Space Science Research Articles

Study on the electron emission characteristics of a thermal emission cathode with grid for micro-electric thruster

The Thermal Emission Cathode with Grid (TECG) is a type of cathode that operates without a working medium based on electric field modulation, which can be effectively adapted with micro-electric thrusters to perform high-precision space science missions. This research first analyzes the thermal electron emission theory, and the key dimensional and electrical parameters of the TECG, such as the grid width, the grid-emitter distance, the grid orifice diameter, the grid voltage, and the anode voltage, are simulated using the electromagnetic simulation software OPERA to obtain the optimal combination. Subsequently, the TECG was designed and machined using the parameters above for experimental testing and verification against the simulation results. The relative error between the experimental and simulation results was less than 20%. Under specific working conditions, the TECG’s total emission capability can be increased by approximately 8 times, and the maximum emission current can reach up to 27.525 mA. Afterward, the research also discusses the electric field distribution in the entire space of the TECG, along with the electron distribution behavior caused by the electric field. Finally, after pointing out its shortcomings, the research provides guidance and prospects for future related work.

Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Faint and Small Space Object Detection in 16-Bit Astronomical Images Using a Deep Learning-Based Approach

With the increasing interest in space science exploration, the number of spacecraft in Earth’s orbit has been steadily increasing. To ensure the safety and operational integrity of active satellites, advanced surveillance and early warning of unknown space objects such as space debris are crucial. The traditional threshold-based filter for space object detection heavily relies on manual settings, leading to limitations such as poor flexibility, high false alarm rates, and weak target detection capability in low signal-to-noise ratios. Therefore, detecting faint and small objects against a complex starry background remains a formidable challenge. To address this challenge, we propose a novel, intelligent, and accurate detection method called You Only Look Once for Space Object Detection (SOD-YOLO). Our method includes the following novel modules: Multi-Channel Histogram Truncation (MHT) enhances feature representation, CD-ELAN based on Central Differential Convolution (CDC) facilitates learning contrast information, the Space-to-Depth (SPD) module replaces pooling layer to prevent small object feature loss, a simple and parameter-free attention module (SimAM) expands receptive field for Global Contextual Information, and Alpha-EIoU optimizes the loss function for efficient training. Experiments on our SSOD dataset show SOD-YOLO has the ability to detect objects with a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 2.08, improves AP by 11.2% compared to YOLOv7, and enhances detection speed by 42.7%. Evaluation on the Spot the Geosynchronous Orbit Satellites (SpotGEO) dataset demonstrates SOD-YOLO’s comparable performance to state-of-the-art methods, affirming its generalization and precision.

Student Perceptions of the Implementation of the Concept of Organizer Teacher and Freedom in Learning in Earth and Space Science (ESS) Lectures

The research was conducted to collect students’ perceptions about lecturers' competence in implementing the course, student activity, and atmosphere of course, students' ability to hold material of learning in earth and space science. The research method used was quasi-experimental. The research was carried out in 2 steps where the first step was the control stage carried out using the discussion method. The next step was the treatment stage carried out using innovative discussion methods. The final step gave students the freedom to ask questions about the material earth and space science that they want to know. Student perceptions were obtained using a questionnaire instrument. The results of data analysis in this study show that the quality of lecturers' abilities in managing lectures is in the good category for the control stage and very good for the treatment stage, the lecture atmosphere is pleasant (control) and very pleasant (treatment), students feel active (control), and very active (treatment) in lectures, students' ability to hold a lot of course material (control) and very much (treatment). It was concluded that the innovative discussion method in earth and space science course was able to improve the quality of the lecture process.

