The biological effectiveness of HZE-particles of cosmic radiation studied in the Apollo 16 and 17 Biostack experiments

The Biostack experiments I and II were flown on board the Apollo 16 and 17 command modules in order to obtain information on the biological damage produced by the bombardment of heavy high-energy (HZE) particles of cosmic radiation during spaceflight. Such data are required for estimating radiation hazards in manned spaceflight. Seven biological systems in resting state (Bacillus subtilis spores, Colpoda cucullus cysts, Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, and eggs of Artemia salina, Tribolium castaneum and of Carausius morosus) were accommodated in the two Biostacks. By using a special sandwich construction of visual track detectors and layers of biological objects, identification of each hit biological object was achieved and the possible biological damage correlated with the physical features of the responsible HZE-particle. In the different systems the degree of damage depended on whether the hit cell was replaceable or not. A high sensitivity to HZE-particle bombardment was observed on Artemia salina eggs; 90% of the embryos, which were induced to develop from hit eggs, died at different developmental stages. Malformations of the abdomen or the extremities of the nauplius were frequently induced. In contrast, the growth of hit Vicia faba radiculae and the germination of hit Arabidopsis thaliana seeds and hit Bacillus subtilis spores were not influenced remarkably. But there was an increase in multicaulous plants and a reduction in the outgrowth of the bacterial spores. In addition, information was obtained on the fluence of the HZE-particles, on their spectrum of charge and energy loss, and on the absorption by the Apollo spacecraft and the Biostack material itself. This will help to improve knowledge concerning radiation conditions inside of spacecrafts, necessary to secure a maximum possible protection to the astronauts.     

Radiation engineering analysis of shielding materials to assess their ability to protect astronauts in deep space from energetic particle radiation

An analysis is performed on four typical materials (aluminum, liquid hydrogen, polyethylene, and water) to assess their impact on the length of time an astronaut can stay in deep space and not exceed a design basis radiation exposure of 150 mSv. A large number of heavy lift launches of pure shielding mass are needed to enable long duration, deep space missions to keep astronauts at or below the exposure value with shielding provided by the vehicle. Therefore, vehicle mass using the assumptions in the paper cannot be the sole shielding mechanism for long duration, deep space missions. As an example, to enable the Mars Design Reference Mission 5.0 with a 400 day transit to and from Mars, not including the 500 day stay on the surface, a minimum of 24 heavy lift launches of polyethylene at 89,375 lbm (40.54 tonnes) each are needed for the 1977 galactic cosmic ray environment. With the assumptions used in this paper, a single heavy lift launch of water or polyethylene can protect astronauts for a 130 day mission before exceeding the exposure value. Liquid hydrogen can only protect the astronauts for 160 days. Even a single launch of pure shielding material cannot protect an astronaut in deep space for more than 180 days using the assumptions adopted in the analysis. It is shown that liquid hydrogen is not the best shielding material for the same mass as polyethylene for missions that last longer than 225 days.     

Roadmap to a human Mars mission

We propose a new roadmap for the preparation of the first human mission to Mars. This proposal is based on the work of ISECG and several recent recommendations on human Mars mission architectures. A table is proposed to compare the possible benefits of different preparatory missions. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of qualifying important systems thanks to a heavy Mars sample return mission. It is shown that this mission is mandatory for the qualification of Mars aerocapture at scale-1, EDL systems at scale 1 and Mars ascent. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to test many other systems, such as the heavy launcher and the transportation systems for the trips beyond LEO. These tests were not mentioned in the last ISECG report. This strategy is facilitated in the case of the simplified Mars mission scenarios that have recently been presented because it is suggested that relatively small vehicles with small crew sizes are used in order to optimize the payload mass fraction of the landing vehicles and to avoid the LEO assembly. An important finding of the study is that a human mission to the surface of the Moon is not required for the qualification of the systems of a human mission to Mars. Since affordability is a key criterion, two important missions are proposed in the roadmap. The first is a heavy Mars sample return mission and the second is a manned mission to a high Earth orbit or eventually to the vicinity of the Moon. It is shown that both missions are complementary and sufficient to qualify all the critical systems of the Mars mission.     

