PAMELA observational capabilities of Jovian electrons

PAMELA is a satellite-borne experiment that has been launched on June 15th, 2006. It is designed to make long duration measurements of cosmic radiation over an extended energy range. Specifically, PAMELA is able to measure the cosmic ray antiproton and positron spectra over the largest energy range ever achieved and will search for antinuclei with unprecedented sensitivity. Furthermore, it will measure the light nuclear component of cosmic rays and investigate phenomena connected with solar and earth physics. The apparatus consists of: a time of flight system, a magnetic spectrometer, an electromagnetic imaging calorimeter, a shower tail catcher scintillator, a neutron detector and an anticoincidence system. In this work a study of the PAMELA capabilities to detect electrons is presented. The Jovian magnetosphere is a powerful accelerator of electrons up to several tens of MeV as observed at first by Pioneer 10 spacecraft (1973). The propagation of Jovian electrons to Earth is affected by modulation due to Corotating Interaction Regions (CIR). Their flux at Earth is, moreover, modulated because every 13 months Earth and Jupiter are aligned along the average direction of the Parker spiral of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field.PAMELA will be able to measure the high energy tail of the Jovian electrons in the energy range from 50 up to 130 MeV. Moreover, it will be possible to extract the Jovian component reaccelerated at the solar wind termination shock (above 130 MeV up to 2 GeV) from the galactic flux.     

静电场仪校准系统的设计及仿真研究

静电场仪的精确校准对提高卫星在轨电场探测精度、保障卫星安全发射升空、精确预测雷电等具有重要意义。针对电场仪校准的需要,设计了平行极板电容式静态电场仪校准装置。利用三维电磁场仿真软件CST对标准静电场发生装置进行数值仿真,研究了校准箱内部及边缘处的静电场分布特点,分析标准极板直径和间距对边缘效应的影响,结合极板平行度对电场均匀性的影响分析,确定了校准过程中电场仪探头的最佳位置,实现静电场仪校准装置的最优化设计。     

Preparation of the Biochip experiment on the EXPOSE-R2 mission outside the International Space Station

Biochips might be suited for planetary exploration. Indeed, they present great potential for the search for biomarkers – molecules that are the sign of past or present life in space – thanks to their size (miniaturized devices) and sensitivity. Their detection principle is based on the recognition of a target molecule by affinity receptors fixed on a solid surface. Consequently, one of the main concerns when developing such a system is the behavior of the biological receptors in a space environment. In this paper, we describe the preparation of an experiment planned to be part of the EXPOSE-R2 mission, which will be conducted on the EXPOSE-R facility, outside the International Space Station (ISS), in order to study the resistance of biochip models to space constraints (especially cosmic radiation and thermal cycling). This experiment overcomes the limits of ground tests which do not reproduce exactly the space parameters. Indeed, contrary to ground experiments where constraints are applied individually and in a limited time, the biochip models on the ISS will be exposed to cumulated constraints during several months. Finally, this ISS experiment is a necessary step towards planetary exploration as it will help assessing whether a biochip can be used for future exploration missions.     

BPM授时信号传输损耗的仿真建模

为了适应BPM发播系统升级改造,需要远场监测BPM授时信号的场强,因此有必要研究短波信道传输损耗,建立适当的计算模型。通过分析现有传输损耗理论模型,综合考虑地波、天波对BPM授时信号传输损耗的影响,在Labwindows/CVI开发环境下设计了BPM授时信号场强预测软件。通过将预测值与实测值比较,表明了该软件的可行性和准确性,可用于BPM授时信号场强的远场监测。     

CFRP管件的弯曲蠕变行为试验研究

为评价航天器结构中碳纤维增强树脂基(CFRP)复合材料管件的使用可靠性,开展了三点弯曲加载条件下CFRP管件弯曲性能和蠕变行为试验研究。进行了管件弯曲模量和弯曲强度测试、500 h时长的恒温蠕变测试以及–60℃~100℃和–160℃~80℃两种高低温循环蠕变测试,获得了典型温度工况、不同应力水平作用下管件弯曲蠕变变形规律。根据测试结果,确定了基于时间–温度–应力等效原理的管件蠕变主曲线以及唯象蠕变Findley模型,预测分析了管件长期蠕变变形;采用最大应变强度准则,对该CFRP管件的强度特性和安全承载能力进行了评价。结果表明,该CFRP管件在设计服役期限内能够满足蠕变变形与强度要求。     

Occurrence of equatorial plasma bubbles over Kolhapur

This paper reports the nightglow observations of OI 630.0 nm emissions, made by using all sky imager operating at low latitude station Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E and dip lat. 10.6°N) during high sunspot number years of 24th solar cycle. The images are analyzed to study the nocturnal, seasonal and solar activity dependence occurrence of plasma bubbles. We observed EPBs in images regularly during a limited period 19:30 to 02:30 LT and reach maximum probability of occurrence at 22:30 LT. The observation pattern of EPBs shows nearly no occurrence during the month of May and it maximizes during the period October–April. The equinox and solstice seasonal variations in the occurrence of plasma bubbles show nearly equal and large differences, respectively, between years of 2010–11 and 2011–12.     

Predicting performance in manually controlled rendezvous and docking through spatial abilities

Manually controlled rendezvous and docking (manual RVD) is a challenging space task for astronauts. This study aims to identify spatial abilities that are critical for accomplishing manual RVD. Based on task analysis, spatial abilities were deduced to be critical for accomplishing manual RVD. 15 Male participants performed manual RVD task simulations and spatial ability tests (the object-manipulation spatial ability and spatial orientation ability). Participants’ performance in the test of visualization of viewpoints (which measures the spatial orientation ability) was found to be significantly correlated with their manual RVD performance, indicating that the spatial orientation ability in the sense of perspective taking is particularly important for accomplishing manual RVD.     

A comprehensive numerical model investigating the thermal-dynamic performance of scientific balloon

The increase of balloon applications makes it necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the thermal and dynamic performance of scientific balloons. This paper proposed a novel numerical model to investigate the thermal and dynamic characteristics of scientific balloon in both ascending and floating conditions. The novel model consists of a dynamic model and thermal model, the dynamic model was solved numerically by a computer program developed with Matlab/Simulink to calculate the velocity and trajectory, the thermal model was solved by the Fluent program to find out the balloon film temperature distribution and inner Helium gas velocity and temperature field. These models were verified by comparing the numerical results with experimental data. Then the thermal and dynamic behavior of a scientific balloon in a real environment were simulated and discussed in details.