Current collection through the transport of electrons across magnetic field lines

Collection of electrons by a long conducting cylinder in a flowing plasma is studied by means of numerical simulations. The plasma flow simulates the relative motion between a spacecraft and plasma. The sheath structures and the levels of electron current collections for the cases with and without an ambient magnetic field ( ) are studied. It is found that for the flow perpendicular to the magnetic field, the current is considerably enhanced depending on the relative drift velocity. In the case of a non-zero magnetic field perpendicular to the cylinder axis, the potential structure is a two-dimensional double layer with dimensions L L_|, where L and L_| are the dimensions perpendicular and parallel to , respectively. L is found to be the current limiting radius given by the Parker-Murphy model. For the flow along , the electron current is found to be smaller than that for the flow perpendicular to . This is explained in terms of the potential structures.     

Observation of fundamental magnetoplasma emissions excited in magnetosphere by modulated electron beams

There were several cases when modulated electron beam had been injected from APEX satellite into an otherwise unmodified ionospheric plasma. The beams were formed from 2 μs pulses repeated at a rate of 40kHz. Injections took place in the altitude range 400–1100km over Europe. The onboard receiver connected to the dipole antenna swept the frequency interval 1–10 MHz in 1 sec. Due to a relatively narrow receiver bandwidth (15 kHz), moderate frequency step (50 kHz), slow changes of f_n and f_c (local electron plasma and gyro frequencies) fine structure of excited emissions was detected. In many cases, a very prominent doublet could be convincingly identified as a (f_n,f_u=sqrt(f_n^*f_n+f_c^*f_c)) band, with f_n practically equal to the local plasma frequency in the unperturbed ionosphere. Determination of plasma frequency is of prime importance in analysis of complex structures composed from various harmonics f_n,f_c,f_u. Complexity is manifested as coalescing of various harmonics with maxima shifted from nominal frequencies or splitting them into components due to mixing of local and propagation effects. Despite the existence of strong emissions on frequencies characteristic for the unperturbed ionosphere, very strong broadcasting transmissions are frequently cut off, even when the beam is directed upward. Most typical spectra are discussed.     

Organization, selection, and training of crews for extended spaceflight: findings from analogs and implications

Ample research evidence from space analogs points to the crucial role that teamwork plays in the performance of small groups in isolation and confinement. This paper surveys findings about the impacts of group behavior and social interaction on crew morale, coordination, and productivity. Implications for the organization, selection, and training of crews for extended spaceflight are discussed.     

Radar Cross Section of Ships

A laboratory method to determine the magnitude and position of radar reflection sources on complex targets is described. In addition the method provides a way to measure the modification of the radar cross section (RCS) due to multipath. The method has application in modeling RCS for radar and electronic countermeasure (ECM) system performance analysis and in the study of the extent to which the signature of the target could be altered. The equipment described, termed MACROSCOPE, was developed for RCS studies by the U.S. Army and is described in limited distribution bution literature. The application to marine targets is new with this paper, as is the technique of measuring the RCS of parts of the target and analytically combining them to represent the whole. An illustration of the need for this type of laboratory equipment was illustrated by the extensive search for full scale data which could be compared to scale model data to validate the technique.     

Theory of physical libration of the Moon with the liquid core: Forced librations

For a two-layer model of the Moon that consists of a solid nonspherical mantle and an ellipsoidal homogeneous liquid core, a theory of forced librations under the effect of gravitational Earth’s moments has been developed. The motion of the Moon over its orbit has been described by the high-accuracy theory of DE/LE-4 orbital motion. Tables have been constructed that present forced librations of the Moon caused by the second harmonic of its force function, in the neighborhood of its motion according to the generalized Cassini laws. Disturbances of the first-order with respect to dynamic compressions of the Moon and its core are obtained in analytical form for Andoyer variables and Poincare variables and for the projection of the angular velocity vector of Moon’s mantle rotation and the Poincare coordinate system (relative to which core’s liquid accomplishes simple motion) on its major central axes of inertia, as well as for the classical variables in the Moon libration theory, etc. Constructed tables of the forced librations theory give the amplitudes and periods of librations and combinations of arguments of the orbital motion theory that correspond to libration parameters. The interpretation of basic variations has been given and a comparison with the previous theories has been carried out, in particular with the modern empirical theory constructed based on the laser observation data.     

Two magnetars: SGR 1627–41 and 1E 1547–5408

We describe the results obtained with Target of Opportunity observations of the galactic sources SGR 1627–41 and 1E 1547–5408. These two transients show several similarities supporting the interpretation of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters as a single class of strongly magnetized neutron stars.     

Study of GNSS-measured ionospheric total electron content variations generated by powerful HF-heating

The purpose of this work is to report the experimental evidences for the influence of perturbations in the electron density in the dayside mid-latitude ionosphere, that are caused by high-frequency heating of the F2 layer, on the GNSS signals. The experiments were carried out at the Sura heater (Radio Physical Research Institute, N. Novgorod). During the sessions of ionospheric heating with different time modulations of the radiated power the rays linking the navigational satellites with the ground receiver intersected the heated region. Variations in the total electron content (TEC) were studied; these variations are proportional to the reduced phases of navigational signals. It is shown that with the square-wave modulation of the radiated power (with periods of 1, 6, 10 and 15 min), perturbations with periods of the main modulation of heating and its harmonics appear in the spectrum of TEC variations. Examples are presented of identification of the heating-induced variations in TEC, including determination of the amplitudes and time characteristics of these variations.     

An approach to forming the design performance of the attitude control system for small spacecraft

The elements for various types of attitude control systems used in a number of small spacecraft are considered. An approach for assessment of such system effectiveness based on design requirements for spacecraft purpose and restriction in accuracy, mass and energy is proposed.     

An improved approach for rainfall estimation over Indian summer monsoon region using Kalpana-1 data

In this paper, an improved Kalpana-1 infrared (IR) based rainfall estimation algorithm, specific to Indian summer monsoon region is presented. This algorithm comprises of two parts: (i) development of Kalpana-1 IR based rainfall estimation algorithm with improvement for orographic warm rain underestimation generally suffered by IR based rainfall estimation methods and (ii) cooling index to take care of the growth and decay of clouds and thereby improving the precipitation estimation.