Untitled Quiz

Questions and Answers

What line is 100 km (62 miles) above Earth's surface?

Karman Line

What line is 100 km (62 miles) above mean sea level?

USSPACECOM domain

What line is 500-1000 km (310-620 miles) above Earth's surface?

Exobase

What is the sun's composition?

74.9% Hydrogen Signup and view all the answers

The ________ rotates like a solid and is where fusion occurs.

core Signup and view all the answers

The _______________ rotates like a fluid and radiates energy.

radiative zone Signup and view all the answers

The _________________ rotates like a fluid and transfers heat through convection.

convective zone Signup and view all the answers

The _________________ is also known as the 'surface' and is responsible for 99% of solar radiation.

photosphere Signup and view all the answers

The _________________ has 4 sublayers, all of which are only visible during an eclipse.

atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

The _______________ generates magnetic field lines and stores magnetic flux.

tacholine Signup and view all the answers

The _______________________________ consists of a solar minimum and solar maximum.

solar cycle Signup and view all the answers

___________________________ is referred to as 'Quiet Sun.'

Solar Minimum Signup and view all the answers

____________________________ is referred to as 'active sun.'

Solar Maximum Signup and view all the answers

What are Solar Hazards?

Solar Wind, solar flare, solar energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections. Signup and view all the answers

_____________________________ is a stream of charged particles released from the Corona.

Solar Wind Signup and view all the answers

___________________________________ is a sudden burst of high energy particles and radiation.

Solar Flare Signup and view all the answers

_______________________________________ are high energy particles emanating from the Sun outside the standard solar wind.

Solar Energetic Particles Signup and view all the answers

A _________________________________ is a massive cloud of energetic, magnetized solar plasma launched into space.

coronal mass ejection (CMEs) Signup and view all the answers

How many days does it take for a solar wind to arrive?

3 days Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for a solar flare to arrive?

8 minutes Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for solar energetic particles to arrive?

15 to 24 hours Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for a CME to arrive?

3 to 4 days Signup and view all the answers

Earth's magnetic field, also known as a geomagnetic field is the ______________________.

magnetosphere Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the magnetosphere?

The Earth interacts with the solar wind and other solar hazards. Signup and view all the answers

The _____________________________ is populated by trapped charged particles from the sun.

Van Allen Belts Signup and view all the answers

The __________________ of the Van Allen belts is populated by trapped solar wind electrons.

outer belt Signup and view all the answers

The ___________________ of the Van Allen Belts is populated by protons from geomagnetic storms.

inner belt Signup and view all the answers

The ______________ consists of plasma (positive ions and free electrons).

ionosphere Signup and view all the answers

What layer of the earth's atmosphere is responsible for scintillation?

ionosphere Signup and view all the answers

How often does scintillation occur? Is it localized?

Daily, very localized Signup and view all the answers

What effects does scintillation have on the ionosphere?

Signal fading and data dropouts on satellite communications and GPS positioning. Signup and view all the answers

What layer of the earth's atmosphere is responsible for the aurora borealis and australis?

ionosphere Signup and view all the answers

How is the intensity and location of an aurora determined?

By the strength of the storm. Signup and view all the answers

Three categories of space weather storms?

Radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, geomagnetic storms. Signup and view all the answers

What are radio blackouts caused by?

solar flare Signup and view all the answers

What are solar radiation storms caused by?

SEPs Signup and view all the answers

What are geomagnetic storms caused by?

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) Signup and view all the answers

What do radio blackouts affect?

Airline comms, HF radio operators, DoD comms, and Satellite comms. Signup and view all the answers

What do solar radiation storms impact?

Airline comms, HF radio operators, DoD comms, Astronauts (radiation), and satellite electronic failures. Signup and view all the answers

What do geomagnetic storms impact?

Components damaged by high current, high energy particle penetrates the satellite, HF radio interference, satellite navigation may be degraded. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 space vacuum hazards?

Outgassing, Cold Welding, Heat Transfer. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 spacecraft charging hazards?

Sputtering, Single event upset, Total ionizing dose effect. Signup and view all the answers

___________________ occurs when space objects collide with atmospheric molecules, causing a transfer in kinetic energy.

atmospheric drag Signup and view all the answers

_______________ occurs when plastics/composites release trapped gases (volatiles).

outgassing Signup and view all the answers

How to mitigate outgassing?

Baking in a vacuum. Signup and view all the answers

________________________ occurs when there is no atmosphere to act as a lubricant between mechanical parts.

cold welding Signup and view all the answers

How do you minimize cold welding?

