Effect of moderate geomagnetic storms on equatorial plasma bubbles over eastern Africa in the year 2012: Evolution and electrodynamics

Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are common features of the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere and are known to cause radio wave scintillation which leads to the degradation of communication and navigation systems. Although these structures have been studied for decades, a full understanding of their evolution and dynamics remains important for space weather mitigation purposes. In this study, we present cases of EPBs occurrences around April and July 2012 geomagnetic storm periods over the African equatorial sector. The EPBs were observed from the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) and generally correlated well to the ionospheric irregularities observed from the Global Positioning System total electron content (GPS-TEC) measurements (rate of TEC change, ROT). This study revealed that the evolution of the EPBs during moderate storms is controlled by the strength of the daytime equatorial electrojet (EEJ) currents regardless of the strength of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), the latter is observed during the July storm case in particular. These effects were more evident during the main and part of the early recovery phases of the geomagnetic storm days considered. However, the evening hours TEC gradients between regions of the magnetic equator and ionization crests also played roles in the existence of ionospheric irregularities.     

RPC-MAG The Fluxgate Magnetometer in the ROSETTA Plasma Consortium

The fluxgate magnetometer experiment onboard the ROSETTA spacecraft aims to measure the magnetic field in the interaction region of the solar wind plasma with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It consists of a system of two ultra light (about 28 g each ) triaxial fluxgate magnetometer sensors, mounted on the 1.5 m long spacecraft boom. The measurement range of each sensor is ±16384 nT with quantization steps of 31 pT. The magnetometer sensors are operated with a time resolution of up to 0.05 s, corresponding to a bandwidth of 0–10 Hz. This performance of the RPC-MAG sensors allows detailed analyses of magnetic field variations in the cometary environment. RPC-MAG furthermore is designed to study possible remnant magnetic fields of the nucleus, measurements which will be done in close cooperation with the ROSETTA lander magnetometer experiment ROMAP.     

High energy-density propulsion—reducing the risk to humans in planetary exploration

The potential benefits to humankind of space exploration are tremendous. Space is not only the final frontier but is also the next marketplace. The orbital space above Earth offers tremendous opportunities for both strategic assets and commercial development. The critical obstacle retarding the use of the space around the Earth is the lack of low cost access to orbit. Further out, the next giant leap for mankind will be the human exploration of Mars. Almost certainly within the next 30 years, a human crew will brave the isolation, the radiation, and the lack of gravity to walk on and explore the Red planet. Both of these missions will change the outlook and perspective of every human being on the planet. However, these missions are expensive and extremely difficult. Chemical propulsion has demonstrated an inability to achieve orbit cheaply and is a very high-risk option to accomplish the Mars mission. An alternative solution is to develop a high performance propulsion system. Nuclear propulsion has the potential to be such a system. The question will be whether humanity is willing to take on the challenge.     

深空探测器推进系统

以技术较成效的月球探测器、火星探测器推进系统为重点，介绍了国外深空探测活动的情况。简述了深空探测对推进系统的需求、我国航天器液体推进技术的现状。认为我国的推进技术经一些适应性发展，即可满足深空探测的需求，并且设想了我国近期较为可行的深空探测器推进系统方案。     

国外几种新型微化学推力器

介绍了国外几种以微机电系统 (MEMS)技术为基础的液体和固体微化学推力器。这些新型微化学推力器具有MEMS技术微型化、低成本和批量生产的优点 ,并考虑了体积限制和高度集成等空间限制 ,能产生 10 -6～ 10N·s的推力脉冲 ,可用于微型卫星和纳米卫星的姿态调整、变轨和定向的精确控制。同时阐述了这几种微推力器结构特点和制造工艺 ,并与其他类型的推进器进行了比较     

空间飞行体与等离子体在压缩区内的非稳态相互作用研究

研究了空间飞行体在运动过程中，其前端压缩区内飞行体与等离子体的、非稳态相互作用问题，得到了在强天线辐射源高频场作用下的控制方程．通过计算表明，飞行体上的天线可作为调制不稳定性的激发源，在等离子体中激发起很强的电磁孤波．     

微束等离子焊接钛合金薄板保护规律的研究

 通过试验认为微束等离子焊接钛合金薄板的保护问题,关键在于控制施焊时焊缝处于700℃以上的加热范围,和700℃到400℃的冷却时间。并论证了以氧的污染层厚度作为钛合金焊接污染程度判据的合理性。本文采用电子探针法对氧污染层厚度进行了测定,求出污染方程。从而。使微束等离子焊接钛合金薄板的污染问题,可通过调整焊接规范进行控制。     

关于天地往返运输系统动力装置

本文对未来天地往返运输系统宜采用的动力装置方案提出一些看法,着重阐明液氧/烃类/液氢三组元推进剂发动机的优点。     

天地往返运输系统空气喷气组合式发动机方案探讨

本文初步探讨了用作天地往返运输系统推进装置的组合发动机,估算了其性能、尺寸、重量以及使用这些发动机时的运载能力。