed induction machine is presented. It includes an adaptive flux model for determining the position and magnitude of the rotor field vector, which avoids the need to obtain the orientation and magnitude of the flux for purposes of feedback. This online estimation of field vector requires the measurements of stator voltage and rotor speed. The algorithm has been tested by simulating the machine using a digital computer. The controller perform well, and the machine parameters are estimated with reasonable accuracy. The controller has a self-adjusting mechanism and adjusts itself to any variation of machine parameters during operation. It can be applied to any machine and requires no tuning. The scheme is being tested on a machine inverter setup controlled by a microcomputer