Search Publications
A novel star identification technique robust to high presence of false objects: The Multi-Poles Algorithm
Schiattarella, Vincenzo; Spiller, Dario; Curti, Fabio
This work proposes a novel technique for the star pattern recognition for the Lost in Space, named Multi-Poles Algorithm. This technique is especially designed to ensure a reliable identification of stars when there is a large number of false objects in the image, such as Single Event Upsets, hot pixels or other celestial bodies. The algorithm ide…
Spectral manifestations of extremely strong magnetic fields in the sunspot umbra
Lozitsky, V. G.
Fine peculiarities of the Zeeman effect in two big sunspots of October 29, 2003, and October 25, 2014, are analyzed. In order to search spectral evidences of very strong spatially unresolved magnetic fields, the Stokes I ± V and V profiles of the Fe I 6301.5 and 6302.5 Å lines are studied in detail. Confirmed are two effects discovered earlier by …
25 MeV solar proton events in Cycle 24 and previous cycles
Richardson, Ian G.; Cane, Hilary V.; von Rosenvinge, Tycho T.
We summarize observations of around a thousand solar energetic particle (SEP) events since 1967 that include ∼25 MeV protons, made by various near-Earth spacecraft (IMPs 4, 5, 7, 8, ISEE 3, SOHO), that encompass Solar Cycle 20 to the current cycle (24). We also discuss recent observations of similar SEP events in Cycle 24 made by the STEREO spacec…
DREAMS-SIS: The Solar Irradiance Sensor on-board the ExoMars 2016 lander
Toledo, D.; Gómez, L.; Apéstigue, V. +10 more
The Solar Irradiance Sensor (SIS) was part of the DREAMS (Dust characterization, Risk assessment, and Environment Analyzer on the Martian Surface) payload package on board the ExoMars 2016 Entry and Descent Module (EDM), "Schiaparelli". DREAMS was a meteorological station aimed at the measurement of several atmospheric parameters, as well as the p…
Observations of Phobos by the Mars Express radar MARSIS: Description of the detection techniques and preliminary results
Plettemeier, D.; Orosei, R.; Plaut, J. J. +4 more
The Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) (Picardi et al., 2005) is a synthetic aperture low frequency radar altimeter, onboard the ESA Mars Express orbiter, launched in June 2003. It is the first and so far the only spaceborne radar that has observed the Martian moon Phobos. Radar echoes were collected on different f…
On-ground testing of the role of adhesion in the LISA-Pathfinder test mass injection phase
Bortoluzzi, D.; Zanoni, C.; Conklin, J. W.
Many space missions share the need to fly a free-falling body inside the spacecraft, as a reference for navigation and/or as a probe for the local gravitational field. When a mechanism is required to cage such an object during the launch phase, the need arises to release it to free-fall once the operational phase must be initiated in orbit. The cr…
INRRI-EDM/2016: the first laser retroreflector on the surface of Mars
Marchetti, E.; Flamini, E.; Mugnuolo, R. +18 more
During Summer 2015 the SCF_Lab (Satellite/lunar/GNSS laser ranging/altimetry and cube/microsat Characterization Facilities Laboratory, http://www.lnf.infn.it/esperimenti/etrusco, Team of INFN-LNF, with support by ASI, carried out an intense activity of final design, manufacturing and testing in order to construct, space qualify and finally integra…
Frequency fluctuations in the solar corona investigated with radio sounding experiments on the spacecraft ROSETTA and MARS EXPRESS in 2010/2011
Pätzold, M.; Bird, M. K.; Efimov, A. I. +3 more
Coronal radio-sounding experiments were carried out using two-way coherent dual-frequency carrier signals of the ESA spacecraft ROSETTA in 2010 and MARS EXPRESS in 2010/2011. Differential frequency measurements recorded at both NASA and ESA tracking stations (sample rate: 1 Hz) are analyzed in this paper. Spectral analysis of the S-band, X-band, a…
Multi-spacecraft studies of the auroral acceleration region: From cluster to nanosatellites
Sadeghi, S.; Emami, M. R.
This paper discusses the utilization of multiple Cubesats in various formations for studies in the auroral acceleration region. The focus is on the quasi-static properties, spatio-temporal features, electric potential structures, field-aligned currents, and their relationships, all of which are fundamentally important for an understanding of the m…
Characteristics of active regions associated to large solar energetic proton events
Bronarska, K.; Michalek, G.
The relationship between properties of active regions (ARs) and solar energetic particles (SEP events, protons with energy ⩾10 MeV) is examined. For this purpose we study 84 SEP events recorded during the SOHO era (1996-2014). We compare properties of these SEP events with associated ARs, flares and CMEs. The ARs are characterized by McIntosh clas…