蓝箭航天液氧甲烷发动机研制进展

探讨了国内外商业航天运载火箭及其发动机的发展情况,研究比较了液氧甲烷、液氧煤油和液氧液氢等推进剂组合,提出液氧甲烷是商业航天、未来可重复使用液体火箭发动机的发展方向和最佳选择。分析了液体火箭发动机推力选择的原则,确定了蓝箭航天液氧甲烷发动机的推力为80 t和8 t。比较了燃气发生器循环、补燃循环及膨胀循环等动力循环方式,选择了燃气发生器循环的技术方案。介绍了蓝箭航天两型液氧甲烷发动机的总体方案、性能指标、技术创新点、用途和研制情况。     

Physical-chemical treatment of wastes: a way to close turnover of elements in LSS.

"Man-plants-physical-chemical unit" system designed for space stations or terrestrial ecohabitats to close steady-state mineral, water and gas exchange is proposed. The physical-chemical unit is to mineralize all inedible plant wastes and physiological human wastes (feces, urine, gray water) by electromagnetically activated hydrogen peroxide in an oxidation reactor. The final product is a mineralized solution containing all elements balanced for plants' requirements. The solution has been successfully used in experiments to grow wheat, beans and radish. The solution was reusable: the evaporated moisture was replenished by the phytotron condensate. Sodium salination of plants was precluded by evaporating reactor-mineralized urine to sodium saturation concentration to crystallize out NaCl which can be used as food for the crew. The remaining mineralized product was brought back for nutrition of plants. The gas composition of the reactor comprises O2, N2, CO2, NH3, H2. At the reactor's output hydrogen and oxygen were catalyzed into water, NH3 was converted in a water trap into NH4 and used for nutrition of plants. A special accessory at the reactor's output may produce hydrogen peroxide from intrasystem water and gas which makes possible to close gas loops between LSS components.     

On the conditions of gas inclusions formation in melts under zero gravity state (after “Pirin” experiment)

Thermodynamics relations have been considered under which gas inclusions may form in melts (closed systems), due to both volatility of components and the presence of dissolved gases. It has been shown that in the melts with sufficient volatility of components, gas inclusions may form under equilibrium conditions if the ampoule is wetted well by the melt, whereas in case of low wettability they form under non-equilibrium state only. The foaming in the tellurium-selenium system has been analysed (“Pirin”, KP-4 experiment).In the melts containing dissolved gases, gas inclusions form under conditions of deviation from equilibrium and it is the main mechanism of outgassing. It has been demonstrated that the melt foaming method using hydrid compounds may be applied to the materials exhibiting a hysteresis of temperature dependence of diluted hydrogen concentration. Production of foam aluminium under zero gravity state has been considered as an example (“Pirin”, SP-3 experiment).     

A Method of Measuring Hydrogen Isotopes in Surface Layers of Planetary Soils by Spectroscopy of Recoil Protons in Alpha Particle Elastic Scattering

A theoretical and experimental feasibility study of possible determination of the hydrogen and deuterium concentrations in the surface layers of planetary bodies is presented. The method under study is the recoil proton and deuteron spectrometry of forward scattering in the course of elastic interaction of alpha particles with the nuclei of hydrogen isotopes. The spectra of recoil protons and deuterons were recorded using a prototype model of a hydrogen spectrometer, and these spectra were used to determine the hydrogen concentrations in the samples of different compositions.     

缓冲气囊冲击减缓研究进展

本文从气囊缓冲机理出发对近年来国内外缓冲气囊进行了详细的分类和总结。缓冲气囊以其高效的缓冲性能、较轻的质量和低廉的成本等特性,成为重装空投防护与航天器软着陆技术领域的一个热点研究方向。本文首先介绍了密闭型气囊、排气型气囊和组合型气囊的性能和适用范围,讨论了各个类型气囊的优缺点。然后对气囊缓冲特性的数值仿真分析方法和分析模型进行了论述,对比了各类分析方法的原理与优缺点,并阐明了气囊优化设计的重要性和基本方法。此外本文还介绍了缓冲气囊研究的难点和应用前景以及需要进一步研究的问题。     

新型四余度功率电传推力矢量控制技术

通过对现有不同类型功率电传(PBW—Power by wire)系统进行分析,根据航天运载器使用特点,提出了理想PBW系统的概念,并基于负载敏感原理提出了新型PBW系统方案。在此基础上,针对载人航天等高可靠性应用场合,提出了四余度PBW系统方案。通过仿真研究证明所提出的新型PBW系统具有比传统PBW系统更好的综合性能,是最接近于理想PBW系统的设计方案。通过对四余度PBW系统在故障情况下的工作情况进行仿真研究表明,四余度PBW系统具有两次故障工作、三次故障安全的余度等级。文中所提出的系统方案在未来大推力固体火箭发动机和氢氧发动机推力矢量控制系统中具有广泛的应用前景。     

