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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

THE SPACE MOTION OF LEO I: HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PROPER MOTION AND IMPLIED ORBIT

We present the first absolute proper motion measurement of Leo I, based on two epochs of Hubble Space Telescope ACS/WFC images separated by {approx}5 years in time. The average shift of Leo I stars with respect to {approx}100 background galaxies implies a proper motion of ({mu}{sub W}, {mu}{sub N}) = (0.1140 {+-} 0.0295, -0.1256 {+-} 0.0293) mas yr{sup -1}. The implied Galactocentric velocity vector, corrected for the reflex motion of the Sun, has radial and tangential components V{sub rad} = 167.9 {+-} 2.8 km s{sup -1} and V{sub tan} = 101.0 {+-} 34.4 km s{sup -1}, respectively. We study the detailed orbital history of Leo I by solving its equations of motion backward in time for a range of plausible mass models for the Milky Way (MW) and its surrounding galaxies. Leo I entered the MW virial radius 2.33 {+-} 0.21 Gyr ago, most likely on its first infall. It had a pericentric approach 1.05 {+-} 0.09 Gyr ago at a Galactocentric distance of 91 {+-} 36 kpc. We associate these timescales with characteristic timescales in Leo I's star formation history, which shows an enhanced star formation activity {approx}2 Gyr ago and quenching {approx}1 Gyr ago. There is no indication from our calculations that other galaxies have significantly influenced Leo I's orbit, although there is a small probability that it may have interacted with either Ursa Minor or Leo II within the last {approx}1 Gyr. For most plausible MW masses, the observed velocity implies that Leo I is bound to the MW. However, it may not be appropriate to include it in models of the MW satellite population that assume dynamical equilibrium, given its recent infall. Solution of the complete (non-radial) timing equations for the Leo I orbit implies an MW mass M{sub MW,vir} = 3.15{sub -1.36}{sup +1.58} x 10{sup 12} M{sub Sun }, with the large uncertainty dominated by cosmic scatter. In a companion paper, we compare the new observations to the properties of Leo I subhalo analogs extracted from cosmological simulations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2015

Efficient Trajectory Propagation for Orbit Determination Problems

Regularized formulations of orbital motion apply a series of techniques to improve the numerical integration of the orbit. Despite their advantages and potential applications little attention has been paid to the propagation of the partial derivatives of the corresponding set of elements or coordinates, required in many orbit-determination scenarios and optimization problems. This paper fills this gap by presenting the general procedure for integrating the state-transition matrix of the system together with the nominal trajectory using regularized formulations and different sets of elements. The main difficulty comes from introducing an independent variable different from time, because the solution needs to be synchronized. The correction of the time delay is treated from a generic perspective not focused on any particular formulation. The synchronization using time-elements is also discussed. Numerical examples include strongly-perturbed orbits in the Pluto system, motivated by the recent flyby of the New Horizons spacecraft, together with a geocentric flyby of the NEAR spacecraft.

numerical methods↗
NASA NTRS1986

Recovery of the UCAS asteroids

The astrometric measurements of the original 1981 UCAS survey plates were computed, leading to a grand total of 1252 orbits for newly discovered asteroids ranging in absolute magnitude from H = 10.5 to 19.5. New programs were created and existing computer routines were revised at Lowell Observatory, which has streamlined the process of correctly identifying asteroid images on archival photographic plates. The recovery and accurate measurements were made of 130 UCAS asteroids at other oppositions on plates taken by C. T. Kowal at Palomar Mountain in 1978 and 1979. When added to the 90 other UCAS objects identified by other investigators, this brings the total of multiple-opposition orbits to 220. Of the 56 UCAS asteroids known to be planet crossing, 11 were recovered at second oppositions. The recovery and accurate measurements of about 20 non-UCAS asteroids identified on the plates were examined.