A Proton Flux Prediction Method Based on an Attention Mechanism and Long Short-Term Memory Network

Accurately predicting proton flux in the space radiation environment is crucial for satellite in-orbit management and space science research. This paper proposes a proton flux prediction method based on a hybrid neural network. This method is a predictive approach for measuring proton flux profiles via a satellite during its operation, including crossings through the SAA region. In the data preprocessing stage, a moving average wavelet transform was employed to retain the trend information of the original data and perform noise reduction. For the model design, the TPA-LSTM model was introduced, which combines the Temporal Pattern Attention mechanism with a Long Short-Term Memory network (LSTM). The model was trained and validated using 4,174,202 proton flux data points over a span of 12 months. The experimental results indicate that the prediction accuracy of the TPA-LSTM model is higher than that of the AP-8 model, with a logarithmic root mean square error (logRMSE) of 3.71 between predicted and actual values. In particular, an improved accuracy was observed when predicting values within the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region, with a logRMSE of 3.09.

Modelling Detection Distances to Small Bodies Using Spacecraft Cameras

Small bodies in the Solar System are appealing targets for scientific and technological space missions, owing to their diversity in intrinsic and extrinsic properties, besides orbit and other factors. Missions to small bodies pass through the critical onboard object detection phase, where the body’s light becomes visible to the spacecraft camera. The relative line-of-sight to the object is acquired and processed to feed relative guidance and navigation algorithms, therefore steering the spacecraft trajectory towards the target. This work assesses the distance of detection for each small body in the Solar System considering the target radiometric properties, three typical spacecraft camera setups, and the relative observation geometry by virtue of a radiometric model. Several uncertainties and noises are considered in the modelling of the detection process. The detection distances for each known small body are determined for small-, medium-, and large-class spacecraft. This proves useful for early mission design phases, where a waypoint for detection needs to be determined, allowing the shift from an absolute to a relative guidance and navigation phase. The work produces an extensive dataset that is freely accessible and useful for teams working on the design phases of space missions.

Advancing Ultra-High Precision in Satellite–Ground Time–Frequency Comparison: Ground-Based Experiment and Simulation Verification for the China Space Station

Establishing an ultra-high-precision link for time–frequency comparisons between satellites and ground stations is critically important. This endeavor is fundamental to the advancement of pioneering space science exploration and the development of a robust space-based time–frequency system featuring ultra-high-precision space atomic clocks. In response to the requirements for assessing the long-term stability of high-precision space atomic clocks, we have designed and implemented a satellite–ground microwave time–frequency comparison system and method based on a three-frequency mode. Ground-based experimental results demonstrate that the equipment layer can achieve a satellite–ground time comparison accuracy better than 0.4 ps (RMS), with the equipment delay stability (ADEV) for all three frequencies being better than 8 × 10−18 at 86,400. By leveraging the ground-based experimental results, we constructed a satellite–ground time–frequency comparison simulation and verification platform. This platform realizes ultra-high-precision satellite–ground time–frequency comparison based on the China Space Station (CSS). After correcting various transmission delay errors, the satellite–ground time comparison achieved an accuracy better than 0.8 ps and an ADEV better than 2 × 10−17 at 86,400. This validation of our novel satellite–ground time–frequency comparison system and method, capable of achieving an 10−17 magnitude stability, is not only a significant contribution to the field of space time–frequency systems but also paves the way for future advancements and applications in space science exploration.

Wide. Open. Science.

This month, we explore how researchers are advancing and expanding the reach of Earth and space sciences.

