Celestial mechanics experiment
The efforts and accomplishments of the CME Team are summarized. The objectives and experiment status, gravity field of Mars, test of general relativity, and the generation of normal points are discussed.
Lorell, J.↗
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THE MISSION OF THE ORBITING ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY
Objectives of orbiting astronomical observatory satellites - continuous ultraviolet & infrared measurement of celestial radiation, stellar map
SATELLITE MEASUREMENT↗
Concepts for Project Galaxy
Project Galaxy will build an astronautical and astronomical simulator that will enable simulation pilots to explore all major celestial bodies in the solar system, and an increasing number of objects in the galaxy.
solar↗
Space simulation techniques and facilities for SAX STM test campaign
SAX is a satellite for X-Ray astronomy. It is a major element of the overall basic Science Program of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and is being developed with the contribution of the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programs (NIVR). The scientific objectives of SAX are to carry out systematic and comprehensive observations of celestial X-Ray sources over the 0.1 - 300 KeV energy range with special emphasis on spectral and timing measurements. The satellite will also monitor the X-Ray sky to investigate long-term source variability and to permit localization and study of X-Ray transients. Alenia Spazio is developing the satellite that is intended for launch in the second half of 1995 in a low, near-equatorial Earth orbit. At system level a Structural Thermal Model (STM) has been conceived to verify the environmental requirements by validating the mechanical and thermal analytical models and qualifying satellite structure and thermal control. In particular, the following tests have been carried out in Alenia Spazio, CEA/CESTA and ESTEC facilities: Modal Survey, Centrifuge, Acoustic, Sinusoidal/Random Vibration and Thermal Balance. The paper, after a short introduction of the SAX satellite, summarizes the environmental qualification program performed on the SAX STM. It presents test objectives, methodologies and relevant test configurations. Peculiar aspects of the test campaign are highlighted. Problems encountered and solutions adopted in performing the tests are described as well. Furthermore, test results are presented and assessed.
Giordano, Pietro↗
The surface temperatures of solar system objects by thermal emission - A homogeneous model solution
Mathematical model for thermal behavior and surface temperatures of celestial bodies in solar system
Burnett, G. B., III↗
Polarimetric observations of 14 quasi-stellar objects.
Optical polarimetric observations of quasi-stellar objects
OPTICAL POLARIZATION↗
Astrometry of millijansky sources using a phase reference VLBI technique
A technique for the reliable VLBI detection of weak (mJy at cm wavelengths) celestial radio sources such as radio stars, fast pulsars, and faint extragalactic objects is described and demonstrated. The coherence time is increased by observing a strong phase-reference source alternately with the program source, thus providing an accurate astrometric position relative to the reference source. Typical results are presented in tables, graphs, and a contour map and briefly characterized.
Lestrade, Jean-Francois↗
An ensemble pulsar time
Millisecond pulsars are galactic objects that exhibit a very stable spinning period. Several tens of these celestial clocks have now been discovered, which opens the possibility that an average time scale may be deduced through a long-term stability algorithm. Such an ensemble average makes it possible to reduce the level of the instabilities originating from the pulsars or from other sources of noise, which are unknown but independent. The basis for such an algorithm is presented and applied to real pulsar data. It is shown that pulsar time could shortly become more stable than the present atomic time, for averaging times of a few years. Pulsar time can also be used as a flywheel to maintain the accuracy of atomic time in case of temporary failure of the primary standards, or to transfer the improved accuracy of future standards back to the present.
Petit, Gerard↗
Background suppression techniques in germanium detectors
A new generation of astrophysical gamma ray spectrometers employing germanium solid state detectors for precise energy measurement are currently being planned for spaceflight in the late 1990's and the early 21st century. Because the observations of weak celestial sources are carried out in an intense radiation environment, the key objective of instrument design is to find ways to reduce the background. The current state of the knowledge in this field is reviewed and the new hardware techniques under design and test are discussed. Many of these techniques have already been flight tested on balloon platforms. Recent results from some of these tests are presented. By carefully applying these techniques it should be possible to achieve sensitivities that are factors of 3 to 10 better than would be obtained for a conventional instrument of similar weight.
Gehrels, Neil↗
Experiments D001, D002, and D006: Basic object, nearby object, and surface photography
On the Gemini 5 mission, acquisition and tracking was performed by the use of celestial bodies as aiming points. However, distant photography of the REP was not possible because of spacecraft electrical power difficulties which occurred after REP ejection. Terrestrial photography was accomplished within the limitations imposed by weather conditions and spacecraft electrical and thruster problems. The photographs that were obtained were significant only as an element of the data to be used in technique evaluation. The other data were time-correlated position and pointing information, atmospheric conditions, sun angle, exposure settings, and the flight logs and verbal comments of the crewmembers. The photographs shown are representative of those that facilitated evaluation of the acquisition and tracking techniques that were used in these three experiments.
Geltmacher, H. E.↗
The high-energy celestial X-ray instrument on board OSO-8
The 20 keV-3 MeV celestial X-ray detector on the OSO-8 is described. The primary objectives of this instrument are to measure the energy spectrum of cosmic X-ray sources above 20 keV and to search for time variations, both periodic and irregular, in the intensity of the sources detected. The detector consists of two optically isolated central crystals shielded by a large, active collimator. The sensitive area is 27.5 sq cm and the field-of-view is 5 deg FWHM. The instrument is mounted in the wheel section of OSO-8 with the axis of its field of view offset by 5 deg from the negative spin axis of the wheel. The minimum detectable intensity of a point source which is brought to within 5 deg of the negative spin axis for greater than one day is about 10 to the minus fifth power photons/sq cm-sec at 100 keV.
