Sharp irregular ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion and deposition. The ridges are parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind. The Russian word (zastrugi) is a collective noun and la
cks a singular form. An individual ridge in a field of sastrugi has been called a sastruga in some English-language articles.
A series of long, frequently sharp, wave-like ridges of hard snow characteristic of windswept polar plains when the winds blow continually from one direction. Sastrugi are oriented perpendicular to th
e wind with a gentle slope to windward and a steep slope to leeward. syn. zastrugi
The usually undesirable response of spacecraft systems to variations in the space environment. High energy particles cause detector noise and/or physical damage to solar cells, electronics, and memory
devices (single event upsets or ”bitflips”). Large and varying low-to-medium energy particle fluxes can result in a charge buildup between spacecraft components especially during the eclipse season and during spacecraft maneuvers. Atmospheric drag on spacecraft below approximately 1,000 km can increase during geomagnetic storms, resulting in cross-track and in-track orbit errors and orientation problems. Various communication interference problems result during solar radio bursts from flares when the Sun is within the field of view of the ground tracking dish. Ionospheric irregularities during geomagnetic storms can cause radio telemetry scintillation and fading.