Applying centrifugal propulsion to enable asteroid deflection

To date, asteroid trajectory modification techniques employ the “big bang” approach. An impulsive deflection is imparted by slamming one or more high-speed kinetic impactor spacecraft into the object or by detonation of a nuclear device in its proximity. This is a “hit it once and hope for the best” approach.Instead of relying on this restrictive method, centrifugal propulsion offers an alternative, where a centrifuge and power supply land on a threatening asteroid to collect and incrementally project portions of the asteroid, using momentum transfer of the recoil to gradually adjust the trajectory away from Earth.This process sequentially allows “ejection, measurement, and repetition” to gradually fine-tune the trajectory needed for course correction. This offers flexible operation parameters that can be varied for convenience and optimization, including the location of the landing site, weight of each ejected payload, launch speed, direction, cadence, timing of successive ejections, and the relationship to the asteroid's velocity vector and spin axis. Once landed on an asteroid, the centrifugal system requires no consumables. Operating entirely on electrical power, it can operate indefinitely without additional support.This approach addresses aspects of Goal 3 of the 2018 U S. government's “National Near-Earth Object (NEO) Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan”—“Develop Technologies for NEO Deflection and Disruption Missions.” The centrifuge approach adds a sustainable and repeatable slow-push tool to the planetary defense toolbox, mitigating the risk and uncertainty of single-impulse methods.An on-site centrifuge could deflect Chelyabinsk and Tunguska-sized asteroids to miss Earth within a few weeks’ operation. The asteroid Bennu could be deflected in a few years of continuous spinner operation, depending upon the parameters chosen, which would be sufficient to eliminate a potential collision with Earth in the late 22nd century.The innovation of a self-contained power and kinetic launch capability without consumables opens new vistas for cost-effective asteroid deflection and other commercial, scientific, government, and international space missions.

The m-dimensional spatial Nyquist limit using the wave telescope for larger numbers of spacecraft

Abstract. Spacecraft constellations consisting of multiple satellites are becoming more and more interesting not only for commercial use but also for space science missions. The proposed and accepted scientific multi-satellite missions that will operate within Earth's magnetospheric environment, like HelioSwarm, require researchers to extend established methods for the analysis of multi-spacecraft data to more than four spacecraft. The wave telescope is one of those methods. It is used to detect waves and characterize turbulence from multi-point magnetic field data, by providing spectra in reciprocal position space. The wave telescope can be applied to an arbitrary number of spacecraft already. However, the exact limits of the detection for such cases are not known if the spacecraft, acting as sampling points, are irregularly spaced. We extend the wave telescope technique to an arbitrary number of spatial dimensions and show how the characteristic upper detection limit in k space imposed by aliasing, the spatial Nyquist limit, behaves for irregularly spaced sampling points. This is done by analyzing wave telescope k-space spectra obtained from synthetic plane wave data in 1D up to 3D. As known from discrete Fourier transform methods, the spatial Nyquist limit can be expressed as the greatest common divisor in 1D. We extend this to arbitrary numbers of spatial dimensions and spacecraft. We show that the spatial Nyquist limit can be found by determining the shortest possible basis of the spacecraft distance vectors. This may be done using linear combination in position space and transforming the obtained shortest basis to k space. Alternatively, the shortest basis can be determined mathematically by applying the modified Lenstra–Lenstra–Lovász (MLLL) algorithm combined with a lattice enumeration algorithm. Thus, we give a generalized solution to the determination of the spatial Nyquist limit for arbitrary numbers of spacecraft and dimensions without any need of a priori knowledge of the measured data. Additionally, we give first insights into the application to real-world data incorporating spacecraft position errors and minimizing k-space aliasing. As the wave telescope is an estimator for a multi-dimensional power spectrum substituting spatial Fourier transform, the results of this analysis can be applied to power spectral density estimation via Fourier transform or other methods making use of irregular sampling points. Therefore, our findings are also of interest to other fields of signal processing.

Teaching social science aspects of space: A transdisciplinary approach

Space science and engineering courses are part of the core curriculum at many universities, but increasingly, schools are beginning to offer courses on economic, policy, and other social science aspects of space activity. These courses can provide context for students; helping them to understand the environment in which programmatic and technical decisions are made. They can also act as a concrete method for understanding core social science concepts from economics, international affairs, and other fields. Interviews with individuals teaching such courses show that these courses tend to address multiple disciplinary perspectives, and in many cases, these courses take a problem-focused approach, using social science theories and methods to understand real-world challenges and identify potential solutions. Many also emphasize student engagement and participation. These characteristics align with a transdisciplinary approach to teaching, and this article examines how space courses can be situated within this context. An examination of course goals and teaching methods provides insight into the range of approaches that instructors use to organize and run these courses and how these efforts relate to theories on transdisciplinary teaching more broadly.