Dennis, B. R.↗
Nuclear gamma rays from compact objects
Accreting compact objects may be important gamma ray line sources and may explain recent observations of celestial gamma-ray line emission from a transient source in the direction of the galactic anti-center, from the galactic center, and possibly from the radio galaxy Centaurus A. The identification of the lines from the transient source requires a strong redshift. Such a redshift permits the identification of these lines with the most intense nuclear emission lines expected in nature, positron annihilation, and neutron capture on hydrogen and iron. Their production as a result of nuclear interactions in accreting gas around a neutron star is proposed. The gamma-ray line emission from the galactic center and possibly Centaurus A appears to have a surprisingly high luminosity, amounting to perhaps as much as 10% of the total luminosity of these sources. Such high gamma-ray line emission efficiencies could result from nuclear interactions in accreting gas around a massive black hole.
Lingenfelter, R. E.↗
Sky Event Reporting Metadata (VOEvent) Version 2.0
VOEvent [20] defines the content and meaning of a standard information packet for representing, transmitting, publishing and archiving information about a transient celestial event, with the implication that timely follow-up is of interest. The objective is to motivate the observation of targets-of-opportunity, to drive robotic telescopes, to trigger archive searches, and to alert the community. VOEvent is focused on the reporting of photon events, but events mediated by disparate phenomena such as neutrinos, gravitational waves, and solar or atmospheric particle bursts may also be reported. Structured data is used, rather than natural language, so that automated systems can effectively interpret VOEvent packets. Each packet may contain zero or more of the "who, what, where, when & how" of a detected event, but in addition, may contain a hypothesis (a "why") regarding the nature of the underlying physical cause of the event.
Seaman, Rob↗
A Low Risk Strategy for the Exploration of Near-Earth Objects
The impetus for asteroid exploration is scientific, political, and pragmatic. The notion of sending human explorers to asteroids is not new. Piloted missions to these primitive bodies were first discussed in the 1960s, pairing Saturn V rockets with enhanced Apollo spacecraft to explore what were then called "Earth-approaching asteroids." Two decades ago, NASA's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) also briefly examined the possibility of visiting these small celestial bodies. Most recently, the U.S. Human Space Flight Review Committee (the second Augustine Commission) suggested that near-Earth objects (NEOs) represent a target-rich environment for exploration via the "Flexible Path" option. However, prior to seriously considering human missions to NEOs, it has become clear that we currently lack a robust catalog of human accessible targets. The majority of the NEOs identified by a study team across several NASA centers as "human-accessible" are probably too small and have orbits that are too uncertain to consider mounting piloted expeditions to these small worlds. The first step in developing such a catalog is, therefore, to complete a space-based NEO survey. The resulting catalog of candidate NEOs would then be transformed into a matrix of opportunities for robotic and human missions for the next several decades. This initial step of a space-based NEO survey first is the linchpin to laying the foundation of a low-risk architecture to venture out and explore these primitive bodies. We suggest such a minimalist framework architecture from 1) extensive ground-based and precursor spacecraft investigations (while applying operational knowledge from science-driven robotic missions), 2) astronaut servicing of spacecraft operating at geosynchronous Earth orbit to retain essential skills and experience, and 3) applying the sum of these skills, knowledge and experience to piloted missions to NEOs.
Landis, Rob R.↗
Killer rocks and the celestial police - The search for near-earth asteroids
The discovery of asteroids near the earth as the result of search programs is detailed with attention given to methods for locating, tracking, and identifying asteroids. The concept of 'prediscovery' is discussed in which new asteroids are tracked backward in time through previous celestial observational data. The need for more comprehensive programs is identified in order to locate objects that present a clear danger of colliding with the earth.
Yeomans, Donald K.↗
STS-35: Astronaut Departure
The primary objective of the STS-35 mission was the round-the-clock observations of the celestial sphere in ultraviolet and X ray astronomy with ASTRO-1. The mission was commanded by Vance D. Brand. The crew consisted of the pilot Guy S. Gardner, the mission Specialists Jeffery Hoffman, John Lounge, and Robert Parker, and the payload specialists Samuel Durrance, and Ronald Parise. This videotape shows the astronauts leaving the Kennedy Space Center after one of the attempts to launch the mission was scrubbed due to hydrogen leaks aboard the shuttle Columbia.
Source record↗
STS-35/ASTRO-1: Breakfast/Suit-up /Depart O & C / Ingress / Launch with Isolated Views
The primary objective of the STS-35 mission was the round-the-clock observations of the celestial sphere in ultraviolet and X ray astronomy with ASTRO-1. The mission was commanded by Vance D. Brand. The crew consisted of the pilot Guy S. Gardner, mission Specialists Jeffery Hoffman, John Lounge, and Robert Parker, and payload specialists Samuel Durrance, and Ronald Parise. This videotape opens with a view of the shuttle on the pad at night in preparation for a night launch. The astronauts are introduced as they finish their pre-launch breakfast. The next shots are those of the astronauts getting into their spacesuits, and boarding the bus to be taken to the pad. The astronauts are next shown climbing into the shuttle. The launch of the shuttle is shown from 19 different camera angles.
Source record↗
Proceedings of the 2nd INTEGRAL Workshop: The Transparent Universe
Progress made in hard X-ray and gamma ray astronomy is reported on. The following topics are covered: nucleosynthesis in various celestial bodies and its gamma ray line emission; the center of the Galaxy and Galactic compact objects; extragalactic sources; surveys in various bands, and the International Gamma Ray Astrophysical Laboratory (INTEGRAL) program and hardware.
Kaldeich-Schuermann, B.↗