Radio observations of Jupiter
Jupiter radio observations, measuring nonthermal emission, magnetic field and trapped radiation belts
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Jupiter radio observations, measuring nonthermal emission, magnetic field and trapped radiation belts
Detailed information on the spacecraft performance, mission operations, and tracking and data acquisition is presented for the Mariner Venus 1967 and Mariner Venus 1967 extension projects. Scientific and engineering results and conclusions are discussed, and include the scientific mission, encounter with Venus, observations near Earth, and cruise phase of the mission. Flight path analysis, spacecraft subsystems, and mission-related hardware and computer program development are covered. The scientific experiments carried by Mariner 5 were ultraviolet photometer, solar plasma probe, helium magnetometer, trapped radiation detector, S-band radio occultation, dual-frequency radio propagation, and celestial mechanics. The engineering experience gained by converting a space Mariner Mars 1964 spacecraft into one flown to Venus is also described.
A set of models was established for the Jupiter electron and proton trapped radiation belt which could be used in the determination of outer planets mission spacecraft design requirements. Two models each for the electron and proton components evolved: a nominal or best estimate model, and an upper limit model. The models are described by presenting the assumptions that were agreed to be then best basis for the models at this time, and then describing the models which were structured in the time available. The discussion which took place at the final session is also presented.
The separation and communications geometry analysis is presented which shows that it is possible to target a Jupiter entry probe from a Pioneer spin-stabilized vehicle to desired entry conditions and maintain a continuous line-of-sight communications link while the probe descends to a pressure of 10 bars within the atmosphere. Such a targeting is possible with either the deflected probe mode or with the deflected bus mode. For the nominal mission studied, an 800 day trip in 1978 with the Pioneer type spacecraft flying by a 1.3 R(J), it was possible to achieve entries near zero angle of attack at about -25 deg relative entry flight path angle. Because of the constraint on the deflection maneuver for the deflected probe mode, the deflection and phasing velocity requirements are much larger for this mode. The geometry parameters, look angles, ranges and range rates, provided by this analysis permit the design of a functional communications system for the bus and probe. Avoiding a high trapped radiation belt hazard at Jupiter by flying the bus by at 6 R(J), however, requires using a despun antenna on the flyby bus.
Results of measurements carried out with the University of Chicago nuclear composition telescope on the Ogo 5 satellite, establishing the presence of 13- to 33-MeV/nucleon geomagnetically trapped C and O nuclei, with some evidence for N nuclei. These trapped nuclei were found at L less than or equal to 5 and near the geomagnetic equator. The data cover the period from Mar. 3, 1968, to Dec. 31, 1969. The distribution of CNO flux as a function of L is given. No change in the intensity of the average trapped CNO flux was detected by comparing data for 1968 and 1969. The results reported set a new value for the observed high energy limit of trapping as described by the critical adiabaticity parameter. The penetration of solar flare CNO up to L = 4 was observed twice in 1968, in disagreement with Stormer theory predictions. The effects of these results on some models for the origin of the trapped radiation are discussed.
An electron-proton spectrometer was designed to measure the geomagnetically trapped radiation in a geostationary orbit at 6.6 earth radii in the outer radiation belt. This instrument is to be flown on the Applications Technology Satellite-F (ATS-F). The electron-proton spectrometer consists of two permanent magnet surface barrier detector arrays and associated electronics capable of selecting and detecting electrons in three energy ranges: (1) 30-50 keV, (2) 150-200 keV, and (3) 500 keV and protons in three energy ranges. The electron-proton spectrometer has the capability of measuring the fluxes of electrons and protons in various directions with respect to the magnetic field lines running through the satellite. One magnet detector array system is implemented to scan between EME north and south through west, sampling the directional flux in 15 steps. The other magnet-detector array system is fixed looking toward EME east.
When high energy protons from solar proton events or trapped radiation belts impinge on spacecraft structures, secondary particles are emitted. The most pernicious secondaries, from either a biological or physical standpoint, are the cascade and evaporation neutrons because of their reaction with matter leading to radioactive materials in the spacecraft structures. Empirically determined cascade and evaporation neutron emission spectra for protons of energy between 20 and 500 MeV incident on all materials at or above carbon in mass number are presented.
The imaging photopolarimeter aboard the Pioneer 10 spacecraft en route to the vicinity of Jupiter is described. This instrument is capable of moderate resolution spin-scan imaging and high precision polarimetric and photometric mapping of Jupiter in red and blue light. The field of view can be selectively changed from 0.50 mrad square to 40 mrad square to accommodate resolution and radiance combinations ranging from the zodiacal background to that of Jupiter. Optical materials were chosen to survive, with minimum degradation, the rigors of a nearly 2-year journey to Jupiter including transit through the Jovian trapped radiation belts. The optics are described in detail, and the operational system is outlined. The procedures for preflight and in-flight calibration are described, and some performance characteristics and preliminary flight results are presented.