Shoemaker, E. M.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Conservative magnetic moment of runaway electrons and collisionless pitch-angle scattering

Recently, the validity of the guiding-center approach to model relativistic runaway electrons in tokamaks has been challenged by full-orbit simulations that demonstrate the breakdown of the standard magnetic moment conservation. In this paper, we derive a new expression for the magnetic moment of relativistic runaway electrons with p∥>>⊥, which is conserved significantly better than the standard one. The new result includes one of the second-order corrections in the standard guiding-center theory which, in case of runaway electrons with p∥>>⊥, can peculiarly be of the same order as the lowest-order term. The better conservation of the new magnetic moment also explains the collisionless pitch-angle-scattering effect observed in full-orbit simulations since it allows momentum transfer between the perpendicular and parallel directions when the runaway electron is accelerated by an electric field. In conclusion, while the derivation of the second-order correction to the magnetic moment in general case would require the full extent of the relativistic second-order guiding-center theory, we exploit the Lie-perturbation method at the limit p∥Gtp⊥ which simplifies the computations significantly. Consequently, we present the corresponding guiding-center equations applicable to runaway electrons.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2006

Three Decades of Precision Orbit Determination Progress, Achievements, Future Challenges and its Vital Contribution to Oceanography and Climate Research

Although satellite altimetry has been around for thirty years, the last fifteen beginning with the launch of TOPEX/Poseidon (TP) have yielded an abundance of significant results including: monitoring of ENS0 events, detection of internal tides, determination of accurate global tides, unambiguous delineation of Rossby waves and their propagation characteristics, accurate determination of geostrophic currents, and a multi-decadal time series of mean sea level trend and dynamic ocean topography variability. While the high level of accuracy being achieved is a result of both instrument maturity and the quality of models and correction algorithms applied to the data, improving the quality of the Climate Data Records produced from altimetry is highly dependent on concurrent progress being made in fields such as orbit determination. The precision orbits form the reference frame from which the radar altimeter observations are made. Therefore, the accuracy of the altimetric mapping is limited to a great extent by the accuracy to which a satellite orbit can be computed. The TP mission represents the first time that the radial component of an altimeter orbit was routinely computed with an accuracy of 2-cm. Recently it has been demonstrated that it is possible to compute the radial component of Jason orbits with an accuracy of better than 1-cm. Additionally, still further improvements in TP orbits are being achieved with new techniques and algorithms largely developed from combined Jason and TP data analysis. While these recent POD achievements are impressive, the new accuracies are now revealing subtle systematic orbit error that manifest as both intra and inter annual ocean topography errors. Additionally the construction of inter-decadal time series of climate data records requires the removal of systematic differences across multiple missions. Current and future efforts must focus on the understanding and reduction of these errors in order to generate a complete and consistent time series of improved orbits across multiple missions and decades required for the most stringent climate-related research. This presentation discusses the POD progress and achievements made over nearly three decades, and presents the future challenges, goals and their impact on altimetric derived ocean sciences.

Luthcke, Scott↗
NASA NTRS2003

Assessment, Validation, and Refinement of the Atmospheric Correction Algorithm for the Ocean Color Sensors

The primary focus of this proposed research is for the atmospheric correction algorithm evaluation and development and satellite sensor calibration and characterization. It is well known that the atmospheric correction, which removes more than 90% of sensor-measured signals contributed from atmosphere in the visible, is the key procedure in the ocean color remote sensing (Gordon and Wang, 1994). The accuracy and effectiveness of the atmospheric correction directly affect the remotely retrieved ocean bio-optical products. On the other hand, for ocean color remote sensing, in order to obtain the required accuracy in the derived water-leaving signals from satellite measurements, an on-orbit vicarious calibration of the whole system, i.e., sensor and algorithms, is necessary. In addition, it is important to address issues of (i) cross-calibration of two or more sensors and (ii) in-orbit vicarious calibration of the sensor-atmosphere system. The goal of these researches is to develop methods for meaningful comparison and possible merging of data products from multiple ocean color missions. In the past year, much efforts have been on (a) understanding and correcting the artifacts appeared in the SeaWiFS-derived ocean and atmospheric produces; (b) developing an efficient method in generating the SeaWiFS aerosol lookup tables, (c) evaluating the effects of calibration error in the near-infrared (NIR) band to the atmospheric correction of the ocean color remote sensors, (d) comparing the aerosol correction algorithm using the singlescattering epsilon (the current SeaWiFS algorithm) vs. the multiple-scattering epsilon method, and (e) continuing on activities for the International Ocean-Color Coordinating Group (IOCCG) atmospheric correction working group. In this report, I will briefly present and discuss these and some other research activities.