The Principle of International Cooperation and Sharing of Information Principle under International Space Law: Towards Synergy

Throughout the history of the astronautic development, one of the key principles of international space law has always been the principle of international cooperation between States. The States jointly, although sometimes in conditions of competition or in a tense geopolitical situation, systematically moved towards the development of space science and technology, and the exploration of outer space for the benefit of all mankind. To succeed in this difficult task, the principle of information sharing has always served as an assistance to the principle of international cooperation. A striking example of how the two outlined principles are applied is the protection of the International Space Station against a possible collision with space debris. As a number of States consider exploring more celestial bodies and deep space, the importance of the principles of international cooperation and information sharing is increasing. This article focuses on these principles and their complementary roles. The first part of the article provides a retrospective analysis of the principle of international cooperation and the manner in which it is enshrined in international law, including international space law. The second part explores the principle of information sharing as a particular example of the principle of international cooperation. The conclusion of the article is that in current conditions, there is an increasing need for strict adherence to the designated principles for the realization of space activities in general as well as ensuring its safety and efficiency.

Teachers’ Perception of Anchoring Phenomenon and Its Effect on Students’ Science Proficiency: An Input for a Training Program

This study explored teachers' perception of anchoring phenomena and its impact on students' science proficiency at Thomas Stone and Port Towns Elementary School in Prince George's County during the 2022-2023 school year. The research instrument was rigorously tested for reliability, and ethical clearance was obtained. Results indicate that most teachers have a positive interest in science, demonstrate mastery in teaching phenomena, and frequently incorporate anchoring phenomena in their science lessons. Students generally meet expectations in earth and space science, physical science, engineering, and technology but partially meet expectations in life science. The study also reveals a significant correlation between teachers' experience and their perception of anchoring phenomena. Furthermore, teachers' perception of anchoring phenomena significantly influences students' proficiency in all science units. These findings have implications for teacher training programs and the widespread adoption of the Anchoring Phenomenon approach in science education. One of the recommendations is to establish a teacher mentorship program and mentor-mentee training to maximize the use of anchoring phenomena. Additionally, a comprehensive review of life science lesson implementation is suggested to enhance pedagogical approaches in teaching life sciences.

Prosocial mission of education: regulatory framework and growth points

Introduction. In modern society it is necessary to acquire the new meanings and value orientations of the education mission. The context of understanding and the significant reference points hierarchy in the education sphere are constantly changing in the world. The ways to realize socially significant priorities in the sphere of education are widely represented in the international scientific and pedagogical space, but they are of a fragmented character, which does not allow a particular state, society, family and individual fully meeting the prosocial needs. The social demands in Russia are connected with a clear understanding of the need to educate a citizen and a patriot in accordance with the traditional spiritual and moral values and prosocial pedagogical attitudes. In terms of regulatory framework a serious groundwork for the realization of the prosocial mission of modern education has been created. Research goal is to determine the main characteristics of the prosocial mission of education in the current information and regulatory framework in order to identify the growth points and to develop the ways for their implementation in the Russian society. Research methodology and methods. The research is based on the methodology and basic pedagogical ideas of prosocial approach; the authors used qualitative analysis of data obtained from information, regulatory sources, scientific literature and expert opinion study, as well as observation, comparison, conceptual foresight and problem-logical methods. The empirical research was based on survey methods – questionnaires, expert survey (1,150 people) and discussion of the results obtained in focus groups of experts (more than 100 people) and representatives of five general education organizations in Belgorod and Belgorod region (53 people). Research insights. The actual source and regulatory framework of the phenomenon under study has been identified. It is defined that the prosocial mission of education considers the role of education in the development of positive traits of young people and sustainable development of society. Two groups of growth points of the prosocial mission of education are identified: 1) reflection of the international priorities (supporting the ideas of sustainable development of education at the political level; reforming the education and professional training spheres; improving professional level of pedagogical staff; involving young people; activating local population representatives); 2) national dominants (values and quality of education; social design and volunteering; teacher helping activity; communication and interaction in teaching). Conclusion. Understanding prosocial mission of education, teaching staff can choose the content, forms and ways to arrange the education process, to construct the communication style and use helping pedagogical strategies, to make the criteria choice to evaluate the educational outcome.

