Project Mercury Postlaunch Trajectory Report for Mercury-Atlas Mission No. 4 (MA-4) (Spacecraft 8A - Atlas 88-D) and for Mercury-Atlas Mission No. 5 (MA-5) (Spacecraft 9 - Atlas 93-D)
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NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) was launched in September, 2018. The satellite carries a single instrument, ATLAS (Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System), a green wavelength, photon-counting lidar, enabling global measurement and monitoring of elevation with a primary focus on the cryosphere. Although bathymetric mapping was not one of the design goals for ATLAS, pre-launch work by our research team showed the potential to map bathymetry with ICESat-2, using data from MABEL (Multiple Altimeter Beam Experimental Lidar), NASA’s high-altitude airborne ATLAS emulator, and adapting the laser-radar equation for ATLAS specific parameters. However, many of the sensor variables were only approximations, which limited a full assessment of the bathymetric mapping capabilities of ICESat-2 during pre-launch studies. Following the successful launch, preliminary analyses of the geolocated photon returns have been conducted for a number of coastal sites, revealing several salient examples of seafloor detection in water depths of up to ~40 m. The geolocated seafloor photon returns cannot be taken as bathymetric measurements, however, since the algorithm used to generate them is not designed to account for the refraction that occurs at the air–water interface or the corresponding change in the speed of light in the water column. This paper presents the first early on-orbit validation of ICESat-2 bathymetry and quantification of the bathymetric mapping performance of ATLAS using data acquired over St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A refraction correction, developed and tested in this work, is applied, after which the ICESat-2 bathymetry is compared against high-accuracy airborne topo-bathymetric lidar reference data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The results show agreement to within 0.43—0.60 m root mean square error (RMSE) over 1 m grid resolution for these early on-orbit data. Refraction-corrected bottom return photons are then inspected for four coastal locations around the globe in relation to Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) K(d)(490) data to empirically determine the maximum depth mapping capability of ATLAS as a function of water clarity. It is demonstrated that ATLAS has a maximum depth mapping capability of nearly 1 Secchi in depth for water depths up to 38 m and K(d)(490) in the range of 0.05–0.12 per m. Collectively, these results indicate the great potential for bathymetric mapping with ICESat-2, offering a promising new tool to assist in filling the global void in nearshore bathymetry.
The ATLAS experiment at the LHC at CERN continuously evolves its TDAQ system to meet the challenges of new physics goals and technological advancements. As ATLAS prepares for the Phase-II Run 4 of the LHC, significant enhancements in the TDAQ Controls and Configuration (TDAQ-CC) tools have been designed to ensure efficient data collection, processing, and management. This abstract presents the evolution of ATLAS TDAQ-CC system leading up to Phase-II Run 4. As part of the evolution towards Phase-II, Kubernetes has been chosen to orchestrate the Event Filter (EF) farm. By leveraging Kubernetes, ATLAS can dynamically allocate computing resources, scale processing capacity in response to changing data taking conditions and ensure high availability of data processing services. The integration of the Kubernetes with the TDAQ Run Control framework enables perfect synchronisation between the experiment’s data acquisition components and the computing infrastructure. We will discuss the architectural considerations and implementation challenges involved in Kubernetes integration with the ATLAS TDAQ-CC system. We will highlight the benefits of using Kubernetes as an EF farm orchestrator, including improved resource utilization, enhanced fault tolerance, and simplified deployment and management of data processing workflows. In addition, we will report on the extensive testing of Kubernetes that was conducted using a farm of 2500 servers within the experiment data taking environment, demonstrating its scalability and robustness in handling the demands of the ATLAS TDAQ system for Phase-II. The adoption of Kubernetes represents a significant step forward in the evolution of ATLAS TDAQ-CC system, aligning with industry best practices in container orchestration.
Some of the many analytical capabilities provided by the ATLAS Version 4.0 System in the logical sequence are described in which model-definition data are prepared and the subsequent computer job is executed. The example data presented and the fundamental technical considerations that are highlighted can be used as guides during the problem solving process. This guide does not describe the details of the ATLAS capabilities, but provides an introduction to the new user of ATLAS to the level at which the complete array of capabilities described in the ATLAS User's Manual can be exploited fully.