Wang, Menghua↗
DOE OSTI2014

Two new constraints for the cumulant matrix

We suggest new strict constraints that the two-particle cumulant matrix should fulfill. The constraints are obtained from the decomposition of 〈S-^{sup 2}〉, previously developed in our laboratory, and the vanishing number of electrons shared by two non-interacting fragments. The conditions impose stringent constraints into the cumulant structure without any need to perform an orbital optimization procedure thus carrying very small or no computational effort. These constraints are tested on the series of Piris natural orbital functionals (PNOF), which are among the most accurate ones available in the literature. Interestingly, even though all PNOF cumulants ensure correct overall 〈S{sup ^2}〉 values, none of them is consistent with the local spin structure of systems that dissociate more than one pair of electrons. A careful analysis of the local spin components reveals the most important missing contributions in the cumulant expression thus suggesting a means to improve PNOF5. The constraints provide an inexpensive tool for the construction and testing of cumulant structures that complement previously known conditions such as the N-representability or the square of the total spin angular momentum, 〈S{sup ^2}〉.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Assessment of BPM options for the EIC Beam Accumulator Ring

The electron injection system for the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at BNL is designed to provide a beam of polarized electrons, which is crucial for studying the structure of protons and atomic nuclei. The Beam Accumulator Ring (BAR) is a part of the injection chain between the 750 MeV linear accelerator and the Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS), which accelerates the beam up to full energy (5–18 GeV). The functional role of the BAR is to accumulate the charge injected from the linear accelerator in order to achieve the high intensity of the polarized electron beam required by the specifications for injection into the RCS. This objective will be realized through the sequential injection of bunches with a charge of 1.1 nC at a repetition rate of 30 Hz. Once the charge of a single bunch reaches 28 nC, the beam will be extracted from the BAR and injected into the RCS. The beam instrumentation needs to provide reliable measurements with the required accuracy over the dynamic range from 0.1 nC (one tenth of a typical injected bunch charge) to 32 nC – the maximum expected accumulated current. There are 10 Beam Position Monitors (BPMs) in the ring, 1 extra button-electrode assembly for the RF system, and 8 BPMs in the beam transport lines. The BPM locations are shown in Fig. 1, marked by blue rectangles. The ring BPMs will be capable of both average orbit and turn-by-turn measurement modes. Accurate measurement of the beam position with a large horizontal offset requires polynomial correction of the BPM nonlinearity.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1971

NASA-GSFC ionospheric corrections to satellite tracking data

An overview is presented of the development, verification, and recent implementation of the NASA-GSFC ionospheric model for satellite tracking data corrections. This model was incorporated into the Goddard Trajectory Determination System which is providing continuous trajectory computation support for the lunar orbiting Radio Astronomy Explorer-B launched on 10 June 1973.

Schmid, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

First-order corrections to approximate solutions to two-point boundary-condition problems

A method, applicable to real time guidance, is developed for accurate solution to exo-atmospheric space flight optimization problems. In principle the method is applicable to many other two-point boundary-condition (TPBC) problems. The first step of the method is the iterative solution (using a shooting method) of a TPBC problem with differential equations simplified so that they may be solved analytically by means of a single closed-form solution over each stage of the flight. The second step is the addition of a closed-form correction to the solution to the TPBC problem obtained in the first step. The correction accounts (to first-order accuracy) for the errors due to the aforementioned simplifications. Numerical results are given for several orbital injection problems.

Andrus, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Mariner 4 - A study of the cumulative flux of dust particles over a heliocentric range of 1-1.56 AU 1964-1967

Between December 1964 and December 1967, the Mariner 4 dust particle experiment obtained data concerning the distribution of minute zodiacal dust cloud particles over a heliocentric range of 1-1.56 AU. The first measurement was over the complete heliocentric range, while the two additional measurements were made between 1.1 and 1.25 AU in 1966, and between 1.2 and 1.5 AU in 1967. The initial results of these measurements presented the mean cumulative flux for the respective data periods. The results of a detailed study and comparison of the three measurements are presented, with particular emphasis on the variation of the flux as a function of heliocentric range. A small, but statistically significant, increase in the flux is observed between 1.15 and 1.4 AU. The initial reports showed a lower cumulative flux for the latter two measurements. However, a detailed analysis containing corrections for spacecraft attitude indicate that all three measurements yield similar results, and that the particles detected were in low inclination orbits.

