Mission and Design of an Orbiting Radio Astronomy Explorer
Radio Astronomy Explorer /RAE/ satellite for measuring intensity of radio signals from celestial sources
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY↗
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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Ground-based astronomical optical data-handling
Applying observing concepts and data handling techniques of ground-based astronomy to design of instruments for space stations
Dennison, E. W.↗
Low-noise microwave receiving systems in a worldwide network of large antennas.
The Deep-Space Network (DSN) consists of a worldwide network of 26- and 64-m antennas spaced approximately 120 deg around the world. The DSN is a precision communications system designed to communicate with and control unmanned spacecraft traveling at interplanetary ranges. Recent developments in the performance and evaluation of the antennas and maser receivers are discussed, and developments which have contributed to radio-science projects, such as planetary radar astronomy, very-long-baseline interferometry, pulsar, and other astronomical observations are described. It is also shown how these radio-science measurements have been used to evaluate the performance of the antenna-receiver systems.
Reid, M. S.↗
Cosmic far ultraviolet background
The expected intensities of various possible components of the far ultraviolet background are discussed. It is concluded that existing results do not place interesting constraints on the density of the intergalactic medium (IGM). Current techniques and instrumentation for far ultraviolet astronomy are, however, sufficient to achieve vastly improved limits. New observations are required to determine whether the IGM can be detected in the far ultraviolet or whether the extragalactic component of the background is masked by radiation with a more local origin.
Davidsen, A.↗
The radio astronomy experiment on Helios A and B /E 5c/
The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center radio astronomy experiment on Helios, identified as Experiment 5c, has sixteen observing frequencies over the range of 26.5 to 3000 kHz. The antenna consists of two extendible 15-m booms, forming an electric dipole, two high-impedance preamplifiers located at the root of the booms, and the 16-channel radiometer. Important information about propagation conditions, such as absorption, scattering and refraction, are expected from observations of radio emission regions at distances between 1 and 0,3 AU.
Weber, R. R.↗
Telescopes and space exploration
The necessity for different types of telescopes for astronomical investigations is discussed. Major findings in modern astronomy by ground-based and spaceborne telescopes are presented. Observations of the Crab Nebula, solar flares, interstellar gas, and the Black Hole are described. The theory of the oscillating universe is explored. Operating and planned telescopes are described.
Brandt, J. C.↗
In quest of telescopes
This article deals with the author's decision to study star formation and reviews the early days of infrared astronomy at O'Brien Observatory. The infrared equipment used to observe the T Tauri variable class is described.
Cohen, M.↗
Saturnian kilometric radiation - Statistical properties and beam geometry
An adequate description of the average statistical properties of Saturn's radio emissions is needed for a study of these emissions. Data regarding these properties are presented, and the implications for source location, beaming, and magnetic surface anomalies are discussed. A description is presented of the average properties of the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR) as observed from two locations by the Voyager 1 planetary radio astronomy (PRA) instrument for a 2-month period centered on the November 12, 1980 encounter. An analysis of the occurrence pattern of SKR as a function of Saturn's rotation phase has shown that SKR occurrence is not continuous, but variable and roughly periodic. The statistical SKR properties obtained strongly constrain possible source locations. Several source locations are possible, but most intriguing is the region at high latitudes near the noon meridian.
Kaiser, M. L.↗
Far ultraviolet wide field imaging with a SPARTAN /Experiment of Opportunity/ Payload
A wide-field electrographic Schmidt camera, sensitive in the far UV (1230-2000 A), has been developed and utilized in three sounding rocket flights. It is now being prepared for Shuttle flight as an Experiment of Opportunity Payload (EOP) (recently renamed as the SPARTAN program). In this paper, we discuss (1) design of the instrument and payload, particularly as influenced by our experience in rocket flights; (2) special problems of EOP in comparison to sounding rocket missions; (3) relationship of this experiment to, and special capabilities in comparison to, other space astronomy instruments such as Space Telescope; and (4) a tentative observing plan for an EOP mission.
Carruthers, G. R.↗
The X-ray properties of normal galaxies. What do we know and what can we learn with the next generation of X-ray telescopes?
Einstein Observatory results are used to assess the possibilities of spaceborne X-ray astronomy projects such as XMM (ESA) and AXAF (NASA). Einstein observations show that normal galaxies of all morphological types are spatially extended sources of X-ray emission with 0.5 to 3.0 keV X-ray luminosities of 10 to the 39th to 41st power erg/sec. X-ray telescopes can study the end products of stellar evolution in galaxies of different morphological types. Phenomena linked to starburst nuclear activity can best be detected and studied in X-ray. Hot coronae or a hot phase of the interstellar medium can only be studied through their X-ray emission. It is shown that high spatial resolution is essential for studying normal galaxies and identifying different emission regions. Good spectral sensitivity and spectral imaging capability are essential for gaining a deeper understanding of the phenomena at work.
