Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Selivanov, A. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Selivanov, A. S..

Altitude profile of aerosols on Mars from measurements of its thermal radiation on limb

Measurements of the thermal (range 7 - 13 micrometers) radiation of Mars with the high space resolution (approximately 2 km) were made by the TERMOSKAN experiment of the Phobos mission. Some of the results were published earlier but only the surface radiation was analyzed in detail. However some part of these measurements was made near the limb of the planet. The atmosphere gives an important input here in the planetary thermal radiation. Beyond the limb the atmosphere is the only source. The task of this work is to estimate some characteristics of the atmosphere using brightness profiles of the thermal radiation near the limb. An appropriate model of the temperature profile T(h) is necessary for such an analysis. A set of T(h) models (nominal, maximal and minimal) was defined using various sources including MARSGRAM, Viking-1 lander data, its theoretical considerations and boundary layer models. On the next step the possible input of the atmospheric gaseous emissions (wing of CO2 15 micrometer band) was estimated. It was found that even for the maximal T(h) this input is no more than a few percents of the measured radiation beyond the limb. Consequently the aerosols are responsible for almost all measured emission. The analysis of the observed profile showed that these aerosols have two components: (1) exponential with the scale height about 10 km and (2) some layered structure (two layers with maxima about 23 and 33 km consisted probably of ice).

Moroz, V. I.↗

Preliminary assessment of Termoskan observations of Mars

The limited set of high-resolution observations of the 8-12 micron thermal emission from Mars' equatorial regions by the Termoskan instrument onboard the Phobos '88 spacecraft in February and March of 1989 is considered. Observations were also simultaneously acquired in the 0.5 to 1.0 micron region. A combined U.S. and Soviet scientific team made a preliminary quantitative evaluation of about 25 percent of the entire data set. It is found that there is a close agreement with the Viking Infrared Thermal Mapper brightness temperatures, confirming the accuracy of the Termoskan system and calibration. A novel pattern of emission from particles was observed in the morning and assumed to be water or ice. Thermal emission from surface features is varied and distinct down to the limit of resolution. The presence of unusually insulating material has been detected in the uppermost fraction of a millimeter of the Martian surface in places where the shadow of Phobos briefly eclipsed by the surface.

Murray, B.↗

The Vega balloons - A tool for studying atmosphere dynamics on Venus

The Vega balloon experiment, designed to measure the dynamics of the Venus atmosphere, comprised the balloons themselves, their gondolas with on-board sensors and radio transmitters, and the radio telescope network on the earth. The structures and the physical parameters of the balloon probe are described, together with the instruments on the gondola, designed for the measurements of the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and vertical wind flows, and illumination, as well as possible flashes of lightning. Consideration is also given to the formatting of the information flow for the individual parameters measured.

Kremnev, R. S.↗

The COSPAS-SARSAT system

The SARSAT/COSPAS satellite network uses 121.5 and 406 MHz buoys to locale ships and aircraft in distress. The 121.5 MHz system, obligatory on many aircraft, gives localization to within 10 km, and, despite being subject to considerable radio interference and a poor signal to noise ratio, is responsible for saving 200 lives. The 406 MHz location error is 2 km in 75% of cases, and 2 hr for 95% of cases in the worst conditions. It suffers however from interference from illegal broadcasts in the frequency band.

Werstiuk, H. L.↗

Prospects for the development of phototelevision methods in space studies

In-space imaging of the surface of celestial bodies can be carried out by both television and photographic equipment. Television equipment of various types has the important property of being capable of transmitting imagery in real time. Frequently this is not possible because of the nature of information transmission over the spacecraft-ground communication line. The inadequate energy handling capacity of the communication lines usually requires storage of the video information aboard the spacecraft for subsequent transmission at a definite time and rate. For this purpose, the television camera can be connected with a magnetic memory, or the television imagery may be stored on photographic film. The television/photographic film system has been termed phototelevision. The choice of a system of one type or the other is dictated by several considerations, the most important of which are the size and weight characteristics, other conditions being the same (power consumption, reliability, etc.). The advantages and disadvantages of the two systems are discussed and examples are given of types of satellites on which the two types have been employed.

Selivanov, A. S.↗