Detection of volcanic gases and particles by satellite

In this paper the detection of components of volcanic eruption has been carried out investigating, in appropriate bands of the electromagnetic spectrum (6.25, 8.7, 10.8, 12 μm), the values of the brightness temperature. The analysis has been performed in the Thermal Infrared Region (TIR) studying both the absorption–emission and scattering phenomena related to the interactions between electromagnetic radiation and volcanic emissions. The results have been achieved by means of a combined use of numerical simulations, devoted to examining the behaviour of the atmosphere gases and volcanic components, and remotely sensed satellite images. The proposed methodologies allow an estimate of the amount of gaseous and solid components, of the size of the emitted particles, of the height of the volcanic plume and of the distance of the volcanic components from the crater. The processed images come from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) sensor on board the geo-stationary satellite Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) and take into consideration an eruption of the Etna volcano as a study case (1st of April 2012, 04:30 and 05:30 UTC). The procedures are general and may therefore be extended to any other similar case.     

Using the Global Navigation Satellite System and satellite altimetry for combined Global Ionosphere Maps

For deriving global maps of the Total Electron Content (TEC) from space geodetic techniques usually observations from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) are taken. However, the GNSS stations are inhomogeneously distributed, with large gaps particularly over the sea surface.     

Recovery of the Earth’s gravity field from formation-flying satellites: Temporal aliasing issues

Temporal and mean gravity field models derived from the twin-satellite, leader–follower mission GRACE have provided a new type of information for Earth sciences. In this contribution, we study the potential of various alternative satellite formations for gravity field determination in the post-GRACE era in a simulation environment. In particular, the effects of spherical harmonic truncation and of temporal aliasing in the processing of gravity products from such future formations are investigated.     

耦合运动非定常气动模型对飞机飞行特性仿真的影响

 在大振幅偏航滚转单自由度强迫振荡和耦合强迫振荡运动风洞试验的基础上,分别运用准定常气动力建模方法和非定常气动力建模方法,获取飞机的气动力模型;运用两种不同的气动力模型,对飞机的纵向正弦振荡机动飞行进行了仿真。结果表明,准定常模型在小迎角下的仿真结果与非定常模型的结果基本一致;在较大迎角时,准定常模型仿真结果趋于稳定,而非定常模型仿真结果使飞机进入横航向振荡飞行状态,这一现象与F-16XL的试飞结果类似,其主要原因是耦合运动的非定常模型与准定常模型所产生的阻尼特性不一致。这也表明,分析大迎角飞行特性时应考虑耦合运动下的非定常气动特性。     

圆锥运动及其影响的3种描述方法

从旋转矢量方法、欧拉角方法及刚体有限转动方法出发对圆锥运动及其影响进行了阐述,得到了各方法下的等效陀螺漂移公式以及三者之间的关系;并对圆锥补偿算法在每种方法下的补偿效果进行了研究.结果表明: 刚体有限转动方法与旋转矢量方法是完全等价的,欧拉角方法仅在小角度振动情况下与它们等价;圆锥补偿算法在旋转矢量方法和欧拉角方法下均有效,并在振动角较小时补偿效果一致.旋转矢量方法和刚体有限转动方法重点在于圆锥补偿算法的开发,而欧拉角方法重点则在于指导圆锥运动转台实验设计以验证圆锥补偿算法.      

编队卫星相对运动描述方法综述

对于近地轨道卫星编队飞行的相对运动理论研究,可以采用的方法包括直角坐标法和 轨道要素法。利用直角坐标法得到的相对运动动力学方程可以用于编队队形控制研究,轨道 要素法能够给出相对运动的运动学描述,便于定量研究摄动影响和进行编队队形设计。分析 了直角坐标法在描述卫星长期编队飞行方面的局限性,综述了利用轨道要素描述编队卫星相 对运动的各种研究方法,包括轨道要素差法、相对轨道要素法和参照轨道要素法等。     

一种基于分组截短PN码的SOFDM信道估计方法

基于PN序列的信道估计方法的特点是计算过程简明,已被广泛应用在地面无线局域网系统中。在卫星正交频分多路复用传输体制(SOFDM)系统中引入传统PN序列信道估计方法的主要问题在于卫星信道的多径延时远大于SOFDM数据符号的持续时间,信道特性比较复杂,使得传统方法的估计精度严重下降。提出了一种改进的方法,根据信道的近似周期特性对数据帧进行合理的等长度分组,并把长PN序列改为短PN码来跟踪信道局部特性的变化,再对分组后的数据子帧分别进行信道估计。对该方法的设计思想进行了理论分析,并通过仿真验证了该方法的估计精度比传统方法至少提高了10倍。     