Design = minimize moving parts, select lubricants that will not outgas/evaporate, and use spacecraft rotation to evenly dissipate heat. Signup and view all the answers

_____________________________ is when conduction, convection, or radiation occur.

Heat transfer Signup and view all the answers

How to mitigate heat transfer?

Radiation = only transfer method to dissipate heat away from the spacecraft. Signup and view all the answers

___________________________ occurs when particles contact spacecraft at high speeds.

Sputtering Signup and view all the answers

________________________ occurs when a charged particle makes a deep penetration of the spacecraft.

single event upset Signup and view all the answers

___________________________________________________ is long-term damage to the crystal structure of semiconductors within a spacecraft's computer caused by electrons in the solar wind.

total ionizing dose effect Signup and view all the answers

How to mitigate spacecraft charging?

<ol> <li>Hardening/shielding critical components from radiation. 2) Warning of environmental conditions to allow operators to take evasive actions.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Until what altitude does atmospheric drag remain a concern?

400 miles (LEO) Signup and view all the answers

How to mitigate atmospheric drag?

Orbital maneuvers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Satellite Operations Center?

Provides command and control of the satellite constellation. Signup and view all the answers

What are 3 capabilities of Remote Tracking Station (RTS)?

Uplink, Downlink, Ranging. Signup and view all the answers

What is Uplink?

Commanding, sends commands, data uploads to satellites. Signup and view all the answers

What is Downlink?

Telemetry, collects telemetry from the satellite and sends it to the SOC. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ranging?

Providing an object's azimuth, elevation and distance from the RTS. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 21 SOPS units?

COOK, REEF, GUAM, HULA. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 23 SOPS units?

BOSS, POGO, LION. Signup and view all the answers

What does COOK refer to?

Vandenberg Tracking Station (VTS). Signup and view all the answers

What does REEF refer to?

Diego Garcia Tracking Station (DGS). Signup and view all the answers

What does GUAM refer to?

Guam Tracking Station (GTS). Signup and view all the answers

What does HULA refer to?

Hawaii Tracking Station (HTS). Signup and view all the answers

What does BOSS refer to?

New Hampshire Tracking (NHS). Signup and view all the answers

What does POGO refer to?

Thule Tracking Station (TTS). Signup and view all the answers

What does LION refer to?

Telemetry and Command Station (TCS). Signup and view all the answers

What are the Delta 6 Segments?

Communications, Network Management, Range. Signup and view all the answers

What does Communications refer to?

Connects the users and the RTS. Signup and view all the answers

What does Network Management refer to?

Schedules network resources. Signup and view all the answers

What does Range refer to?

Remote Tracking Stations (RTS). Signup and view all the answers

The __________________________ receives commands, routes them to the appropriate subsystem, and then transmits telemetry and mission data back to the RTS.

satellite vehicle Signup and view all the answers

______________________________ is communicating with the SV through the TT&C subsystem.

out of band Signup and view all the answers

________________________________ is communicating with the SV through the Payload.

In-Band Signup and view all the answers

______________________ is utilizing a satellite as a relay for uplink and/or downlink.

crosslink Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between Bus and Payload?

The payload does the mission and the bus supports the mission. Signup and view all the answers

What subsystem enables the satellite to send (telemetry) and receive (commands) data?

Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding Subsystem (TT&C). Signup and view all the answers

Components of TT&C include?

Transmitters, receivers, and antennas. Signup and view all the answers

What is telemetry?

The collection, processing of health and status data of all spacecraft subsystems. Signup and view all the answers

What is tracking?

The determination of the satellite's exact location and where it is going. Signup and view all the answers

What is command?

The reception and processing of commands for the operations of the satellite. Signup and view all the answers

What are the brains of the satellite?

Command and data handling (CD&H) subsystem. Signup and view all the answers

Components of CD&H include?

CPU, memory, links, and software. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two parts of the CD&H?

Command Decoder and Data Handling Unit. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the command decoder?

Receive, validate, decode, and distribute commands to other spacecraft systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the data handling unit?

Gather, process, and format spacecraft housekeeping and mission data. Signup and view all the answers

What ranges and regulates a process output based on inputs into the process?

Control subsystems. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between open loop and closed loop controls?

Closed loop has a feedback part of the loop. Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps to open loop controls?

Input, Controller, Actuator, Output. Signup and view all the answers

What are the steps to closed loop controls?

Input, Controller, Actuator, Output, Feedback. Signup and view all the answers

What subsystem is responsible for satellite attitude control?

Attitude determination and control subsystem (ADCS). Signup and view all the answers

What subsystem is responsible for satellite orbit control?

Guidance, navigation, and control subsystem (GNC). Signup and view all the answers

What subsystem controls satellite rotation and ensures correct antenna direction?

Attitude determination and control subsystem. Signup and view all the answers

Components of ADCS include?