Sulfuric acid Speleogenesis associated with a glacially driven groundwater system-paleo-spring "pipes" at Borup Fiord Pass, Nunavut

Gypsum filled "pipe" features were discovered in the proglacial area of the Borup Fiord Pass supraglacial sulfur spring. Stable isotope data suggest that gypsum is formed through oxidation of sulfides and are consistent with models of sulfuric acid speleogenesis. These results suggest that gypsum pipes are paleo-spring discharge channels analogous to those that feed the modern sulfur spring at Borup Fiord. A conceptual model is proposed whereby retreat of the glacial front and associated growth of permafrost in ground exposed now to low arctic temperatures leads to "freezing-in" of the spring system and abandonment of old channels in favor of more open flow systems in the subglacial region. Results provide a model for glacially driven groundwater systems that may form in association with Mars' polar icecaps and potential geological signatures for paleo-groundwater discharge.     

Life support systems and optimal isotope composition in cosmonaut habitats for long-term missions.

Differences in the isotope content of the biogenous chemicals of cosmonaut habitats are given a theoretical consideration. Rationale is given to the hypothesis according to which the biochemical and biophysical processes in plants. animals, and humans must be impacted by the isotopes of all the biogenous chemicals in cosmonaut habitats. Organisms were found to persistently make preference of lighter fractions of stable isotopes from the biogenous chemicals. In most of the compounds the light fraction of stable isotopes constitutes the greater portion by mass. However, the optimal isotope composition of biogenous chemicals is still unknown and necessitates biochemical, toxicological, biological and other kinds of research. The functions of a life support system should also include production and maintenance of an optimal isotope composition for habitats, i.e. water, oxygen, food stuffs in order to improve metabolism in and performance of cosmonauts.     

我国大推力补燃氢氧发动机研究进展

氢氧火箭发动机因具有很高的性能,在国内外运载火箭中得到了广泛应用。为了更好地开展深空探测,必须研制大推力氢氧火箭发动机。本文综合分析了国内外氢氧发动机的发展历史和现状,简要介绍了我国220 t补燃循环氢氧发动机方案和关键技术研制进展,该技术方案先进。通过开展试验件冷态试验和缩尺组件热试验等,研究了核心部组件的关键技术和方案选型。开展全尺寸预燃室热试验等分系统热试验,研究组件级技术,初步突破了部分关键技术。建议加快开展大推力氢氧发动机工程研制,促进我国航天推进技术发展。     

Habitable zone limits for dry planets

Most discussion of habitable planets has focused on Earth-like planets with globally abundant liquid water. For an "aqua planet" like Earth, the surface freezes if far from its sun, and the water vapor greenhouse effect runs away if too close. Here we show that "land planets" (desert worlds with limited surface water) have wider habitable zones than aqua planets. For planets at the inner edge of the habitable zone, a land planet has two advantages over an aqua planet: (i) the tropics can emit longwave radiation at rates above the traditional runaway limit because the air is unsaturated and (ii) the dry air creates a dry stratosphere that limits hydrogen escape. At the outer limits of the habitable zone, the land planet better resists global freezing because there is less water for clouds, snow, and ice. Here we describe a series of numerical experiments using a simple three-dimensional global climate model for Earth-sized planets. Other things (CO(2), rotation rate, surface pressure) unchanged, we found that liquid water remains stable at the poles of a low-obliquity land planet until net insolation exceeds 415 W/m(2) (170% that of modern Earth), compared to 330 W/m(2) (135%) for the aqua planet. At the outer limits, we found that a low-obliquity land planet freezes at 77%, while the aqua planet freezes at 90%. High-obliquity land and aqua planets freeze at 58% and 72%, respectively, with the poles offering the last refuge. We show that it is possible that, as the Sun brightens, an aqua planet like Earth can lose most of its hydrogen and become a land planet without first passing through a sterilizing runaway greenhouse. It is possible that Venus was a habitable land planet as recently as 1 billion years ago.     

