Impact of geomagnetic variation over sub-auroral ionospheric region during high solar activity year 2014

The present work is an attempt to evaluate the impact of changing space weather condition over sub-auroral ionosphere during high solar activity year 2014. In view of this, the GPS based TEC along with Ionosonde data over Indian permanent scientific base “Maitri”, Antarctica (70°46′00″S, 11°43′56″E) has been utilized. The results suggested that the nature of ionospheric responses to the geomagnetic disturbances not only depended upon the status of high latitudinal electro-dynamic processes but also influenced by the seasonal variations. The results revel both negative and positive type of ionospheric response in a single year but during different seasons. The study suggested that the combination of equator-ward plasma transportation along with ionospheric compositional changes causes a negative ionospheric impact especially during summer and equinox seasons. However, the combination of pole-ward contraction of the oval region along with particle precipitation may lead to exhibit positive ionospheric response during the winter season. The plasma transportation direction has been validated with the help of convection boundary (HM boundary) deduced with the help of SuperDARN observations. The ground based ionosonde observations clearly provided the evidence of deep penetration of high energetic particles up to the E-layer heights which results a sudden and strong appearance of E-layer. The strengthening of E-layer is responsible for modification of auroral electrojet and field-aligned current system. Also, the sudden appearance of E-layer along with a decrease in F-layer electron density suggested the dominance of NO⁺ over O⁺ in a considered region under geomagnetic disturbed condition.     

Progress in space weather predictions and applications

The methods of today’s predictions of space weather and effects are so much more advanced and yesterday’s statistical methods are now replaced by integrated knowledge-based neuro-computing models and MHD methods. Within the ESA Space Weather Programme Study a real-time forecast service has been developed for space weather and effects. This prototype is now being implemented for specific users. Today’s applications are not only so many more but also so much more advanced and user-oriented. A scientist needs real-time predictions of a global index as input for an MHD model calculating the radiation dose for EVAs. A power company system operator needs a prediction of the local value of a geomagnetically induced current. A science tourist needs to know whether or not aurora will occur. Soon we might even be able to predict the tropospheric climate changes and weather caused by the space weather.     

低地球轨道环境原子氧对航天器表面材料聚酰亚胺作用的数值模拟

在建立数学物理模型的基础上，对氏地球轨道环境和地面实验环境下，有无保护层的聚酰亚胺所受原子氧冲蚀作用进行了进行了成功的数值模拟，获得了具有工程应用价值的数值计算结果，并讨论了数学物理模型中各参数对基蚀曲线形状的影响。从数值模拟结果和美国太空实验结果的比较可以看出，本文数据模拟的结果是正确的。该项工作对航天器的设计具有重要指导意义。     

一类挠性航天器的变结构控制

本文研究在控制器能量受限条件下，一类挠性航天器的姿态控制问题。考虑刚性主体上带有挠性梁的航天器，并假定系统在一平面内作旋转运动。针对航天控制工程中执行机构的工作模式，基于系统的无穷维模型，本文设计了简单易行的变结构控制方案，并证明了相应的闭环系统的渐近稳定性。数值仿真和物理实验结果显示了所设计的控制算法的有效性。     

返回舱和着陆系统设计的新理念

文章描述了美俄合作提出的一种低成本和低风险的载人返回舱概念。方案采用已有的硬件和技术，由美国负责电子设备和软件，充分利用俄罗斯在返回舱方面的技术和低成本。提出的这种返回舱概念是把联盟-TN按比例增大到可以容纳8位乘员，而且着陆系统增加了气囊，对伤病航天员的着陆具有更好的缓冲作用。     

空间碎片超高速撞击极限穿透比动能研究

研究建立宅间碎片对目标超高速撞击条件下临界穿透靶标的损伤特性的理论模型。基于临界穿透过程的数值模拟结果，系统分析了初始条件与临界穿透的关系，捉出碎片临界穿透靶板的比动能概念。然后分析了临界穿透下的碎片比动能，认为比动能是速度的函数。最后，考虑碎片的实际撞击过程巾最大着靶面积为变形面积，对比动能进行修正，获得了极限穿透条件下的真实比动能与速度无关的结论。     

FY—1C极轨气象卫星的进展

在概述美国和俄罗斯等国外极轨气象卫星发展概况的基础上，介绍了中国极轨与静止轨道两种气象卫星的业务应用卫星体系，重点介绍了“风云一号”（02星）即FY－1C极轨气象卫星的任务、总体设计、技术特点、关键技术以及所取得的进展。最后简述了新一代有轨气象卫星FY－3的发展设想。     

International cooperation in assuring continuity of environmental satellite data

In the 25 years since the launch of the first weather satellite, meteorological observations from space have become an essential part of weather forecasting and global environmental monitoring. Beginning in the 1970s, constrained national budgets and the need for a coordinated approach to global satellite observing have caused satellite operators to pursue international cooperation to assure the continuity and compatibility of these systems. This article reviews current bilateral and multilateral cooperation and technical coordination in environmental satellite activities. It also explores the potential for alternative institutional arrangements for maintaining the continuity of environmental satellite data in the decades to come.     

KuaFu Mission

The KuaFu mission-Space Storms, Aurora and Space Weather Explorer-is an "L1+Polar" triple satellite project composed of three spacecraft: KuaFu-A will be located at L1 and have instruments to observe solar EUV and FUV emissions, and white-light Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and to measure radio waves, the local plasma and magnetic field,and high-energy particles. KuaFuB1 and KuaFu- B2 will bein polar orbits chosen to facilitate continuous 24 hours a day observation of the north polar Aurora Oval. The KuaFu mission is designed to observe the complete chain of disturbances from the solar atmosphere to geospace, including solar flares, CMEs, interplanetary clouds, shock waves, and their geo-effects, such as magnetospheric sub-storms and magnetic storms, and auroral activities. The mission may start at the next solar maximum (launch in about 2012), and with an initial mission lifetime of two to three years. KuaFu data will be used for the scientific study of space weather phenomena, and will be used for space weather monitoring and forecast purposes. The overall mission design, instrument complement, and incorporation of recent technologies will target new fundamental science, advance our understanding of the physical processes underlying space weather, and raise the standard of end-to-end monitoring of the Sun-Earth system.