Proposal for ionospheric tomography technique using a new HF radio source

Measurements of the line integral of the electron density along satellite-to-ground ray paths (i.e. TEC) using differential phase or Doppler of two coherent VHF/UHF signals transmitted from NNSS or GPS satellite networks have been used in the ionospheric tomography for mapping large-scale ionospheric images over region of interest. In this paper, we present theoretical studies of using a new signal source HF frequency in tomographic imaging. The initial phase problem inherent in the phase measurement can be eliminated by measuring Faraday rotations. Relative rotation on two adjacent HF frequencies is used to solve the ambiguity problem. A second-order approximation of the Faraday rotation incorporated with ray-tracing technique improves the reconstruction degradation due to ionospheric refractions. CASSIOPE is a multi-purpose small satellite that receives HF signals from ground radar facilities and it is scheduled for launch in early 2008. Simulations have demonstrated the potential applications of the ionospheric tomography in CASSIOPE/e-POP satellite experiment.     

Use of two-line element data for thermosphere neutral density model calibration

Traditional empirical thermospheric density models are widely used in orbit determination and prediction of low-Earth satellites. Unfortunately, these models often exhibit large density errors of up to around 30% RMS. Density errors translate into orbit errors, adversely affecting applications such as re-entry operations, manoeuvre planning, collision avoidance and precise orbit determination for geodetic missions. The extensive database of two-line element (TLE) orbit data contains a wealth of information on satellite drag, at a sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution to allow a calibration of existing neutral density models with a latency of one to two days. In our calibration software, new TLE data for selected objects is converted to satellite drag data on a daily basis. The resulting drag data is then used in a daily adjustment of density model calibration parameters, which modify the output of an existing empirical density model with the aim of increasing its accuracy. Two different calibration schemes have been tested using TLE data for about 50 objects during the year 2000. The schemes involve either height-dependent scale factors to the density or corrections to CIRA-72 model temperatures, which affect the density output based on a physical model. Both schemes have been applied with different spherical harmonic expansions of the parameters in latitude and local solar time. Five TLE objects, varying in perigee altitude between 280 and 530 km, were deliberately not used during calibration, in order to provide independent validation. Even with a single daily parameter, the RMS density model error along their tracks can already be reduced from the 30% to the 15% level. Adding additional parameters results in RMS errors lower than 12%.     

Prospects in the orbital and rotational dynamics of the Moon with the advent of sub-centimeter lunar laser ranging

Lunar laser ranging (LLR) measurements are crucial for advanced exploration of the laws of fundamental gravitational physics and geophysics as well as for future human and robotic missions to the Moon. The corner-cube reflectors (CCR) currently on the Moon require no power and still work perfectly since their installation during the project Apollo era. Current LLR technology allows us to measure distances to the Moon with a precision approaching 1 mm. As NASA pursues the vision of taking humans back to the Moon, new, more precise laser ranging applications will be demanded, including continuous tracking from more sites on Earth, placing new CCR arrays on the Moon, and possibly installing other devices such as transponders, etc. for multiple scientific and technical purposes. Since this effort involves humans in space, then in all situations the accuracy, fidelity, and robustness of the measurements, their adequate interpretation, and any products based on them, are of utmost importance. Successful achievement of this goal strongly demands further significant improvement of the theoretical model of the orbital and rotational dynamics of the Earth–Moon system. This model should inevitably be based on the theory of general relativity, fully incorporate the relevant geophysical processes, lunar librations, tides, and should rely upon the most recent standards and recommendations of the IAU for data analysis. This paper discusses methods and problems in developing such a mathematical model. The model will take into account all the classical and relativistic effects in the orbital and rotational motion of the Moon and Earth at the sub-centimeter level. The model is supposed to be implemented as a part of the computer code underlying NASA Goddard’s orbital analysis and geophysical parameter estimation package GEODYN and the ephemeris package PMOE 2003 of the Purple Mountain Observatory. The new model will allow us to navigate a spacecraft precisely to a location on the Moon. It will also greatly improve our understanding of the structure of the lunar interior and the nature of the physical interaction at the core–mantle interface layer. The new theory and upcoming millimeter LLR will give us the means to perform one of the most precise fundamental tests of general relativity in the solar system.