Dependence of the F-region peak electron density (foF2) on solar activity observed in the equatorial ionospheric anomaly region in the Brazilian sector

The long-term (solar cycle) changes in the Sun and how it affects the ionospheric F-region observed at São José dos Campos (23.2° S, 45.9° W), Brazil, a location under the southern crest of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly, have been investigated in this paper. The dependence of the F-region peak electron density (foF2) on solar activity during the descending phase of the 23rd solar cycle for the periods of high, medium, and low solar activity has been studied. The ionospheric F-region peak electron densities observed during high and medium solar activity show seasonal variations with maxima close to the equinox periods, whereas during the low solar activity the maxima during the equinox periods is absent. However, during the low solar activity only change observed is a large decrease from summer to winter months. We have further investigated changes in the different ionospheric F-region parameters (minimum virtual height of the F-region (h′F), virtual height at 0.834foF2 (hpF2), and foF2) during summer to winter months in low solar activity periods, 2006–2007 and 2007–2008. Large changes in the two ionospheric parameters (hpF2 and foF2) are observed during summer to winter months in the two low solar activity periods investigated.     

Optimal low-thrust transfer between neighbouring quasi-circular orbits around an oblate planet

The problem of optimal low-thrust, limited power transfer between quasi-circular orbits (e 0) around an oblate planet is analysed. It is assumed that the orbital changes due to thrust acceleration and Earth oblateness are of the same order. A first order solution to the problem is obtained by application of Pontryagin's Maximum Principle. Subsequently, by application of Hori's method for generalized canonical systems, a first order solution in a small parameter ε is derived. Finally, three particular cases of long-time transfer and the orbit maintenance manoeuvre are considered. The results obtained are in agreement and represent an extension of the work done by Marec.     

Capacity building in emerging space nations: Experiences,challenges and benefits

This paper focuses on ways in which space is being used to build capacity in science and technology in order to:     

频分制遥测地面站总体设计

为使某武器在定型阶段能测量一些特殊参数，研制了频分制（FM－FM）遥测地面站。介绍了该地面站的主要技术指标、功能及设计时必须考虑的几个总体问题。靶试表明，该地面站的设计是正确的。     

SDAI的实现研究

讨论了ＳＤＡＩ的特点和实现形式,给出了ＥＸＰ－ＤＭＳ及其数据存取界面的实现机制和系统结构。结合ＥＸＰ－ＤＭＳ的实现,本文对采用面向对象技术实现ＳＤＡＩ进行研究和探讨。     

空间站脉冲编码被动式交会对接合作目标三维跟踪

针对空间站交会对接(RVD)过程中合作目标在视频中周期性发光的特点,提出基于累积帧差法的合作目标检测方法及相应的跟踪窗口确定方法,建立合作目标状态的识别机制。在跟踪过程中,针对均值漂移算法容易受到图像背景干扰产生较大跟踪偏差的问题,在光流计算的基础上,提出一种基于线搜索的二维跟踪算法。通过分析敏感器采集的视频,验证了文中提出的算法能够准确地检测和跟踪图像序列中的合作目标,进而结合像机位姿估计算法,连续地估计像机位姿在三维空间中的变化。     

An exploration of the effectiveness of artificial mini-magnetospheres as a potential solar storm shelter for long term human space missions

If mankind is to explore the solar system beyond the confines of our Earth and Moon the problem of radiation protection must be addressed. Galactic cosmic rays and highly variable energetic solar particles are an ever-present hazard in interplanetary space.     

固体火箭发动机的声学分析及燃烧稳定性预估

提出一种预估固体火箭发动机燃烧稳定性的方法。文中着重研究了燃烧室内腔声场的有限元数值分析问题,并应用声学有限元素法对一个二维轴对称装药发动机燃烧室内腔进行了固有频率及固有振型计算。随后,在声学分析的基础上对该发动机做了燃烧稳定性预估。其结果与多次试车的结果一致。最后还就声学分析的验证,减少机时和内存,微粒尺寸的确定,预估方法及计算程序的通用性等问题进行了讨论。     

In-flight testing of the injection of the LISA Pathfinder test mass into a geodesic

LISA Pathfinder is a technology demonstrator space mission, aimed at testing key technologies for detecting gravitational waves in space. The mission is the precursor of LISA, the first space gravitational waves observatory, whose launch is scheduled for 2034. The LISA Pathfinder scientific payload includes two gravitational reference sensors (GRSs), each one containing a test mass (TM), which is the sensing body of the experiment. A mission critical task is to set each TM into a pure geodesic motion, i.e. guaranteeing an extremely low acceleration noise in the sub-Hertz frequency bandwidth. The grabbing positioning and release mechanism (GPRM), responsible for the injection of the TM into a geodesic trajectory, was widely tested on ground, with the limitations imposed by the 1-g environment. The experiments showed that the mechanism, working in its nominal conditions, is capable of releasing the TM into free-fall fulfilling the very strict constraint imposed on the TM residual velocity, in order to allow its capture on behalf of the electrostatic actuation.However, the first in-flight releases produced unexpected residual velocity components, for both the TMs. Moreover, all the residual velocity components were greater than maximum value set by the requirements. The main suspect is that unexpected contacts took place between the TM and the surroundings bodies. As a consequence, ad hoc manual release procedures had to be adopted for the few following injections performed during the nominal mission. These procedures still resulted in non compliant TM states which were captured only after impacts. However, such procedures seem not practicable for LISA, both for the limited repeatability of the system and for the unmanageable time lag of the telemetry/telecommand signals (about 4400 s). For this reason, at the end of the mission, the GPRM was deeply tested in-flight, performing a large number of releases, according to different strategies. The tests were carried out in order to understand the unexpected dynamics and limit its effects on the final injection. Some risk mitigation maneuvers have been tested aimed at minimizing the vibration of the system at the release and improving the alignment between the mechanism and the TM. However, no overall optimal release strategy to be implemented in LISA could be found, because the two GPRMs behaved differently.     

Automated determination of the orientation of dust devil tracks in mars orbiter images

The paper presents and evaluates three methods for automatically estimating the main orientation of Martian dust devil tracks in MOC and HiRISE images. Inferring such information about dust devils from their tracks is important to better understand the near surface wind. The methods considered were based on gradient direction, directional openings and morphological granulometry. The accuracy of the methods was asserted by comparing the results to a set of directions estimated visually and assumed to be the ground truth. The higher accuracy was reached using directional openings. Besides, the directions inferred by this method were compared to those predicted by the GCM and the results agreed.