Alexander, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A theory of the Jovian hydrogen torus

The Jovian hydrogen torus associated with Io, that was observed by Judge and Carlson, has been found by them to be a third of a torus rather than a complete torus. It is shown that the energetic particles observed by Pioneer 10 do not ionize atomic hydrogen sufficiently fast to erode the torus as observed. It is proposed that the reason an incomplete torus exists is the presence of a corotating cold magnetospheric plasma. If this explanation is correct, the angular extent of the fractional torus is a measure of the density of the magnetospheric plasma near Io's orbit, which is found to be about 100 per cu cm. It is shown that such a plasma may provide an adequate input to Io, where it can recombine and escape, to form enough hydrogen atoms to explain the number of observed torus atoms. Thus the magnetospheric plasma may serve as both the source and the sink of the torus.

Mcdonough, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Evaluation of S-Band FM Direct Link Signal and System Design

The adequacy of the S-band FM downlink as part of space shuttle orbiter communication links, was assessed to satisfy all known requirements during all mission phases. Some potential performance problems are described and corrective actions are recommended when appropriate.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1980

Lunar highland crustal models based on iron concentrations - Isostasy and center-of-mass displacement

Data is introduced on the iron concentrations of the lunar surface which have been refined by means of convolution corrections to restore the spatial resolution and contrast lost by the omnidirectional spectrometer. This refined iron data is synthesized with other orbital seismic, and lunar sample data to derive highland crustal density and thickness, and isostasy and lunar centers of mass models are examined in light of this new information. A model is developed by which highland crustal density is calculated for each highland region from orbital observations of Fe, Mg and Ti concentrations. The results of this model are presented numerically and graphically for 35 highland and two non-highland regions. Density and thickness results are then applied to two long-standing lunar problems: (1) the nature of highland isostasy, which is shown to be controlled by crustal thickness rather than density, and (2) the separation of the moon's mass and figure centers, which is shown to be due to the crustal thickness difference between the lunar near and far sides.

Haines, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The damage equivalence of electrons, protons, and gamma rays in MOS devices

The results of laboratory tests to determine the radiation damage effects induced on MOS devices from Co-60, electron, and proton radiation are reported. The tests are performed to establish the relationship between the Co-60 gamma rays and the level of damage to the MOS devices in regards to different damages which can be expected with the electron and particle bombardments experienced in space applications. CMOS devices were exposed to the Co-60 gamma rays, 1 MeV electrons, and 1 MeV protons while operating at 3, 10, and 15 V. The test data indicated that the Co-60 source was reliable for an initial evaluation of the electron damages up to 2 MeV charge. A correction factor was devised for transferring the Co-60 measurements to proton damages, independent of bias and transistor types, for any orbit or environment.

Brucker, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Time and frequency comparisons in Europe by means of ECS 5 geostationary satellite

A time synchronization experiment between some European laboratories using the passive television method applied to the signals broadcasted by Eutelsat I-F5 telecommunication satellite was completed in 1990. The results obtained in the last period, when also range measurements from a Telespazio ground station were performed, are analyzed to evaluate the accuracy level of the time comparisons corrected for the effect of the satellite movement with position data obtained either from the European Space Agency (ESA) or from orbit determination with range data entered into GEODYN program of NASA/GSFC.

Cordara, Franco↗
NASA NTRS1990

Low frequency propagation in the earth's magnetosphere

Using a model to simulate wave propagation, estimates were obtained on the effect of the earth's magnetosphere on the imaging potential of the Low-Frequency Space Array mission for observations above the ionosphere at frequencies below about 10 MHz. Results of this simulation show that, for imaging at 1.5 MHz, large orbital radii will be required. It is concluded that successful imaging from within the plasmasphere may depend upon the feasibility of correction schemes.

Dennison, Brian↗