Failures of Atlas solid fuel retarding rocket during Atlas-Centaur separation tests
Atlas of energetic solar flare X rays and tentative atlas of proton events observed by OGO-1 and OGO-3 ionization chambers
The Shuttle SBUV (SSBUV) conducted its fourth and fifth flights in late March 1992 and early April 1993 along with the ATLAS-1 and ATLAS-2 Shuttle missions, respectively. The two successive SSBUV flights yielded ozone data nearly one year apart. An analysis of the meteorological conditions, namely temperature and winds, during the two flight periods indicate that the conditions in the stratosphere were very similar. The temperatures had significantly warmed from winter throughout most of the stratosphere and the circulation was approaching normal summertime conditions for both periods. SSBUV-4, flown in 1992, measured ozone from approximately 30S to 60N while SSBUV-5, flown in 1993, measured ozone from approximately 55S to 60N. Zonal average column ozone amounts were derived from the two flights and compared to determine if a systematic change in ozone could be detected despite the fact that only a few days from each year were sampled. The comparison indicates that in the latitude range 30N to 60N total ozone was lower in 1993 than in 1992 by about 12%. This change is larger than the observational errors and the expected interannual variations. This result verifies similar data taken from ground and satellites.
Moon atlas rectified presenting record of lunar surface based on photographs
The magnetic tape version of the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 atlases of ultraviolet stellar spectra is described. The first file of the tape contains ultraviolet stellar fluxes for 164 bright stars in lambda the spectral region 1200 to 1300 A with resolutions of 22 A in the region from 3600 to 1850 A and 12 A in the region from 1850 to 1160 A. Files two and three contain spectra for 132 stars in the region lamba 1200 to 1850 A and 34 stars in the lambda region 1800 to 3600 A, respectively, with resolutions as stated above. The monochromatic flux is given in units of ergs cm(-2)s(-1) (-1) for all data.
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Taking advantage of ∼4700 deg 2 optical coverage of the Southern sky offered by the VST ATLAS survey, we construct a new catalogue of photometrically selected galaxy groups and clusters using the orca cluster detection algorithm. The catalogue contains ∼22 000 detections with N 200 > 10 and ∼9000 with N 200 > 20. We estimate the photometric redshifts of the clusters using machine learning and find the redshift distribution of the sample to extend to z ∼ 0.7, peaking at z ∼ 0.25. We calibrate the ATLAS cluster mass-richness scaling relation using masses from the MCXC, Planck, ACT DR5, and SDSS redMaPPer cluster samples. We estimate the ATLAS sample to be > 95 per cent complete and > 85 per cent pure at z < 0.35 and in the M 200m >1 x 10 14 h -1 M ⊙ mass range. At z < 0.35, we also find the ATLAS sample to be more complete than redMaPPer, recovering a ~ 40 per cent higher fraction of Abell clusters. This higher sample completeness places the amplitude of the z < 0.35 ATLAS cluster mass function closer to the predictions of a ΛCDM model with parameters based on the Planck CMB analyses, compared to the mass functions of the other cluster samples. However, strong tensions between the observed ATLAS mass functions and models remain. We shall present a detailed cosmological analysis of the ATLAS cluster mass functions in paper II. In the future, optical counterparts to X-ray-detected eROSITA clusters can be identified using the ATLAS sample. The catalogue is also well suited for auxiliary spectroscopic target selection in 4MOST. The ATLAS cluster catalogue is publicly available at http://astro.dur.ac.uk/cosmology/vstatlas/cluster_catalogue/.
Two kinds of planetary map atlases are in production. Atlases of the first kind contain reduced-scale versions of maps in hard-bound books with dimensions of 11 x 14 inches. These new atlases are intended to: (1) provide concise but comprehensive references to the geography of the planets needed by planetary scientists and others; and (2) allow inexpensive access to the planetary map dataset without requiring acquisition and examination of tens or hundreds of full-size map sheets. Two such atlases have been published and a third is in press. Work was begun of an Atlas of the Satellite of the Outer Planets. The second kind of atlas is a popular or semi-technical version designed for commercial publication and distribution. The first edition, The Atlas of the Solar System, is nearly ready for publication. New funding and contracting constraints now make it unlikely that the atlas can be published in the format originally planned. Currently, the possibility of publishing the maps through the U.S. Geological Survey as a series of folios in the I-map series is being explored. The maps are global views of each solid-surface body of the Solar System. Each map shows airbrushed relief, albedo, and, where available, topography. A set of simplified geologic maps is also included. All of the maps are on equal-area projections. Scales are 1:40,000,000 for the Earth and Venus; 1:2,000,000 for the Saturnian satellites Mimas and Enceladus and the Uranian satellite Miranda; 1:100,000 for the Martian satellites, Phobos and Deimos; and 1:10,000,000 for all other bodies.
