The past as prologue: a look at historical flight qualificationsfor space nuclear systems

The author examines what it means to flight qualify a space nuclear system. He reviews several qualification programs, including the general-purpose heat source radioisotope thermoelectric generators (GPHS-RTGs) as developed for the Galilee and Ulysses missions, the SNAP-10A space reactor, the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications (NERVA), the F-1 chemical engine used on the Saturn-V, and the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). Similarities and contrasts are noted     

Accurate orbit predictions for debris orbit manoeuvre using ground-based lasers

Orbit manoeuvre of low Earth orbiting (LEO) debris using ground-based lasers has been proposed as a cost-effective means to avoid debris collisions. This requires the orbit of the debris object to be determined and predicted accurately so that the laser beam can be locked on the debris without the loss of valuable laser operation time. This paper presents the method and results of a short-term accurate LEO (<900 km in altitude) debris orbit prediction study using sparse laser ranging data collected by the EOS Space Debris Tracking System (SDTS). A main development is the estimation of the ballistic coefficients of the LEO objects from their archived long-term two line elements (TLE). When an object is laser tracked for two passes over about 24 h, orbit prediction (OP) accuracy of 10–20 arc seconds for the next 24–48 h can be achieved – the accuracy required for laser debris manoeuvre. The improvements in debris OP accuracy are significant in other applications such as debris conjunction analyses and the realisation of daytime debris laser tracking.     

The local neutron flux at low earth-orbiting altitudes

The COMPTEL instrument onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) has been used to measure the variation of the atmospheric neutron flux below 5 MeV as a function of vertical cutoff rigidity and spacecraft orientation at an altitude of 450 km. The instrumental 2.2 MeV background line, resulting from thermal neutron capture on hydrogen, was used for the measurement. The dependence of the 2.2 MeV rate on rigidity and geocentre zenith can be described by an analytic function: the line rate decreases linearly with geocentre zenith, and decreases exponentially with the vertical cutoff rigidity. The flux varies on average by about a factor of 3.7 between the extremes in rigidity, and by a factor of 1.7 between the extremes of spacecraft orientation with respect to the Earth. We believe that mass shielding is more important in attenuating the atmospheric albedo than as a source of secondary neutrons. The COMF'TEL instrument is well suited for a long-duration study of the dependence of the neutron flux on the vertical cutoff rigidity and the solar cycle.     

Comparison of the transport codes HZETRN,HETC and FLUKA for galactic cosmic rays

The HZETRN deterministic radiation code is one of several tools developed to analyze the effects of harmful galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar particle events on mission planning and shielding for astronauts and instrumentation. This paper is a comparison study involving the two Monte Carlo transport codes, HETC–HEDS and FLUKA and the deterministic transport code, HZETRN. Each code is used to transport an ion from the 1977 solar minimum GCR spectrum impinging upon a 20 g/cm² aluminum slab followed by a 30 g/cm² water slab. This research is part of a systematic effort of verification and validation to quantify the accuracy of HZETRN and determine areas where it can be improved. Comparisons of dose and dose equivalent values at various depths in the water slab are presented in this report. This is followed by a comparison of the proton and forward, backward and total neutron flux at various depths in the water slab. Comparisons of the secondary light ion ²H, ³H, ³He and ⁴He fluxes are also examined.     

Combining Locations from Working Memory and Long-Term Memory into a Common Spatial Image

Abstract

This research uses a novel integration paradigm to investigate whether target locations read in from long-term memory (LTM) differ from perceptually encoded inputs in spatial working-memory (SWM) with respect to systematic spatial error and/or noise, and whether SWM can simultaneously encompass both of these sources. Our results provide evidence for a composite representation of space in SWM derived from both perception and LTM, albeit with a loss in spatial precision of locations retrieved from LTM. More generally, the data support the concept of a spatial image in working memory and extend its potential sources to representations retrieved from LTM.     