Controller, Instruments, Sensors. Signup and view all the answers

Attitude determination must be performed?

On-board. Signup and view all the answers

We determine attitude through?

Attitude sensors. Signup and view all the answers

What are ADCS Sensors 'eyes'?

Earth sensors, Sun sensors, Star sensors. Signup and view all the answers

What are ADCS sensor 'ears'?

Gyroscopes, Magnetometers. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Space and Solar Terminology

Karman Line: Located 100 km (62 miles) above Earth's surface, defining the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space.
USSPACECOM Domain: Refers to the line 100 km (62 miles) above mean sea level.
Exobase: The line defined as 500-1000 km (310-620 miles) above Earth's surface.

Sun’s Composition and Structure

Composition: The sun is made up of 74.9% Hydrogen, 23.8% Helium, and 1.3% miscellaneous gases.
Core: The part of the sun where fusion occurs and it rotates like a solid.
Radiative Zone: Rotates like a fluid, responsible for radiating energy.
Convective Zone: Transfers heat through convection and rotates like a fluid.
Photosphere: Known as the "surface" of the sun, it accounts for 99% of solar radiation.
Atmosphere: Contains four sublayers visible only during eclipses.

Solar Cycle and Solar Phenomena

Solar Cycle: Comprises a solar minimum and solar maximum.
Solar Minimum: Described as "Quiet Sun" conditions.
Solar Maximum: Known as "Active Sun", characterized by increased solar activity.
Solar Hazards: Include solar wind, solar flares, solar energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Solar Events and Their Impact

Solar Wind: Charged particle stream from the Sun, reaching Earth in about 3 days, causing auroras and affecting comet trails.
Solar Flare: Sudden energy bursts resulting in high-energy particles and radiation, arriving in 8 minutes.
Solar Energetic Particles: High-energy particles emitted from the Sun, arriving in about 15 to 24 hours.
Coronal Mass Ejection: A massive cloud of energized solar plasma launched into space, typically arriving in 3 to 4 days.

Earth's Magnetosphere and Belts

Magnetosphere: Earth's magnetic field that interacts with solar wind, created by the movement of Earth's liquid metal core.
Van Allen Belts: Regions populated by trapped solar particles; outer belt contains less stable solar wind electrons, while inner belt is more stable and populated by protons from geomagnetic storms.

Ionosphere and Scintillation

Ionosphere: Composed of plasma (positive ions and free electrons), responsible for phenomena like scintillation and auroras.
Scintillation: Occurs daily and is very localized, causing signal fading and data dropouts for satellite communications and GPS.

Space Weather and Its Effects

Categories of Space Weather Storms: Includes radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, and geomagnetic storms.
Radio Blackouts: Caused by solar flares, affecting communications, especially in airline and military sectors.
Solar Radiation Storms: Result from SEPs, impacting communications and astronaut safety.
Geomagnetic Storms: Triggered by CMEs, leading to damage in satellite components and navigation disruptions.

Spacecraft Hazards and Mitigation

Vacuum Hazards: Include outgassing, cold welding, and heat transfer.
Spacecraft Charging Hazards: Sputtering, single event upset, and total ionizing dose effect.
Mitigation Techniques:
- Outgassing: Use baking in a vacuum to reduce trapped gases.
- Cold Welding: Minimize moving parts and select appropriate lubricants.
- Heat Transfer: Use radiation for heat dissipation and design materials to act as heat sinks.

Satellite Operations and Systems

Satellite Operations Center: Manages satellite control, location calculations, command uplink, and maintenance tasks.
Remote Tracking Station (RTS): Performs uplink, downlink, and ranging functions for satellite command and tracking.
Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding Subsystem (TT&C): Essential for satellite data transmission and reception. Components include transmitters, receivers, and antennas.

Command and Data Handling

CD&H Subsystem: Contains a CPU, memory, links, and software, and includes a command decoder and data handling unit.
Control Subsystems: Range and regulate outputs based on inputs; components include controllers, sensors, and instruments.

Attitude and Orbit Control

Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS): Manages satellite orientation and ensures antennas are properly aligned.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control Subsystem (GNC): Oversees satellite orbit trajectory.
Sensors: Instruments like gyroscopes and magnetometers help determine satellite positioning and attitude.

Orbits and Communication Techniques

Open Loop vs. Closed Loop Control: Closed loop includes feedback; open loop follows a linear flow without feedback.
Communication Types:
- Out of Band: Uses telemetry for commands.
- In-Band: Communicates through payload.
- Crosslink: Uses a satellite as a relay for data transfers.

These notes summarize core concepts and terminologies associated with space, solar dynamics, and satellite operations.

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