A primary goal of geomorphological enquiry is to make genetic associations between process and form. In rock breakdown studies, the links between process, inheritance and lithology are not well constrained. In particular, there is a need to establish an understanding of feature persistence. That is, to determine the extent to which in situ rock breakdown (e.g., aeolian abrasion or salt weathering) masks signatures of earlier geomorphic transport processes (e.g., fluvial transport or crater ejecta). Equally important is the extent to which breakdown during geomorphic transport masks the imprint of past weathering. The use of rock features in this way raises the important question: Can features on the surface of a rock reliably indicate its geomorphic history? This has not been determined for rock surfaces on Earth or other planets. A first step towards constraining the links between process, inheritance, and morphology is to identify pristine features produced by different process regimes. The purpose of this atlas is to provide a comprehensive image collection of breakdown features commonly observed on boulders in different geomorphic environments. The atlas is intended as a tool for planetary geoscientists and their students to assist in identifying features found on rocks on planetary surfaces. In compiling this atlas, we have attempted to include features that have formed 'recently' and where the potential for modification by another geomorphic process is low. However, we acknowledge that this is, in fact, difficult to achieve when selecting rocks in their natural environment. We group breakdown features according to their formative environment and process. In selecting images for inclusion in the atlas we were mindful to cover a wide range of climatic zones. For example, in the weathering chapter, clast features are shown from locations such as the hyper-arid polar desert of Antarctica and the semi-arid canyons of central Australia. This is important as some features (e.g., alveoli) occur across climate regimes. We have drawn on the published geomorphological literature and our own field experience. We use, where possible, images of extrusive igneous rocks as the data returned from Mars, Venus and the Moon indicates that this is the predominant rock type. One of the purposes of this atlas is to expand the range of surface features that are known to indicate a particular geomorphic environment or process history. The surface features on boulders in some environments such as aeolian and weathering are well understood. In contrast, those in fluvial or ejecta environments are not. Therefore we have presented a comprehensive assemblage of features that are likely to be produced in each of the geomorphic environments. We hope that this atlas will trigger more research on diagnostic features, particularly their morphometry and detailed morphology, their persistence and rates of formation. In this first edition of the atlas we detail the features found on clasts in three geomorphic environments: aeolian, fluvial and weathering. Future editions of the atlas will include chapters on ejecta, micro-impacts, coastal, colluvial, glacial and structural features.
The ATLAS-series of Spacelab missions are comprised of a diverse group of scientific instruments including instruments for studying the sun and how the sun's energy changes across an eleven-year solar cycle. The ATLAS solar instruments are located on one or more pallets in the Orbiter payload bay and use the Orbiter as a pointing platform for their examinations of the sun. One of the ATLAS instruments contained a sun sensor which allowed scientists and engineers on the ground to see the pointing error of the sun with respect to the instrument and correct for the error based upon the information coming from the ATLAS 1 and ATLAS 2 missions with particular attention given to identifying the sources of pointing discrepancies of the solar instruments and to describe the crew and ground controller procedures that were developed to correct for these discrepancies. The Orbiter pointing behavior from the ATLAS 1 and ATLAS 2 flights presented in this paper can be applied to future flights which use the Orbiter as a pointing platform.
The second Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite mission currently planned by National Aeronautics and Space Administration will measure global ice topography and canopy height using the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System {ATLAS). The ATLAS comprises two lasers; but only one will be used at a time. Each laser will generate between 125 watts and 250 watts of heat, and each laser has its own optimal operating temperature that must be maintained within plus or minus 1 degree Centigrade accuracy by the Laser Thermal Control System (LTCS) consisting of a constant conductance heat pipe (CCHP), a loop heat pipe (LHP) and a radiator. The heat generated by the laser is acquired by the CCHP and transferred to the LHP, which delivers the heat to the radiator for ultimate rejection. The radiator can be exposed to temperatures between minus 71 degrees Centigrade and minus 93 degrees Centigrade. The two lasers can have different operating temperatures varying between plus 15 degrees Centigrade and plus 30 degrees Centigrade, and their operating temperatures are not known while the LTCS is being designed and built. Major challenges of the LTCS include: 1) A single thermal control system must maintain the ATLAS at 15 degrees Centigrade with 250 watts heat load and minus 71 degrees Centigrade radiator sink temperature, and maintain the ATLAS at plus 30 degrees Centigrade with 125 watts heat load and minus 93 degrees Centigrade radiator sink temperature. Furthermore, the LTCS must be qualification tested to maintain the ATLAS between plus 10 degrees Centigrade and plus 35 degrees Centigrade. 2) The LTCS must be shut down to ensure that the ATLAS can be maintained above its lowest desirable temperature of minus 2 degrees Centigrade during the survival mode. No software control algorithm for LTCS can be activated during survival and only thermostats can be used. 3) The radiator must be kept above minus 65 degrees Centigrade to prevent ammonia from freezing using no more than 135 watts of heater power. 4) The LHP reservoir control heater power is limited to 15 watts with a 70 percent duty cycle. 5) The voltage of the power supply can vary between 26 volts direct current and 34 volts direct current during the spacecraft lifetime. A design analysis shows that a single LTCS can satisfy these requirements. However, shutdown of· the LHP is particularly challenging and the shutdown heater must be wired in series with two reservoir thermostats and two CCHP thermostats at different set points. An LTCS demonstration unit has been tested to verify these performance characteristics experimentally prior to proceeding to the final LTCS design and fabrication. Test results showed that the LHP shutdown scheme would be able to shut down the LHP as designed and the reservoir control heater can maintain the ATLAS mass simulator within the plus or minus 1 degrees Centigrade accuracy under various combinations of the heat load, sink temperature, and power supply voltage.
