An experiment to study solar flare effects on radio-communication signals

The occurrence of radio signal fading events caused by ionospheric absorption plays an important role in the performance of radio-communication systems. It is necessary to know the magnitude and time-scale of such events in order to specify technical parameters of the communication system to be used. Generally, fading events are associated with solar flares, which are characterized by sudden increase in the solar X-ray flux that causes an increase in the ionization in the lower ionosphere. The abrupt increase of ionization causes the absorption of radio waves propagating in the Earth–ionosphere wave-guide and is reported as radio signal fading events. A simple experiment to monitor the behavior of lower ionosphere has been carried out at the Southern Space Observatory-SSO/INPE (29.43°S, 53.8°W), located in southern Brazil. The experiment is basically a computer controlled radio receiver that records the received signal strength of Amplitude Modulated (AM) radio signals in the HF (High Frequencies) range. We analyzed data of the 6 MHz beacon signal that has been transmitted by a broadcasting radio station located about 400 km from the observation site. In this work we present initial results of daily variation of the received signal strength and fading events associated with solar flares observed in the 6 MHz signal monitored by the experiment during 2001. X-ray solar flux data from the GOES-8 satellite were used to identify X-ray solar bursts associated with solar flares. Based on the one-year data collected by the experiment, a statistical summary of fading occurrences and their correlation with solar flares, as well as the distributions of time-scales and magnitudes of such events are presented.     

IVIDIL experiment onboard the ISS

The experiment IVIDIL (Influence of Vibrations on Diffusion in Liquids) is scheduled to be performed in forthcoming fall 2009 onboard the ISS, inside the SODI instrument mounted in the Glovebox on the ESA Columbus module. It is planned to carry out 39 experimental runs with each of them lasting 18 h. The objective of the experiment is threefold.     

空间站材料科学加工试验炉的选择

对国际空间站上各国准备选用的材料科学试验加工炉进行了介绍. 主要呈现以下特点: 高度集成化的材料制备、测试、分析和处理等综合实验能力; 更高的精度、稳定性以及更长的使用寿命; 模块化、标准化和组合式; 应用遥科学实验技术. 从1998 年开始, 为适应未来中国空间站试验的需求, 发展了几类遥科学的空间加工炉及在长时间无人条件下由机器人照料的任意次更换样品的遥操作原型炉. 提出在中国载人航天工程第三步, 即空间站阶段的前期关键技术预研中, 设计和研发功能专业化, 结构模块化和接口标准化的典型功能实验单元, 通过技术集成可以在短时间内高效可靠地完成空间实验设备的配置、集成化和空间应用.      

Passepartout Sherpa – A low-cost,reusable transportation system into the stratosphere for small experiments

The Passepartout sounding balloon transportation system for low-mass (<$<$1200 g) experiments or hardware for validation to an altitude of 35 km is described. We present the general flight configuration, set-up of the flight control system, environmental and position sensors, power system, buoyancy considerations as well as the ground control infrastructure including recovery operations. In the telemetry and command module the integrated airborne computer is able to control the experiment, transmit telemetry and environmental data and allows for a duplex communication to a control centre for tele-commanding. The experiment module is mounted below the telemetry and command module and can either work as a standalone system or be controlled by the airborne computer. This spacing between experiment- and control unit allows for a high flexibility in the experiment design. After a parachute landing, the on-board satellite based recovery subsystems allow for a rapid tracking and recovery of the telemetry and command module and the experiment. We discuss flight data and lessons learned from two representative flights with research payloads.     

基于硬件信号模拟器的电离层TEC监测仪 差分码偏差长期变化

利用硬件信号模拟器可以标定电离层TEC监测仪的差分码偏差.通过对相同接收机时隔近41.5月进行的两次差分码偏差标定实验,以GPS系统为例分析了硬件标定法得到的差分码偏差随时间的长期变化情况.结果表明:接收机差分码偏差均值从第一次实验的16.122ns增加至第二次实验的16.749ns,在约41.5月的时间内增加约0.627ns,月增量为0.0151ns,增加比较缓慢;第二次实验的差分码偏差标准差也有所增加,但增量也不大（均值分别为0.05ns和0.07ns）.此外,两次标定实验的TEC测量精度（均方根误差）均达到约0.3TECU,对应的差分码偏差误差约0.1ns,这说明该接收机差分码偏差变化的一致性较好.若不加以再次标定,第二次实验时TEC测量误差将增加至约1.8TECU,月增量约为0.0434TECU.      

