Explore the vast range of titles available.

The European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) seeks to investigate the biological or geological origin of trace gases found on Mars. The TGO carries a payload of four instruments in order to reach its scientific goals, including the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS). CaSSIS is a colour and stereo telescopic camera that will be capable of taking high-resolution images of the martian surface. Before shipment of the instrument for integration onto the TGO, a detailed calibration campaign was performed, and a number of calibration products were gathered and utilised as part of the in-flight calibration campaign. This paper presents the results of on-ground calibration measurements carried out in order to assess the pre-flight performance of CaSSIS. All indications are that CaSSIS will perform very well on arrival at Mars and will be successful in reaching its scientific objectives.

The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) is the main imaging system onboard the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) which was launched on 14 March 2016. CaSSIS is intended to acquire moderately high resolution (4.6 m/pixel) targeted images of Mars at a rate of 10–20 images per day from a roughly circular orbit 400 km above the surface. Each image can be acquired in up to four colours and stereo capability is foreseen by the use of a novel rotation mechanism. A typical product from one image acquisition will be a 9.5 km × ∼ 45 km swath in full colour and stereo in one over-flight of the target thereby reducing atmospheric influences inherent in stereo and colour products from previous high resolution imagers. This paper describes the instrument including several novel technical solutions required to achieve the scientific requirements.

Purpose - The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is supported by the Hungarian Ministry of Informatics and Communications (RMKI). RMKI started a research and development project in 2003 with the aim of studying the knowledge management methods for long duration space research projects and to develop an information system providing a base for saving and using the knowledge gathered. The aim of this article is to investigate the RMKI research and development project.Design methodology approach - This article first describes the environment of the project, details the questions identified by the project staff, and gives some characteristics of the solutions when found.Findings - The article finds that the outcomes identified by a knowledge management project grow fast and have a tendency to become unmanageable very quickly, even if technical questions are taken into consideration when starting. The main question remains whether an acceptable solution exists in the area covered by the economical resources.Originality value - This article focuses on the technical aspects of knowledge management projects and identifies a mechanism for setting up an information system with the capacity to support knowledge preservation for at least a decade, which is considered to be a long period.

Objectives: This study examined changes in maximal strength and the force–velocity (FV) profile in young female handball players following an in-season heavy load squat or a moderate load Olympic weightlifting short-term training intervention. Methods: A total of 27 active young female handball players (age: 17.6 ± 0.98 years; height: 168.9 ± 5.1 cm; weight: 64.9 ± 10.6 kg) participated. 5RM back squats and unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps were assessed to establish the FV profile. Participants were divided into the following groups: the control group (CG; n = 8) followed its usual strength training including bodyweight exercises, the heavy load squat group (SQUAT; n = 7) performed heavy load back squats, and the Olympic weightlifting group (OWG; n = 12) used moderate load weightlifting derivates. Results: Absolute and relative 5RM back squat and vertical jump height increased in both intervention groups (5RM from 56.8 ± 5.5 to 62.2 ± 5.3 kg, p < 0.05 and CMJ height from 26.7 ± 4.7 to 28.4 ± 4.9 cm, p < 0.05 for SQUAT; 5RM from 56.6 ± 6.8 to 66.1 ± 6.9 kg, p < 0.05 and CMJ height from 26.9 ± 3.0 to 28.3 ± 3.2 cm, p < 0.05 for OWG), but not in the CG (5RM from 63.8 ± 12.5 to 63.4 ± 12.9 kg, CMJ height from 28.4 ± 2.2 to 27.7 ± 2.9 cm). The FV profile did not change significantly in either group. The theoretical maximal force remained almost unchanged in the SQUAT and OWG (+2% each), while only the OWG could slightly decrease FV imbalance (−14%). Conclusions: Both strength and Olympic weightlifting short-term training could improve strength and explosive performance, but without affecting the FV profile in young, less skilled female handball players. Olympic weightlifting may offer a slight advantage due to its potential to improve power production while optimizing FV imbalance.