Youth Science?

The problem of the need to single out youth science as a special component of the scientific space is discussed.

THE ROLE OF MUSEUMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING SYSTEM

The development of higher education, professional training of highly qualified future specialists necessitates the use of various forms, methods, and means of organizing the educational process.Today, questions about the peculiarities of university museum complexes, their specific features, as well as how their involvement in the educational process will contribute to the improvement of the professional training of specialists, are gaining relevance and cause considerable interest, since there are very few significant works and studies in this field.In the context of the integration of the educational process and museum activities, the issues of museum pedagogy as a separate interdisciplinary direction of research are becoming more and more relevant.The article reveals the role of museums of higher education institutions as a unique scientific and educational space in the professional training system.The author highlighted the activities of the Museum of History of Kherson State University – a structural unit where educational classes, research projects, meetings of scientific schools are held, scientific research is underway to research new unknown pages, study the history of each faculty.At the Kherson State University, the museum is a structural unit where educational classes, research projects, meetings of scientific schools are conducted, scientific research is underway to research new unknown pages, and study the history of each faculty. Many forms of work have become traditional for preparing young scientists: the annual summary of the student project «From student to professor», «Science schools of the university in the professional self-determined specialist».
 Postgraduate students studying the history of pedagogy take an active part in the work of the Center for Regional Historical and Pedagogical Research. Also, the museum and archive center is successfully used in the study of individual educational modules of the disciplines «Introduction to the profession», «Management in education», «History of pedagogy», «Pedagogy and psychology of higher education».It was found that the museums of educational institutions are a unique scientific and educational space that expands the possibilities of high-quality professional training of future specialists using modern information technologies. The specified aspects are promising for further scientific research and practical activities of museums of higher education institutions in the system of professional training.

Stories of Astrobiology, SETI, and UAPs: Science and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life in German News Media From 2009 to 2022

The search for extraterrestrial intelligent (SETI) and non-intelligent extraterrestrial life has recently received considerable attention in academia and international news media. Since media frames of scientific space exploration potentially influence public support and perceptions of science, the German news media’s coverage of extraterrestrial life was analyzed. The three dominant frames from 2009 to 2022 were beneficial space exploration, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)/extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), and SETI risk. Two frames relied primarily on scientific sources, mainly universities/research centers, NASA, the SETI Institute, and Stephen Hawking. The European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and astrobiology as a discipline were rarely cited. Implications for science and risk communication are discussed.

Establishing scientific educational space within the university: factors contributing to successful Eurasian integration

Introduction. The problem of the article is to focus on a range of aspects in the field of integration of science and higher education, which play an important role in the process of establishing the Eurasian scientific and educational space. The purpose of the article is to identify factors contributing to successful Eurasian integration in the process of establishing scientific educational space within the university. Materials and Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is made up of general scientific (philosophical) methods and a systematic approach. The subject of the study required the use of a combination of different approaches, primarily systemic, which allowed to conduct the correct analysis of applying historically established and modern educational technologies and practices in Eurasian education, as well as to describe some aspects of the effective integration of science and education in the Eurasian space. The object of the study is the experience of the University under the IPA EurAsEC on developing a system of scientific, organizational, research, publishing and educational activities in the Eurasian space. The authors used the following research methods: comparative, historical, interdisciplinary, content analysis method, etc. Results. The article considers the experience of using methods of ethno pedagogy in preparing innovative staff for the Eurasian space as a means of developing scientific and educational cooperation, expanding Eurasian integration, and giving it a humanitarian dimension. The authors substantiate the idea that strengthening and expanding the capabilities and needs of a unified Eurasian scientific and educational space should be considered as conditions for achieving effective cooperation in the field of science and education, allowing to restore professional communication of researchers from different Eurasian countries, update the content of higher education and contribute to bringing new scientific knowledge to the scientific community. The authors emphasize that a significant contribution to the development of the Eurasian integration process is made by the University under the IPA EurAsEC, which initiated a number of international projects contributing to the inclusion of new scientific knowledge and methods in the educational process within the framework of Eurasian economic integration. Conclusions. The article concludes about the values of higher education and about a need for integrating science and education as a basis for further development of Eurasian integration process. The authors draw the conclusion that today integration must be based on the historical experience of cooperation between Eurasian states in the field of science and education. Such interaction is considered to be the basis for further successful integration.

