16,925 research outputs found
HILTOP supplement: Heliocentric interplanetary low thrust trajectory optimization program, supplement 1
Modifications and improvements are described that were made to the HILTOP electric propulsion trajectory optimization computer program during calendar years 1973 and 1974. New program features include the simulation of power degradation, housekeeping power, launch asymptote declination optimization, and powered and unpowered ballistic multiple swingby missions with an optional deep space burn
Heliocentric interplanetary low thrust trajectory optimization program, supplement 1, part 2
The improvements made to the HILTOP electric propulsion trajectory computer program are described. A more realistic propulsion system model was implemented in which various thrust subsystem efficiencies and specific impulse are modeled as variable functions of power available to the propulsion system. The number of operating thrusters are staged, and the beam voltage is selected from a set of five (or less) constant voltages, based upon the application of variational calculus. The constant beam voltages may be optimized individually or collectively. The propulsion system logic is activated by a single program input key in such a manner as to preserve the HILTOP logic. An analysis describing these features, a complete description of program input quantities, and sample cases of computer output illustrating the program capabilities are presented
Selected solar electric propulsion and ballistic missions studies
Selected missions using solar electric propulsion and conventional propulsion systems were studied. The accomplishment of the tasks required extensive modification of the trajectory optimization computer program HILTOP. In addition to adding new program features, HILTOP was completely restructured to reduce execution time. The specific mission studies reported on are the direct and Venus swingby missions to the comet Encke and solar electric propulsion missions to Encke and to a distance of 0.25 AU from the sun
Heliocentric interplanetary low thrust trajectory optimization program, supplement 1
The modifications and improvements made to the HILTOP electric propulsion trajectory optimization computer program up through the end of 1974 is described. New program features include the simulation of power degradation, housekeeping power, launch asymptote declination optimization, and powered and unpowered ballistic multiple swingby missions with an optional deep space burn. The report contains the new analysis describing these features, a complete description of program input quantities, and sample cases of computer output illustrating the new program capabilities
Solar electric propulsion mission requirements study Final report
Analysis of solar electric propulsion for unmanned exploration of solar syste
Study to document low thrust trajectory optimization programs HILTOP and ASTOP
Detailed documentation of the HILTOP and ASTOP computer programs is presented along with results of the analyses of the possible extension of the HILTOP program and results of an extra-ecliptic mission study performed with HILTOP
A study of unmanned mission opportunities to comets and asteroids
Several unmanned multiple-target mission opportunities to comets and asteroids were studied. The targets investigated include Grigg-Skjellerup, Giacobini-Zinner, Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak, Borrelly, Halley, Schaumasse, Geographos, Eros, Icarus, and Toro, and the trajectories consist of purely ballistic flight, except that powered swingbys and deep space burns are employed when necessary. Optimum solar electric rendezvous trajectories to the comets Giacobini-Zinner/85, Borrelly/87, and Temple (2)/83 and /88 employing the 8.67 kw Sert III spacecraft modified for interplanetary flight were also investigated. The problem of optimizing electric propulsion heliocentric trajectories, including the effects of geocentric launch asymptote declination on launch vehicle performance capability, was formulated, and a solution developed using variational calculus techniques. Improvements were made to the HILTOP trajectory optimization computer program. An error analysis of high-thrust maneuvers involving spin-stabilized spacecraft was developed and applied to a synchronous meteorological satellite mission
Chaos in an Exact Relativistic 3-body Self-Gravitating System
We consider the problem of three body motion for a relativistic
one-dimensional self-gravitating system. After describing the canonical
decomposition of the action, we find an exact expression for the 3-body
Hamiltonian, implicitly determined in terms of the four coordinate and momentum
degrees of freedom in the system. Non-relativistically these degrees of freedom
can be rewritten in terms of a single particle moving in a two-dimensional
hexagonal well. We find the exact relativistic generalization of this
potential, along with its post-Newtonian approximation. We then specialize to
the equal mass case and numerically solve the equations of motion that follow
from the Hamiltonian. Working in hexagonal-well coordinates, we obtaining
orbits in both the hexagonal and 3-body representations of the system, and plot
the Poincare sections as a function of the relativistic energy parameter . We find two broad categories of periodic and quasi-periodic motions that we
refer to as the annulus and pretzel patterns, as well as a set of chaotic
motions that appear in the region of phase-space between these two types.
Despite the high degree of non-linearity in the relativistic system, we find
that the the global structure of its phase space remains qualitatively the same
as its non-relativisitic counterpart for all values of that we could
study. However the relativistic system has a weaker symmetry and so its
Poincare section develops an asymmetric distortion that increases with
increasing . For the post-Newtonian system we find that it experiences a
KAM breakdown for : above which the near integrable regions
degenerate into chaos.Comment: latex, 65 pages, 36 figures, high-resolution figures available upon
reques
Grassland Landscape Design: Working with Land-Managers
We are entering an era of landscape design in order to simultaneously tackle largescale issues such as salinity and rising water tables, whole-farm profitability and the maintenance or enhancement of rural communities. In Australia, an important element of landscape design will be the reintroduction or broadening of the base of perennial grasses within farm systems. The goal of this project was to accelerate awareness and adoption of perennial grasses in a large but ecologically-specific area, namely the already-cleared steep uplands in the high rainfall recharge areas of the Murray-Darling Basin. We used a participatory model, in which land-managers made monthly observations of grassland composition and condition, and of livestock. This paper describes the project, some of the outcomes eg that stocking rate varied more within grassland types than between types, and could be relatively high, eg 10 adult sheep equivalents per hectare on indigenous grasslands. Land-managers\u27 data eg height, were coupled to correlations with other variates such as dry matter and leaf area, to derive seasonal estimates of digestible dry matter-on-offer, and environmentally-important variates such as seasonal evaporation. Collection of these data by land-managers creates opportunities for local awareness and the development of regional data sets which are not possible through traditional small-plot research. In our view, land-manager participation, leading to awareness and in some cases enthusiasm, will be a prerequisite for regional landscape design
On the Persistent Shape and Coherence of Pulsating Auroral Patches
The pulsating aurora covers a broad range of fluctuating shapes that are
poorly characterized. The purpose of this paper is therefore to provide
objective and quantitative measures of the extent to which pulsating auroral
patches maintain their shape, drift and fluctuate in a coherent fashion. We
present results from a careful analysis of pulsating auroral patches using
all-sky cameras. We have identified four well-defined individual patches that
we follow in the patch frame of reference. In this way we avoid the space-time
ambiguity which complicates rocket and satellite measurements. We find that the
shape of the patches is remarkably persistent with 85-100% of the patch being
repeated for 4.5-8.5 min. Each of the three largest patches has a temporal
correlation with a negative dependence on distance, and thus does not fluctuate
in a coherent fashion. A time-delayed response within the patches indicates
that the so-called streaming mode might explain the incoherency. The patches
appear to drift differently from the SuperDARN-determined
X convection velocity.
However, in a nonrotating reference frame the patches drift with 230-287 m/s in
a north eastward direction, which is what typically could be expected for the
convection return flow
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