Anthony K. Hyder - Böcker

This work contains the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Studies Institute, which emphasized the basic physics of the space environment and the engineering aspects of the environment's interactions with spacecraft. The book's 35 chapters, each written by an international expert on the topic, bring together the latest data characterizing the space environment and the analyses of the interactions of systems in that environment. The contents are underscored by our constantly developing understanding of space which has resulted from the vast quantity of recent data and experiments coupled with a worldwide renewal of interest in extended satellite operations for military, commercial and scientific missions. These proceedings provide a useful tool which should assist spacecraft engineers in the design and construction of payloads capable of accommodating long-term interactions with the space environment. They may be used equally effectively as a reference text for the designer or for the student at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level.

The world situation has witnessed dramatic changes in the recent past, and defence-related science and technology are coming under increasing pressure to demonstrate their ability to contribute added value to national and international economies. But defence conversion is complicated by the absence of tested principles and there is no formal training to facilitate the conversion process. As a result, such factors as long-term implications for defence together with a broad range of issues related to economic, political and social questions are not being adequately addressed. Governments and industries are searching for optimum strategies to guide the defence conversion process without benefit of either historical precedents as models or a complete understanding of the process itself. This book identifies and studies the elements of successful defence conversion strategies through a systematic analysis of the factors influencing them and the common features of specific national efforts. The book reflects a combination of theory and practical experience. national strategies are explored that stimulate the conversion of defence technologies to industrial capacity, global economic growth and stability, the preservation and enhancement of defence technology options, and the ability to capitalize on unique economic, political and social opportunities afforded by defense technology conversion.The nations of the former Soviet Union present a particular problem. In Russia, for instance, from 1990 to 1993 there was a 47% decline in industrial production and a 38% decrease in GNP. This clearly needs immediate action, but there are difficulties with the conversion processes, technology transfer and implementation of dual-use strategies. While many of these issues are generic to the process, there are national and cultural difficulties. At a time of unprecedented global political and economic instability, the collective knowledge and experience of NATO and its Cooperation Partners will be essential to the successful conversion of defense production capabilities to economic tools that can contribute to universal economic equilibrium and prosperity.

For some time, all branches of the military have used a wide range of sensors to provide data for many purposes, including surveillance, reconnoitring, target detection and battle damage assessment. Many nations have also attempted to utilise these sensors for civilian applications, such as crop monitoring, agricultural disease tracking, environmental diagnostics, cartography, ocean temperature profiling, urban planning, and the characterisation of the Ozone Hole above Antarctica. The convergence of several important technologies has made possible advanced, high performance, sensor-based applications relying on the near-simultaneous fusion of data from an ensemble of different types of sensors. This book examines the underlying principles of sensor operation and data fusion and the techniques and technologies that enable the process, including the operation of "fusion engines". Fundamental theory and the enabling technologies of data fusion are presented in a systematic and accessible manner. Applications are discussed in the areas of medicine, meteorology, BDA and targeting, transportation, cartography, the environment, agriculture, and manufacturing and process control.

For some time, all branches of the military have used a wide range of sensors to provide data for many purposes, including surveillance, reconnoitring, target detection and battle damage assessment. Many nations have also attempted to utilise these sensors for civilian applications, such as crop monitoring, agricultural disease tracking, environmental diagnostics, cartography, ocean temperature profiling, urban planning, and the characterisation of the Ozone Hole above Antarctica. The convergence of several important technologies has made possible advanced, high performance, sensor-mbased applications relying on the near-simultaneous fusion of data from an ensemble of different types of sensors. This book examines the underlying principles of sensor operation and data fusion and the techniques and technologies that enable the process, including the operation of "fusion engines". Fundamental theory and the enabling technologies of data fusion are presented in a systematic and accessible manner. Applications are discussed in the areas of medicine, meteorology, BDA and targeting, transportation, cartography, the environment, agriculture, and manufacturing and process control.

Spacecraft Power Technologies is the first comprehensive text devoted to the technologies critical to the development of spacecraft electrical power systems. The science and engineering of solar, chemical, and nuclear systems are fully examined together with the constraints imposed by the space and thermal environments in which the systems must operate. Details of present technology and the history that led to the current state-of-the-art are presented at a level appropriate for the student as a textbook or the practicing engineer as a reference.

The world situation has witnessed dramatic changes in the recent past and defense-related science and technology are coming under increasing pressure to demonstrate their ability to contribute added value to national and international economies. But defense conversion is complicated by the absence of tested principles and there is no formal training to facilitate the conversion process. As a result, such factors as long-term implications for defense together with a broad range of issues related to economic, political and social questions are not being adequately addressed. Governments and industries are searching for optimum strategies to guide the defense conversion process without benefit of either historical precedents as models or a complete understanding of the process itself. The present book identifies and studies the elements of successful defense conversion strategies through a systematic analysis of the factors influencing them and the common features of specific national efforts. The book reflects a combination of theory and practical experience.International strategies are explored that stimulate the conversion of defense technologies to industrial capacity, global economic growth and stability, the preservation and enhancement of defense technology options, and the ability to capitalize on unique economic, political and social opportunities afforded by defense technology conversion. The nations of the former Soviet Union present a particular problem. In Russia, for instance, from 1990 to 1993 there was a 47% decline in industrial production and a 38% decrease in GNP. This clearly needs immediate action, but there are difficulties with the conversion processes, technology transfer and implementation of dual-use strategies. While many of these issues are generic to the process, there are national and cultural difficulties. At a time of unprecedented global political and economic instability, the collective knowledge and experience of NATO and its Cooperation Partners will be essential to the successful conversion of defense production capabilities to economic tools that can contribute to universal economic equilibrium and prosperity.