ONLINE PROJECTS AS A FORM OF SPREADING PEDAGOGICAL BIOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEXT OF OPEN SCIENCE

The article deals with the relevant issue of using social media in the context of open science to disseminate the results of scientific research and implement the mission of institutions of social memory – libraries and museums – to preserve, study and popularize the national pedagogical heritage. It has been revealedthat in foreign and Ukrainian historiography there are no special studies on the spread of biographical knowledge in social networks. The online project is considered both as a multifunctional information resource and as a digital tool for educational activities, which, with the help of web technologies, demonstrates specially created open-access content to a wide range of users. For the first time, the paper analyzes the spread of biographical pedagogical knowledge through the development of online projects and their implementation by means of social networks. Biographical online projects of V. O. Sukhomlynskyi State Scientific and Educational Library of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine and the Pedagogical Museum of Ukraine are characterized by the following parameters: systematized information in the form of a table (implementation model, name, web resource where the project was implemented, implementation period, hashtag), grouping by type (collective, individual, calendar, thematic), a brief description of the content of each project, a graphic layout of the project. The examples of biographical online projects have been given. The article reveals thetrend of an increase in the number of biographical online projects in the Ukrainian segment of the Facebook social network during 2020–2022, caused by the decolonization of the Ukrainian humanities. 4 proven models for implementing biographical online projects have been proposed for a widespread use: "Online project on Facebook", "Online project on Facebook and Instagram", Online project on Facebook using a web portal/website", Online project on Facebook as a source ofvirtual exhibition on the website". It has been proven that the use of social networks for the dissemination of pedagogical biography in the form of online projects in the educational and scientific space is not only an effective way of providing access to the results of scientific research to a wide audience, but it also contributes to the restoration and preservation of the national memory.

Change is needed to diversify space science — and it starts with a name

Change is needed to diversify space science — and it starts with a name

Application of modular construction technologies in the design of hotel and hostel buildings

The construction of modular hotels is part of a new construction trend that has been gaining momentum over the past few decades. Due to the relative novelty of this trend, there is an insufficient number of scientific studies in the scientific space that consider the use of modular technologies. This article discusses the features of modular construction technology in general and in particular for hotel construction; traces the history and development of modular construction, presents a brief analysis of research by scientists, considers the experience of using modular technology in hotel design, identifies the main advantages of modular technology, and explores the role of modular construction in the development of the hotel industry. Modular construction technology is gaining popularity in the modern world and is becoming an increasingly common alternative to other conventional construction methods due to the ability to create a simple alternative to brick buildings without the need for heavy machinery. This construction method is successfully used for the construction of buildings of various types and purposes. The essence of this technology lies in the process of erecting buildings from prefabricated blocks - modules. Since these blocks are manufactured in factories and transported to the construction site for assembly, the construction process using this construction method is much faster than others, and this is despite the fact that the technology ensures all design and construction standards, and the cost can be significantly lower. Modular construction is a construction technology that involves the assembly of elements manufactured off-site by producing bulk modular units. This technology involves the use of various structural systems and building materials. The main advantages of modular hotel construction include increased productivity and safety at work, reduced overall construction schedule, environmental friendliness, cost optimization, and quick commissioning. These advantages ensure high profits for investors and construction companies. However, if the implementation of a modular project is subject to significant delays due to unforeseen circumstances, on-site construction may be a more efficient solution. Today, the use of modular technologies in hotel construction can be called a necessary evolutionary step for the development and efficiency of the hotel industry.