Measurements of the spatial variation of HC-12N-14 and HC-13N-14 line emission from the molecular cloud associated with the Orion Nebula indicate that HC-12N-14 has a high central opacity. This result seems to contradict a recent suggestion that the observed hyperfine structure of the line indicates a low opacity, which in turn would yield a C-13/C-12 abundance significantly different from other determinations. The observed hyperfine structure can be understood in the high-opacity case if radiative trapping in the lines is considered.
The natural environment design criteria are given for six different solar electric propulsion stage missions. These environment data include the neutral atmosphere; ionosphere, trapped radiation; free-space radiation environment; and meteoroid, asteroid, and comet environments. The electromagnetic radiation environment (direct, reflected, or scattered) at the planets and interplanetary regions is also included.
Two additional radio occultation measurements of the atmosphere of Jupiter were obtained with Pioneer 11. The entry measurement leads to a temperature profile that is substantially in agreement with those obtained with Pioneer 10, showing temperatures much higher than those derived from other observations. The exit measurement is not usable because of the discontinuous drift of the spacecraft auxiliary oscillator, presumably due to the trapped radiation belts of Jupiter. The combination of two Pioneer 10 measurements and one Pioneer 11 measurement yields an oblateness of 0.06496 at 1 millibar and 0.06547 at 160 millibars. Measurements in the Jovian ionosphere indicate a number of layers distributed over about 3000 kilometers, with a topside temperature of about 750 K.
Two dedicated light flash observing sessions were conducted by one of the crewmen during the Skylab 4 mission. Analyses of his observations reveal a strong correlation between flash frequency and primary cosmic-ray flux, and an even stronger correlation between flash frequency and the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region of the inner belt trapped radiation. Calculations indicate that an all-proton inner belt probably cannot produce the observed SAA flash rate, and they suggest that there may exist a previously unobserved inner belt flux of multiply charged nuclei.
Terminal voltage measurements with various cathodes and anodes in a high power, quasi-steady magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) are discussed. The magnitude of the current at the onset of voltage fluctuations is shown to be an increasing function of cathode area and a weaker decreasing function of anode area. Tests with a fluted cathode indicated that the fluctuations originate in the plasma adjacent to the cathode rather than at the cathode surface. Measurements of radiative output from an optical cavity aligned to examine the current-carrying portion of a two-dimensional, 56 kA magnetoplasmadynamic discharge reveal no lasing in that region, consistent with calculations of electron excitation and resonance radiation trapping. A voltage-swept double probe technique allows single-shot determination of electron temperature and electron number density in the recombining MPD exhaust flow. Current distributions within the cavity of MPD hollow cathodes for various static prefills with no injected mass flow are examined.
A number of repeated rapid flux dropouts have been observed at 6.6 earth radii by the low-energy proton detectors on board the ATS 6 satellite during the July 4-6, 1974, geomagnetic storm period. These rapid flux changes are caused by the fact that the outer boundary of the trapped radiation region moves back and forth past the satellite. Although a tilting field line configuration can cause the boundary to pass the satellite, as has frequently been reported in the literature, the boundary is shown to be distorted by a large surface wave traveling eastward around the earth. The maximum velocity of the wave was observed to be about 40 km/s.
Radioactivity induced by protons in sodium iodide scintillation crystals were calculated and directly measured. These data are useful in determining trapped radiation and cosmic-ray induced, background-counting rates in spaceborne detectors.
Evaluation of light flashes observed in earth orbit establishes: (1) a strong correlation of very high flash rates with passage through the South Atlantic anomaly; (2) evidence for a predicted latitude effect; and (3) an increased flash rate outside the anomaly during a second observation period. Event rates and flash descriptions during South Atlantic anomaly passes indicate that there may be particles heavier than protons in the inner belt of trapped radiation.
The paper presents results of a comprehensive search for X-ray emission from the Jovian magnetosphere, using data obtained with an X-ray telescope aboard OSO 3. This satellite scanned Jupiter for 33 days from a distance of 4.4 AU during a maximum phase of solar activity. No transient X-ray fluxes were observed to accompany decameter-wave radio bursts, but upper limits on the steady X-ray emission over the energy range from 7.7 to 210 keV are estimated. These limits are shown to be consistent with the fluxes measured by Pioneer 10 as well as with the trapped-particle fluxes predicted by recent precise modeling of the Jovian trapped radiation. Upper limits are determined for the energy dissipated on Jupiter in bremsstrahlung-producing collisions and also for the electron loss rate. The energy limit is found to be approximately equal to the total solar radiant energy intercepted by the Jovian disk. It is concluded that Jovian X-rays are unlikely to be detected by near-earth observations with sensitivities currently conceivable.
After a description of the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft, the following scientific experiments are discussed: Helium Vector Magnetometer, Fluxgate Magnetometer, Plasma Analyzer, Geiger Tube Telescope, Cosmic Ray Telescope, Trapped Radiation Detector, Ultraviolet Photometer, Imaging Photopolarimeter, Infrared Radiometer, Asteroid-Meteoroid Detector, and Meteoroid detector. Also reviewed are the mission profile and status.