天宫二号碲化锌晶体生长

在天宫二号飞船综合材料实验炉六工位采用碲熔剂法生长了碲化锌晶体,生长时最高温度为800℃,以0.5mm·h-1的提拉速度向炉膛内部提拉生长晶体.飞行实验后,用相同实验参数在地面进行了对比实验.结果发现,空间样品尾部有一个非常大的橙色结晶区域（约10mm×6mm×2mm）,而地面生长样品中碲化锌晶体尺寸仅为约3mm×3mm×1mm,空间生长的碲化锌晶粒尺寸明显优于地面.空间微重力环境下,由于毛细作用,空间样品的塞子处有Te和ZnTe的外延膜生成.而地面生长的锭条在塞子处只有零星点状气相生产物.因此微重力条件有利于碲化锌晶体材料的生长.      

Selection and hydroponic growth of bread wheat cultivars for bioregenerative life support systems

As part of the ESA-funded MELiSSA program, the suitability, the growth and the development of four bread wheat cultivars were investigated in hydroponic culture with the aim to incorporate such a cultivation system in an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). Wheat plants can fulfill three major functions in space: (a) fixation of CO₂ and production of O₂, (b) production of grains for human nutrition and (c) production of cleaned water after condensation of the water vapor released from the plants by transpiration. Four spring wheat cultivars (Aletsch, Fiorina, Greina and CH Rubli) were grown hydroponically and compared with respect to growth and grain maturation properties. The height of the plants, the culture duration from germination to harvest, the quantity of water used, the number of fertile and non-fertile tillers as well as the quantity and quality of the grains harvested were considered. Mature grains could be harvested after around 160 days depending on the varieties. It became evident that the nutrient supply is crucial in this context and strongly affects leaf senescence and grain maturation. After a first experiment, the culture conditions were improved for the second experiment (stepwise decrease of EC after flowering, pH adjusted twice a week, less plants per m²) leading to a more favorable harvest (higher grain yield and harvest index). Considerably less green tillers without mature grains were present at harvest time in experiment 2 than in experiment 1. The harvest index for dry matter (including roots) ranged from 0.13 to 0.35 in experiment 1 and from 0.23 to 0.41 in experiment 2 with modified culture conditions. The thousand-grain weight for the four varieties ranged from 30.4 to 36.7 g in experiment 1 and from 33.2 to 39.1 g in experiment 2, while market samples were in the range of 39.4–46.9 g. Calcium levels in grains of the hydroponically grown wheat were similar to those from field-grown wheat, while potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and nickel levels tended to be higher in the grains of experimental plants. It remains a challenge for future experiments to further adapt the nutrient supply in order to improve senescence of vegetative plant parts, harvest index and the composition of bread wheat grains.     

AH2500A电容电桥比对实验结果

20 0 3年 9月在四个校准实验室对AH2 5 0 0A电容电桥进行了比对实验 ,取得了宝贵的实验数据 ,并对实验数据进行进一步分析 ,提出成组稳定性考核和间接溯源的设想 ,并用实例说明。实验数据由 4家单位共享。     

Testing relativity with orbiting clocks

We describe the background and status of a superconducting microwave clock suitable for relativity experiments in earth orbit. The project has the capability of performing improved tests of Lorentz invariance via a Michelson–Morley type experiment, and setting new limits on nine parameters in the Standard Model Extension. If flown with a high stability atomic clock, a Kennedy–Thorndike experiment along with additional tests in general relativity could be performed.     

Heliospheric asymmetries due to the action of the interstellar magnetic field

We discuss the asymmetry of the heliospheric discontinuities obtained from the analysis of 3D modeling of the solar wind (SW) interaction with local interstellar medium (LISM). The flow of charged particles is governed by the ideal MHD equations and the flow of neutral particles is described by the Boltzmann equation. The emphasis is made on the asymmetries of the termination shock (TS) and the heliopause under the combined action of the interstellar and interplanetary magnetic fields (ISMF and IMF) in the presence of neutral hydrogen atoms whose transport through the heliosphere is modeled kinetically, using a Monte Carlo approach. We show that the deflection of neutral hydrogen flow from its original direction in the unperturbed LISM is highly anisotropic and evaluate a possible angle between the hydrogen deflection plane measured in the SOHO SWAN experiment and the plane containing the ISMF and LISM velocity vectors for different ISMF strengths. It is shown that the ISMF of a strength greater than 4 μG can account for the 10 AU difference in the TS heliocentric difference observed during its crossing by the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, which however results in a larger discrepancy between the calculated and observed velocity distributions. The effect of a strong ISMF on the distribution of plasma quantities in the inner heliosheath and on 2–3 kHz radio emission is discussed.     

Computer modelling of a penetrator thermal sensor

The Philae lander is part of the Rosetta mission to investigate comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It will use a harpoon like device to anchor itself onto the surface. The anchor will perhaps reach depths of 1–2 m. In the anchor is a temperature sensor that will measure the boundary temperature as part of the MUPUS experiment. As the anchor attains thermal equilibrium with the comet ice it may be possible to extract the thermal properties of the surrounding ice, such as the thermal diffusivity, by using the temperature sensor data. The anchor is not an optimal shape for a thermal probe and application of analytical solutions to the heat equation is inappropriate. We prepare a numerical model to fit temperature sensor data and extract the thermal diffusivity. Penetrator probes mechanically compact the material immediately surrounding them as they enter the target. If the thermal properties, composition and dimensions of the penetrator are known, then the thermal properties of this pristine material may be recovered although this will be a challenging measurement. We report on investigations, using a numerical thermal model, to simulate a variety of scenarios that the anchor may encounter and how they will affect the measurement.     