Mineralization of wastes of human vital activity and plants to be used in a Life Support System

Available methods for mineralizing wastes of human activity and inedible biomass of plants used in this country and abroad are divided into two types: dry mineralization at high temperatures up to 1270 K with subsequent partial dissolution of the ash and the other--wet oxidation by acids. In this case mineralization is performed at a temperature of 470-460 K and a pressure of 220-270 atmospheres in pure oxygen with the output of mineral solution and dissoluble sediments in the form of scale. The drawback of the first method is the formation of dioxins, CO, SO2, NO2 and other toxic compounds. The latter method is too sophisticated and is presently confined to bench testing. The here proposed method to mineralize the wastes is in mid-position between the thermal and physical chemical methods. At a temperature of 80-90 degrees C the mixture was exposed to a controlled electromagnetic field at normal atmospheric pressure. The method merits simplicity, reliability, produces no dissoluble sediment or emissions noxious for human and plants. The basic difference from the above said methods is to employ as an oxidizer atomic oxygen, its active forms including OH-radicals with hydrogen peroxide as the source. Hydrogen peroxide can be produced with electric power from water inside the Life Support System (LSS).     

水基推进系统综述

水基推进系统的发展为航天器推进、供电、能量储存、系统构建提供了新的选择。这一系统的核心是一体化可再生燃料电池,它利用太阳能电池帆板提供的电能电解水．产生的氢氧气体既可以用于燃烧推进,又可以通过燃料电池反应重新复合为水进行供电。介绍了水基推进系统的基本组成与工作原理,通过质量估算与性能分析,评估了水基推进系统的工作能力、适用范围及空间应用优势。     

The possible origin and persistence of life on Enceladus and detection of biomarkers in the plume

The jets of icy particles and water vapor issuing from the south pole of Enceladus are evidence for activity driven by some geophysical energy source. The vapor has also been shown to contain simple organic compounds, and the south polar terrain is bathed in excess heat coming from below. The source of the ice and vapor, and the mechanisms that accelerate the material into space, remain obscure. However, it is possible that a liquid water environment exists beneath the south polar cap, which may be conducive to life. Several theories for the origin of life on Earth would apply to Enceladus. These are (1) origin in an organic-rich mixture, (2) origin in the redox gradient of a submarine vent, and (3) panspermia. There are three microbial ecosystems on Earth that do not rely on sunlight, oxygen, or organics produced at the surface and, thus, provide analogues for possible ecologies on Enceladus. Two of these ecosystems are found deep in volcanic rock, and the primary productivity is based on the consumption by methanogens of hydrogen produced by rock reactions with water. The third ecosystem is found deep below the surface in South Africa and is based on sulfur-reducing bacteria consuming hydrogen and sulfate, both of which are ultimately produced by radioactive decay. Methane has been detected in the plume of Enceladus and may be biological in origin. An indicator of biological origin may be the ratio of non-methane hydrocarbons to methane, which is very low (0.001) for biological sources but is higher (0.1-0.01) for nonbiological sources. Thus, Cassini's instruments may detect plausible evidence for life by analysis of hydrocarbons in the plume during close encounters.     

镁水反应的实验研究及机理初探

为了研究低温下镁与水的反应,分析了添加剂种类、添加剂含量、二次包覆处理对Mg/H2O反应生成氢气量的影响。结果表明,所选的添加剂多数能促进Mg/H2O反应的进行,并提高反应生成氢气的量;随添加剂含量的增加,氢气的生成量有一定程度提高,但并非呈简单的线性关系;二次包覆处理,不仅可使Mg粉与水产生氢气的量增加,而且还提高了Mg粉贮存性能。初步分析认为,添加剂的加入改变了Mg与水反应体系的酸碱性,促进了该反应的进行。     

圆转方塞式喷管型面设计和试验研究

提出了圆转方塞式喷管的内喷管和塞锥型面的设计方法，内喷管用圆弧和抛物线近似，塞锥型面用抛物线和三次曲线近似，设计了一单元圆转方塞式喷管试验发动机。并采用气氧作氧化剂，气氢作燃料，进行了点火热试研究。介绍了试验发动机的结构与设计参数，以及试验系统组成和点火方式，给出了试验发动机照片、试验结果照片、测量参数曲线和性能数据处理。试验结果表明，试验发动机具有较高的热试效率：在三个不同工作高度下，喷管推力系数效率在93％-98％之间，说明圆转方塞式喷管的型面设计和试验方法是可行的。     

空间重离子辐照效应评述

文章对生物、半导体、光学材料、金属、聚合物的空间重离子辐照效应的研究工作进行了评述,也阐明了深入开展重离子空间环境模型以及重离子辐照效应与演化规律的研究具有重要意义。研究表明空间环境中重离子的含量虽少,但由于其高的电离能力和穿透力,对生物、半导体、光学材料、金属、聚合物等会产生各种辐射损伤效应,导致卫星信号故障、光学器件失效、金属与聚合物性能及形貌改变,甚至影响航天员的生命安全。