Pseudo-automatic characterization of the morphological and kinematical properties of coronal mass ejections using a texture-based technique

The white light coronagraphs onboard SOHO (LASCO-C2 and -C3) and most recently STEREO (SECCHI -COR1 and -COR2) have detected a myriad of coronal mass ejections (CME). They are a key component of space weather and under certain conditions they can become geo-effective, hence the importance of their kinematic characterization to help predict their effects. However, there is still a lot of debate on how to define the event boundaries for space weather purposes, which in turn makes it difficult to agree on their kinematic properties. That lack of agreement is reflected in both the manual and automated CME catalogs in existence. To contribute to a more objective definition and characterization of white-light coronagraph events, Goussies et al. (2010) introduced recently the concept of “texture of the event”. Based on that property, they developed a supervised segmentation algorithm to allow the automatic tracking of dynamic events observed in the coronagraphs field of view, which is called CORonal SEgmentation Technique (CORSET). In this work, we have enhanced the capabilities of the algorithm by adding several new functionalities, namely the automatic computation of different morphological and kinematic parameters. We tested its performance on 57 well-studied limb CME events observed with the LASCO coronagraphs between 1997 and 2001, and compared the parameters obtained with those from three existent CME lists: two of them obtained from an observer-based detection and tracking method (i.e., two manual catalogs), and the other one based on the automated detection and characterization of the CME events (i.e., a fully automated catalog). We found that 51 events could be tracked and quantified in agreement with the CME definition. In general terms, the position angle, and the radial and expansion speeds are in agreement with the manual catalogs used for comparison. On the other hand, some discrepancies between CORSET and the automated catalog were found, which can be explained by the different delimitation of the CME angular extent.     

Self-propagating high-temperature reactions for the fabrication of Lunar and Martian physical assets

The development of a new process potentially useful for future manned Lunar and/or Martian space missions in the framework of the so-called ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) and ISFR (In-Situ Fabrication and Repair) concepts is described and discussed in this work. This process involves the fabrication of physical assets by self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) for construction applications in Lunar and Martian environments starting from different Lunar or Martian regolith simulants and aluminum, as reducing agent. In addition, although Moon and Mars already contain ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and iron oxides, respectively, the latter ones are also added to the initial mixtures to promote suitable SHS reactions. A complete scheme for the fabrication of physical assets to be used as protection against solar rays, solar wind and meteoroids, where all required stages are indicated, is finally proposed in the framework of a recently filed patent.     

Optimal Earth’s reentry disposal of the Galileo constellation

Nowadays there is international consensus that space activities must be managed to minimize debris generation and risk. The paper presents a method for the end-of-life (EoL) disposal of spacecraft in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). The problem is formulated as a multiobjective optimisation one, which is solved with an evolutionary algorithm. An impulsive manoeuvre is optimised to reenter the spacecraft in Earth’s atmosphere within 100?years. Pareto optimal solutions are obtained using the manoeuvre $\mathrm{\Delta }v$ and the time-to-reentry as objective functions to be minimised. To explore at the best the search space a semi-analytical orbit propagator, which can propagate an orbit for 100?years in few seconds, is adopted. An in-depth analysis of the results is carried out to understand the conditions leading to a fast reentry with minimum propellant. For this aim a new way of representing the disposal solutions is introduced. With a single 2D plot we are able to fully describe the time evolution of all the relevant orbital parameters as well as identify the conditions that enables the eccentricity build-up. The EoL disposal of the Galileo constellation is used as test case.     

Control of Lunar and Martian dust--experimental insights from artificial and natural cyanobacterial and algal crusts in the desert of Inner Mongolia, China

Studies on the colonization of environmentally extreme ground surfaces were conducted in a Mars-like desert area of Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, with microalgae and cyanobacteria. We collected and mass-cultured cyanobacterial strains from these regions and investigated their ability to form desert crusts artificially. These crusts had the capacity to resist sand wind erosion after just 15 days of growth. Similar to the surface of some Chinese deserts, the surface of Mars is characterized by a layer of fine dust, which will challenge future human exploration activities, particularly in confined spaces that will include greenhouses and habitats. We discuss the use of such crusts for the local control of desert sands in enclosed spaces on Mars. These experiments suggest innovative new directions in the applied use of microbe-mineral interactions to advance the human exploration and settlement of space.     

