The Solar Sail Materials (SSM) project – Status of activities

in Advances in Space Research (2011), 48(11), 1922-1926

Local ionospheric electron density profile reconstruction in real time from simultaneous ground-based GNSS and ionosonde measurements

in Advances in Space Research (2011), 47(7), 1172-1180

The extension of the INCL model for simulation of shielding in space

in Advances in Space Research (2011), 48(2), 383-389

Radiation hazard for space missions is mainly due to cosmic ray protons, helium nuclei and light ions, whose energy spectrum is maximum around 1 GeV per nucleon but remains non-negligible for energies up ... [more ▼]

Radiation hazard for space missions is mainly due to cosmic ray protons, helium nuclei and light ions, whose energy spectrum is maximum around 1 GeV per nucleon but remains non-negligible for energies up to 15 GeV per nucleon. Nuclear reactions induced by high energy protons are often described by intranuclear cascade plus evaporation models. The attention is focused here on the Liège Intranuclear Cascade model (INCL), which has been shown to reproduce fairly well a great deal of experimental data for nucleon-induced reactions in the 200 MeV to 2 GeV range, when coupled with the ABLA evaporation-fission code. In order to extend the model to other conditions relevant for space radiation, three improvements of INCL are under development. They are reported on here. First, the reaction model has been extended to nucleon-nucleus reactions at incident energies up to 15 GeV, mainly by the inclusion of additional pion production channels in nucleon-nucleon collisions during the cascade. Second, a coalescence mechanism for the emission of light charged particles has been implemented recently. Finally, the model has been modified in order to accommodate light ions as projectiles. First results are shown and compared with illustrative experimental data. Implications for issues concerning radiation protection in space are discussed. [less ▲]

PHITS simulations of the Matroshka experiment

in Advances in Space Research (2010), 40(10), 1266-1272

The distributions of the OH Meinel and O[SUB][/SUB](a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ-X[SUP]3[/SUP]Σ) nightglow emissions in the Venus mesosphere based on VIRTIS observations

in Advances in Space Research (2010), 45

O[SUB][/SUB](a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ) and recently discovered OH Meinel nightglow emissions have been observed at the limb with the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS-M) instrument on board ... [more ▼]

O[SUB][/SUB](a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ) and recently discovered OH Meinel nightglow emissions have been observed at the limb with the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS-M) instrument on board the Venus Express satellite. Hydroxyl bands belonging to Δv=1 sequence between 2.60and3.14μm and to Δv=2 sequence at 1.40-1.46μm have been unambiguously identified. In this study, we analyze the statistical distribution of the Δv=1 OH Meinel band sequence and the a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ[SUB]g[/SUB]-X[SUP]3[/SUP]Σ (0-0) band of the O[SUB][/SUB] Infrared Atmospheric bands at 1.27 μm. We also present an analysis of the correlation between the two emissions. From a statistical point of view, we find that the limb intensity of both emissions reach their maximum value near the antisolar point, while they are significantly dimmer in the vicinity of the terminator. The average altitude of the limb emissions peaks are 95.3 ± 3 km and 96 ± 2.7 km, respectively for the OH Δv=1 sequence and O[SUB][/SUB](a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ) emissions. The average intensities are 0.41 ± 0.37 MR and 28 ± 22 MR, respectively, corresponding to a mean ratio of about 70. The altitude of the OH nightglow layer is closely related to that of the O[SUB][/SUB](a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ) emission and some level of co-variation of the maximum intensity along the line of sight is observed. It is suggested that the global subsolar to antisolar circulation plays a key in the control of both airglows by carrying oxygen atoms from the day to the night side of the planet. The O atoms recombine to produce O[SUB][/SUB](a[SUP]1[/SUP]Δ) molecules and they also act as precursors of ozone whose reaction with H produces excited hydroxyl. [less ▲]

Extension of INCL4 between 2 and 15 GeV

in Advances in Space Research (2009), 44(8),

The intranuclear cascade model INCL4 has been shown to be very successful for describing, without adjustable parameters, a whole set of data for p-induced reactions in the 40 MeV–2 GeV energy range. In ... [more ▼]

The intranuclear cascade model INCL4 has been shown to be very successful for describing, without adjustable parameters, a whole set of data for p-induced reactions in the 40 MeV–2 GeV energy range. In view of its possible application to cosmic ray interactions, the INCL4 code has been extended to the 2–15 GeV energy range, so covering a large part of the spectrum of the incident energy of the cosmic rays. In this paper, the changes brought into the INCL4 code are discussed and some illustrative comparisons between the results given by the modified version of the code and experimental data are presented. [less ▲]

Ionospheric slab thickness - Analysis, modelling and monitoring

in Advances in Space Research (2009), 44(10), 1295-1303

The INCL model for spallation reactions below 10 GeV

in Advances in Space Research (2007), 40(9), 1332-1338

The Liège intranuclear cascade (INCL) model is shortly presented. The predictive power of its standard version concerning the description of nucleon-induced spallation reactions in the 200 MeV to ~2 GeV ... [more ▼]

The Liège intranuclear cascade (INCL) model is shortly presented. The predictive power of its standard version concerning the description of nucleon-induced spallation reactions in the 200 MeV to ~2 GeV range of incident energy is indicated. Current improvements of the model, in particular its extension to higher energies, are emphasized. The capabilities of the model for possible applications in astrophysics, space research and protontherapy are pointed out. [less ▲]

Ionospheric and geomagnetic conditions during periods of degraded GPS position accuracy : 1. Monitoring variability in TEC which degrades the accuracy of Real Time Kinematic GPS applications

in Advances in Space Research (2007), 39(5), 875-880

DYNAMO: a Mars upper atmosphere package for investigating solar wind interaction and escape processes, and mapping Martian fields

in Advances in Space Research (2004), 33

DYNAMO is a small multi-instrument payload aimed at characterizing current atmospheric escape, which is still poorly constrained, and improving gravity and magnetic field representations, in order to ... [more ▼]

DYNAMO is a small multi-instrument payload aimed at characterizing current atmospheric escape, which is still poorly constrained, and improving gravity and magnetic field representations, in order to better understand the magnetic, geologic and thermal history of Mars. The internal structure and evolution of Mars is thought to have influenced climate evolution. The collapse of the primitive magnetosphere early in Mars history could have enhanced atmospheric escape and favored transition to the present arid climate. These objectives are achieved by using a low periapsis orbit. DYNAMO has been proposed in response to the AO released in February 2002 for instruments to be flown as a complementary payload onboard the CNES Orbiter to Mars (MO-07), foreseen to be launched in 2007 in the framework of the French PREMIER Mars exploration program. MO-07 orbital phase 2b (with an elliptical orbit of periapsis 170 km), and in a lesser extent 2a, offers an unprecedented opportunity to investigate by in situ probing the chemical and dynamical properties of the deep ionosphere, thermosphere, and the interaction between the atmosphere and the solar wind, and therefore the present atmospheric escape rate. Ultraviolet remote sensing is an essential complement to characterize high, tenuous, layers of the atmosphere. One Martian year of operation, with about 5,000 low passes, should allow DYNAMO to map in great detail the residual magnetic field, together with the gravity field. Additional data on the internal structure will be obtained by mapping the electric conductivity, sinergistically with the NETLANDER magnetic data. Three options have been recommended by the International Science and Technical Review Board (ISTRB), who met on July 1st and 2nd, 2002. One of them is centered on DYNAMO. The final choice, which should be made before the end of 2002, will depend on available funding resources at CNES. [less ▲]