NASDA aquatic animal experiment facilities for Space Shuttle and ISS.

National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has developed aquatic animal experiment facilities for NASA Space Shuttle use. Vestibular Function Experiment Unit (VFEU) was firstly designed and developed for physiological research using carp in Spacelab-J (SL-J, STS-47) mission. It was modified as Aquatic Animal Experiment Unit (AAEU) to accommodate small aquatic animals, such as medaka and newt, for second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2, STS-65) mission. Then, VFEU was improved to accommodate marine fish and to perform neurobiological experiment for Neurolab (STS-90) and STS-95 missions. We have also developed and used water purification system which was adapted to each facility. Based on these experiences of Space Shuttle missions, we are studying to develop advanced aquatic animal experiment facility for both Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS).     

Annealing of Hg2Cl2 crystals — Project of the experiment

The creep of polycrystalline Hg₂X₂ (where X = Cl, Br, J) under the terrestrial and space conditions is studied in the present experiment. The authors suppose that the creep of the Hg₂X₂ cylindrical sample can be studied by the help of the theory of micropolar (non-Newtonian) fluids. In accordance with this theory we obtain the flux of fluid through any cross-section as functions of the radius, viscosity coefficients, the gradient of pressure and the gravity acceleration. In this paper a comparison of the theoretical results for normal and zero- gravity conditions is given. It is shown that the annealing of materials having a broad region of plasticity under microgravity conditions can lead to great improvement in optical as well as mechanical qualities of the crystal. Technical aspects of the experiment are also described.     

超音速风洞测压的系统统校

风洞实验中经常遇到利用多台仪器测量同一物理量的问题，而各子系统之间的一致性是影响测试准确度的重要因素。就子系统之间的误差对测压实验结果的影响进行了分析并介绍了统校方法。结果表明：子系统本身不确定度比较高，一般不低于０．１％，而多个子系统的分散度相对比较差。因此，利用多套子系统同时测量某一物理量时，有必要进行系统统校；经过统校并作适当处理后，系统的准确度明显提高，实验结果也更趋合理。     

模拟服役环境中航空导管连接件耐蚀性能研究

采用自制的航空导管连接件腐蚀试验系统,研究了航空镀镉45^#钢导管连接件在模拟服役环境中的气密性、油压气密性以及应力腐蚀、表面腐蚀等性能.对该导管连接件在高温盐水溶液6%NaCl(90±5)℃浸泡与空气烘烤(60±5)℃循环200次条件下的表面腐蚀及应力腐蚀行为进行了评价;探讨了在模拟服役环境中,45^#钢发生腐蚀的机理.10^＃航空油不对镀镉45^＃钢造成腐蚀.镀镉45^#钢导管连接件在模拟服役环境中只是表面镀镉层发生腐蚀破坏,基体45^#钢只发生轻微腐蚀,表明45^＃钢导管连接件表面的镀镉磷化层可作为阳极性镀层而对基体金属进行保护.在最小屈服强度0.85的弯曲应力水平作用下,无应力腐蚀倾向.导管材料铝合金LF2-M与连接件45^#钢在6％NaCl水溶液中只有很小的电偶腐蚀电流,平均电偶电流密度为0.185μA/cm²,证明该类导管及导管连接件能安全地进行偶接.     

新的寻的导弹半实物仿真系统小样本实验方法

针对自寻的制导导弹半实物仿真系统仿真实验造价昂贵的现实,对小样本实验进行了研究,提出了一种新的基于目标机动对命中误差灵敏度和机动分布函数的小样本实验和估算方法.文中描述了目标机动对命中误差灵敏度的拟合正交函数系及其一致收敛性,并用测度理论证明了小样本方法估算期望和方差的逼近的一致收敛性质.文中的理论证明为该小样本实验方法提供了理论依据.通过对半实物仿真系统的大样本和小样本对比实验,证明该方法的统计结果与大样本统计结果非常接近.该方法是一个适应于各种可控变参系统和自寻的制导武器半实物仿真系统小样本实验的崭新方法.     

Solar maximum mission experiment: Early results from the soft X-ray polychromator experiment

The X-Ray Polychromator experiment has been in operation on the SMM satellite for over three months. It is observing flares and active regions in the wavelength range 1Å to 23Å using a number of different modes. These include polychromatic imaging, high resolution line profiles, high dispersion spectra, and light curves with high time-resolution. Data are described together with some of the preliminary analysis and interpretation.