XPNAV-1卫星实测数据处理与分析

为展示我国首颗脉冲星导航试验卫星XPNAV-1载荷实测数据的性能,采用与国外公布实测数据对比分析的方法,从观测数据计数统计、光子能量响应、计时性能三方面介绍了XPNAV-1卫星发布数据的性能。分析结果表明,我国自主研发的探测器观测结果与国外天文卫星载荷观测结果的一致性较好,未来进一步深入发展将有望应用于脉冲星导航。     

LY12CZ 和 7075T7351 铝合金在 EXCO 溶液中腐蚀动力学的统计研究

采用金相法测量了LY12CZ和7075T7351铝合金各腐蚀区域的腐蚀深度,研究了最大腐蚀深度的统计分布规律,并用统计分析的方法研究了上述合金在EXCO溶液中的腐蚀动力学规律。结果表明：LY12CZ和7075T7351铝合金在EXCO溶液中的最大腐蚀深度服从正态分布的统计规律,可用该统计规律估算最大腐蚀深度;其腐蚀动力学规律可分为两个阶段：浸泡前期的腐蚀发展较快,但规律性不明显;浸泡后期的腐蚀发展稍慢,近似遵循线性规律。     

Deep and Shallow Solid-Earth Structures Reconstructed with Sequential Integrated Inversion (SII) of Seismic and Gravity Data

In this paper, the possibility of using simultaneously seismic and gravity data, for the reconstruction of solid-Earth structures, has been investigated through the use of an algorithm which allows joint efficient and reliable optimisation of compressional velocity and mass density parameters. We view the measured data as a realisation of a stochastic process generated by the physical parameters to be sought and we construct a “probability density function” which includes three kinds of information: information derived from gravity measurements; information derived from seismic travel time inversion and information on the physical correlation among density and velocity parameters. We show that combining data has a beneficial effect on the inversion since: it makes the problem more stable and as a consequence, providing that the quality of data is sufficiently high, enables more accurate and reliable reconstruction of the unknown parameters. In this context, we look forward the GOCE mission, which promises high spatial resolution (100–200 km) and accurate (1–2 mGals) gravity data. We show results obtained from data sets calculated for a lateral inhomogeneous earth synthetic model and from seismic and gravity field data analysed: — in the framework of TOMOVES (TOMOgraphy of Mt. VESuvius) experiment, an European project aiming at reconstructing the 3-D image of Mt. Vesuvius volcano and the crust underneath. using high resolution seismic tomography techniques and other geophysical methods; — for a profile inserted in a project aiming at reconstructing the crustal structure between Corsica and the Northern Appennines which crosses the Ligurian Sea and cuts the Ligurian Appennines W of La Spezia, extending up to Parma. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nonlinear filtering methods for spacecraft navigation based on differential algebra

The paper investigates the problem of nonlinear filtering applied to spacecraft navigation. Differential algebraic (DA) techniques are proposed as a valuable tool to implement the higher-order numerical and analytic extended Kalman filters. Working in the DA framework allows us to consistently reduce the required computational effort without losing accuracy. The performance of the proposed filters is assessed on different orbit determination problems with realistic orbit uncertainties. The case of nonlinear measurements is also considered. Numerical simulations show the good performance of the filter in case of both complex dynamics and highly nonlinear measurement problems.     

JIRAM, the image spectrometer in the near infrared on board the Juno mission to Jupiter

The Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) has been accepted by NASA for inclusion in the New Frontiers mission "Juno," which will launch in August 2011. JIRAM will explore the dynamics and the chemistry of Jupiter's auroral regions by high-contrast imaging and spectroscopy. It will also analyze jovian hot spots to determine their vertical structure and infer possible mechanisms for their formation. JIRAM will sound the jovian meteorological layer to map moist convection and determine water abundance and other constituents at depths that correspond to several bars pressure. JIRAM is equipped with a single telescope that accommodates both an infrared camera and a spectrometer to facilitate a large observational flexibility in obtaining simultaneous images in the L and M bands with the spectral radiance over the central zone of the images. Moreover, JIRAM will be able to perform spectral imaging of the planet in the 2.0-5.0 microm interval of wavelengths with a spectral resolution better than 10 nm. Instrument design, modes, and observation strategy will be optimized for operations onboard a spinning satellite in polar orbit around Jupiter. The JIRAM heritage comes from Italian-made, visual-infrared imaging spectrometers dedicated to planetary exploration, such as VIMS-V on Cassini, VIRTIS on Rosetta and Venus Express, and VIR-MS on the Dawn mission.