Calibration and flight results for the Ares I-X 5-hole probe

Flight and calibration results are presented for the Ares I-X 5-hole probe. The probe is calibrated by using a combination of wind tunnel, CFD, and other numerical modeling techniques. This is then applied to the probe flight data and comparisons are made between the vanes and 5-hole probe. Using this and other data it is shown the probe was corrupted by water rendering that measurement unreliable.     

Two New Landmark Navigation Methods

Two new methods for navigation on the land are reported. Both methods make use of landmarks which are in sight but whose positions are not known. Only angle measurements are needed. Although the methods were intended for guiding a Lunar Roving Vehicle as it travels on the lunar surface, they may also find applications on other planets as well as on Earth. Besides the mathematical details, two examples are also included to demonstrate the correctness of the method.     

The ESA scientific programme

The ESA scientific programme has, so far, provided several significant astrophysics experiments and further important missions are scheduled for execution during the next decade. These missions are briefly summarised together with several astrophysics investigations presently under study.     

The Genesis Discovery Mission: Return of Solar Matter to Earth

The Genesis Discovery mission will return samples of solar matter for analysis of isotopic and elemental compositions in terrestrial laboratories. This is accomplished by exposing ultra-pure materials to the solar wind at the L1 Lagrangian point and returning the materials to Earth. Solar wind collection will continue until April 2004 with Earth return in Sept. 2004. The general science objectives of Genesis are to (1) to obtain solar isotopic abundances to the level of precision required for the interpretation of planetary science data, (2) to significantly improve knowledge of solar elemental abundances, (3) to measure the composition of the different solar wind regimes, and (4) to provide a reservoir of solar matter to serve the needs of planetary science in the 21st century. The Genesis flight system is a sun-pointed spinner, consisting of a spacecraft deck and a sample return capsule (SRC). The SRC houses a canister which contains the collector materials. The lid of the SRC and a cover to the canister were opened to begin solar wind collection on November 30, 2001. To obtain samples of O and N ions of higher fluence relative to background levels in the target materials, an electrostatic mirror (‘concentrator’) is used which focuses the incoming ions over a diameter of about 20 cm onto a 6 cm diameter set of target materials. Solar wind electron and ion monitors (electrostatic analyzers) determine the solar wind regime present at the spacecraft and control the deployment of separate arrays of collector materials to provide the independent regime samples. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isothermal study of effusion cooling flows using a large eddy simulation approach

An isothermal numerical study of effusion cooling flow is conducted using a large eddy simulation(LES) approach.Two main types of cooling are considered,namely tangential film cooling and oblique patch effusion cooling.To represent tangential film cooling,a simplified model of a plane turbulent wall jet along a flat plate in quiescent surrounding fluid is considered.In contrast to a classic turbulent boundary layer flow,the plane turbulent wall jet possesses an outer free shear flow region,an inner near wall region and an interaction region,characterised by substantial levels of turbulent shear stress transport.These shear stress characteristics hold significant implications for RANS modelling,implications that also apply to more complex tangential film cooling flows with non-zero free stream velocities.The LES technique used in the current study provides a satisfactory overall prediction of the plane turbulent wall jet flow,including the initial transition region,and the characteristic separation of the zero turbulent shear stress and zero shear strain locations.Oblique effusion patch cooling is modelled using a staggered array of 12 rows of effusion holes,drilled at 30° to the flat plate surface.The effusion holes connect two channels separated by the flat plate.Specifically,these comprise of a channel representing the combustion chamber flow and a cooling air supply channel.A difference in pressure between the two channels forces air from the cooling supply side,through the effusion holes,and into the combustion chamber side.Air from successive effusion rows coalesces to form an aerodynamic film between the combustion chamber main flow and the flat plate.In practical applications,this film is used to separate the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber liner.The numerical model is shown to be capable of accurately predicting the injection,penetration,downstream decay,and coalescence of the effusion jets.In addition,the numerical model captures entrainment of the combustion chamber mainstream flow towards the wall by the presence of the effusion jets.Two contra-rotating vortices,with axes of rotation along the stream-wise direction,are predicted as a result of this entrainment.The presence and characteristics of these vortices are in good agreement with previous published research.