Fabbiano, G.↗
Balloon-borne three-meter telescope for far-infrared and submillimeter astronomy
The scientific objectives, engineering analysis and design, results of technology development, and focal-plane instrumentation for a two-meter balloon-borne telescope for far-infrared and submillimeter astronomy are presented. The unique capabilities of balloon-borne observations are discussed. A program summary emphasizes the development of the two-meter design. The relationship of the Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) is also discussed. Detailed treatment is given to scientific objectives, gondola design, the mirror development program, experiment accommodations, ground support equipment requirements, NSBF design drivers and payload support requirements, the implementation phase summary development plan, and a comparison of three-meter and two-meter gondola concepts.
Fazio, Giovanni G.↗
NASA's initial flight missions in the Small Explorer Program
A new component of NASA's Explorer Program has been initiated in order to provide research opportunities characterized by small, quick-turn-around, and frequent space missions. Objectives include the launching of one or two payloads per year, depending on mission cost and availability of funds and launch vehicles. The four missions chosen from the proposals solicited by the Small Explorer Announcement Opportunity are discussed in detail. These include the Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) designed to carry out energetic particle studies of outstanding questions in the fields of space plasma, solar, heliospheric, cosmic ray, and middle atmospheric physics; the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), which will conduct both pointed and survey observations of dense galactic molecular clouds; the Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer (FAST); and the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS).
Rasch, Nickolus O.↗
Field-independent source localization of Neptune's radio bursts
During the Voyager 2 encounter with Neptune, a narrowbanded bursty radio component was observed between 500 and 1326 kHz by the Planetary Radio Astronomy instrument. Based on the emission occurrence pattern, the radio source has been localized without the explicit use of the Neptunian offset-tilted dipole magnetic field model, which is accurate only at distances greater than 4 R(N) (Neptune radii) from the planet. Only assumptions based upon the general nature of radio wave propagation in planetary magnetospheres were used. A number of different candidate radial positions were sampled. For example, at 1.5 R(N), the derived source location was positioned only about 10 deg from the south magnetic pole. The radiation from this source was beamed into a cone of 77.5 + or - 6.3 deg half-angle that was tilted about 10 deg from the radial direction to the north-northeast. At other sampled radial positions, similar source locations were obtained. Due to its proximity to the south magnetic pole, the kilometric emission radio source is believed to be associated with an active auroral region, similar in nature to those found at earth and Saturn.
Farrell, W. M.↗
The X-ray astronomy satellite ASCA
Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA) is a high-throughput X-ray astronomy observatory which is capable of simultaneous imaging and spectroscopic observations over a wide energy range 0.5-10 keV. The scientific capabilities of ASCA and some aspects related to its operation and observations are briefly described.
Tanaka, Yasuo↗
Multiparameter linear least-squares fitting to Poisson data one count at a time
A standard problem in gamma-ray astronomy data analysis is the decomposition of a set of observed counts, described by Poisson statistics, according to a given multicomponent linear model, with underlying physical count rates or fluxes which are to be estimated from the data. Despite its conceptual simplicity, the linear least-squares (LLSQ) method for solving this problem has generally been limited to situations in which the number n(sub i) of counts in each bin i is not too small, conventionally more than 5-30. It seems to be widely believed that the failure of the LLSQ method for small counts is due to the failure of the Poisson distribution to be even approximately normal for small numbers. The cause is more accurately the strong anticorrelation between the data and the wieghts w(sub i) in the weighted LLSQ method when square root of n(sub i) instead of square root of bar-n(sub i) is used to approximate the uncertainties, sigma(sub i), in the data, where bar-n(sub i) = E(n(sub i)), the expected value of N(sub i). We show in an appendix that, avoiding this approximation, the correct equations for the Poisson LLSQ (PLLSQ) problems are actually identical to those for the maximum likelihood estimate using the exact Poisson distribution. We apply the method to solve a problem in high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for the JPL High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Spectrometer flown on HEAO 3. Systematic error in subtracting the strong, highly variable background encountered in the low-energy gamma-ray region can be significantly reduced by closely pairing source and background data in short segments. Significant results can be built up by weighted averaging of the net fluxes obtained from the subtraction of many individual source/background pairs. Extension of the approach to complex situations, with multiple cosmic sources and realistic background parameterizations, requires a means of efficiently fitting to data from single scans in the narrow (approximately = 1.2 keV, HEAO 3) energy channels of a Ge spectrometer, where the expected number of counts obtained per scan may be very low. Such an analysis system is discussed and compared to the method previously used.
Wheaton, Wm. A.↗
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.
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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.
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Multi-Parameter Linear Least-Squares Fitting to Poisson Data One Count at a Time
A standard problem in gamma-ray astronomy data analysis is the decomposition of a set of observed counts, described by Poisson statistics, according to a given multi-component linear model, with underlying physical count rates or fluxes which are to be estimated from the data.
gamma-rays: general numerical methods↗