The Energy Community Atlas provides efficient access to authoritative, curated, and relevant data that is vital to supporting energy planning, development, and economic growth across the U.S. In this effort, researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are utilizing advanced data visualization and transformation capabilities to develop an integrated, data atlas and resource focused on supporting energy community transitions to new manufacturing opportunities. Specifically, this project is working to find, acquire, integrate, and virtually host in a user-friendly, public and private solution from available resources, relevant to understanding and characterizing fossil energy communities themselves and inform energy planning, development, and economic growth opportunities, including opportunities for co-development to support manufacturing, critical materials, and more. This Atlas when complete is to offer a one-stop-shop for stakeholders to derive new insights to accelerate energy investments and strategic decision support needs. These are following datasets that are available as part of this ongoing project • Energy Community Atlas Map Package - This is ArcPro Map package and it contains all of the symbolized layers along with ArcPro map and geodatabase • Energy Community Atlas ArcGIS REST service - https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?panel=gallery&suggestField=true&layers=537ced69bd88440380a62c2ec8aca30c • README Energy Community Atlas - Read me word document that has details about feature classes in Map package, ArcPro map and ArcGIS Rest Service
The search for new fundamental particles is one of the defining goals of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The discovery of the Higgs Boson by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations provided the capstone of the Standard Model of particle physics, but outstanding questions remain. Why does the Higgs boson have a mass of 125 GeV when its natural mass would be many orders of magnitude larger? Is there a universal symmetry which unites all three forces described by the Standard Model? Can that symmetry be extended to include gravity? Is dark matter, evidenced by astronomical observations, made of a particle that interacts via Standard Model forces with the rest of matter? Together, these motivations provide compelling arguments that new physical processes await discovery. This project addressed some outstanding questions about the fundamental particles and their interactions with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. In particular, the project improved the discovery potential for new, long- lived particles produced via electroweak processes in proton-proton collisions and set world-leading limits on their existence for certain values of their potential mass and lifetime. To achieve this, the project developed new data analysis methods, developed new triggers to select events with new long-lived particles during data-taking of the ATLAS experiment, and analyzed the largest proton–proton collision dataset ever produced. The project also supported significant development of the data acquisition software for the upgrade to the ATLAS inner detector, the Inner TracKer (ITk). The upgrade of the ATLAS inner detector is essential to the success of the entire Phase II physics program on ATLAS. Personnel supported by the project provided support for integration, assembly, and testing of the inner two layers of the ITk pixel system during its prototype and pre-production phase. Four PhD students and two post-doctoral scholars were supported by the grant and received invaluable scientific training as part of the research endeavor. The students and postdocs gained essential professional skills in the areas of advanced data analysis techniques, statistical analysis of data and simulation, programming in C++ and Python, hardware and instrumentation development, and presentation and collaboration skills. Additionally, approximately ten undergraduate students supported through other funding sources participated in research activities synergistic with the goals of this project, receiving essential mentorship from the personnel supported by this project.
There are two compilations: the main Atlas and the Trace Gas Atlas. The main Atlas includes the major absorbers in the Earth's atmosphere. The main Atlas includes about 150,000 lines (the Trace Gas Atlas is 30-40,000 at the moment). The information on each Atlas is essentially a card image per line, which includes the frequency (in vacuum wavenumbers) of the transition, the line strength at a standard temperature of 296 Kelvin, and the half width of the line.