The thermospheric composition different responses to geomagnetic storm in the winter and summer hemisphere measured by “SZ” Atmospheric Composition Detectors

Three “SZ” Atmospheric Composition Detectors (ACDs) on board spacecraft “SZ-2”, “SZ-3” and “SZ-4” were launched on 10th January 2001, 26th March 2002 and 31st December 2002 separately. A large quantity of thermospheric composition data at the orbital altitude ranging from 330 to 362 km were collected from the in-situ measurement of ACDs. The spacecrafts’ lifetime was just in the second peak period of the 23rd solar cycle which includes two peaks and the solar activity value F_10.7 was from 89 to 228. During this period, several intense geomagnetic disturbances happened.     

THE DGW-I FURNACE A MATERIALS PROCESSING FACILITY IN "SZ-2" SPACECRAFT

The DGW-I is a new material processing facility developed in China, which was firstly carried into orbit in November 1999 by the SZ-1 spacecraft and then in January 2001 carried by SZ-2 into space again, and successfully processed 6 samples of materials, including 3 samples of alloys, 2 of semiconductors and 1 sample of oxide crystal.     

SOME RESULTS OF UPPER ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION MEASUREMENTS BY A MASS-SPECTROMETER ON BOARD "SZ-2":CHANGE OF COMPOSITIONS DURING SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCES

Upper atmosphere composition data were obtained for the last half year with a quadruple mass spectrometer on board spacecraft "SZ-2" launched on 10 Jan uary 2001. Based on the analysis of these data, the variations of atmospheric compositions in solar and geomagnetic quiet conditions are reported first, then a detailed discussion on the atmospheric composition variations under the so lar and geomagnetic disturbed conditions is given. The results show that near the altitude of 400 km the variations of main atmospheric compositions corre sponding to solar disturbances are more remarkable in the sunlit area than in the shade area. On the contrary, in geomagnetic disturbance events the corre sponding variations are more obvious in the shade area, an evident increase of N2 density at relatively higher latitudes was observed.     

神舟4号大气成分探测的新结果

神舟4号(SZ-4)大气成分探测器搭载在SZ-4留轨舱上于2002年12月30日发射入轨，在在轨运行的前3个多月中，正值地球南半球处于夏半球季节，并发生了多次中低强度的地磁扰动事件，SZ-4大气成分探测器测得了轨道舱运行高度上(330-362km附近)大气成分的响应变化和异常现象新结果．探测数据表明，中低强度的地磁扰动事件也能引起热层大气中主要成分O和N2的数密度值增高的响应变化．同样在进入地磁扰动峰期后较高纬度处出现了N2的异常增变和O的异常降变以及大气密度异常扰动的现象，但此期间所出现异常现象的地域与SZ-3和SZ-2大气成分探测器探测结果相反，它仅位于南半球较高纬度地区．     

Space Environment Prediction for SZ-4 and SZ-5

The Space Environment Prediction Center (SEPC) of the Center for Space Science and Applied Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CSSAR, CAS)took on the mission of offering the space environment parameters which may be of use to the safety of manned spacecraft. In order to complete the space environment safety guarantee mission for SZ-4 and SZ-5, SEPC improved the space environment monitoring system, database system, prediction result display system, prediction implementation system, etc. For guaranteeing the safety of the airship and cosmonaut in the first manned SZ-5, flying experiment mission,SEPC developed the software for analyzing radiation dose and early-warning software for large debris collision with SZ-5. Three months before the flights of SZ-4 and SZ-5, SEPC began to predict the safe launch period in view of the space environment, and offered timely and valid reference opinions for selecting the safety period. Especially during the mission of SZ-5, SEPC analyzed the space high-energy environment in a pre-arranged orbit and abnormal orbit andevaluated the radiation dose which cosmonauts may encounter in space. The evaluation offered an important reference for cosmonaut safety and decisionmaking in the SZ-5 mission. The calculation of the distribution of large debris and the collision risk assessment at different orbit entry times for SZ-5 provided an important base for the superior department to make flight decisions.     

THE SPACE APPLICATION ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CHINESE UNMANNED SPACECRAFT "SZ-3"

During the 3rd mission of Chinese Unmanned Spacecraft the application sys tem of "SZ-3" (Shenzhou, a divine ship) gets a great success, all its goals are achieved. Many areas of science and breakthrough technology, including earth observation, earth environment monitoring, space material, space life science etc., are carried out in the mission. There are 44 payload instruments totally.All the instruments are working well during the orbit flight and a lot of good results are obtained. Many areas, for example the moderate resolution imag ing spectroradiometer, the solar ultraviolet spectral irradiance monitor and the space protein crystallization facility perform better than required and expected.A brief introduction of the experiments and the achievements of the mission is given in this paper.     

SZ-5 Cabin's Height Changes during Three Super-storms in 2003

In this work, the daily height variations of SZ-5 (Shenzhou-5) cabin from 22 October to 28 November in 2003 are analyzed, which includes the period of the Halloween Storm and the Great November Storm. The significant orbital decays have been observed at the end of October and in late November due to the great solar flares and the severe geomagnetic storms. According to the equation of the air-drag-force on a spacecraft and the SZ-5 orbital decay information, the relative daily average thermospheric density changes during the three 2003 super-storms are derived and the results are compared with the Naval Research Laboratory Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter Radar Extended Model (NRLMSISE-00). The results show that the daily average thermospheric density (at the altitude of SZ-5, about 350 km) in storm time enhances to approximately 200% as much as that in the quiet time but the empirical model may somewhat underestimate the average thermospheric density changes and the daily contributions of geomagnetic storms to the density enhancements during these severe space weather events.      

The Space Environment Monitors of Shenzhou Manned Spacecrafts

For the purpose of ensuring normal operations of Shenzhou (SZ) series of manned spacecrafts and cosmonauts' safety, Space Environment Monitors (SEM)are mounted on board SZ-2, 3, 4, 5. SEMs aim to detect the high energy particles, the low energy particles, charging potential, atmospheric desity and composition. Detection of SEMs enable us to understand better the space environment in the manned spacecraft's orbit, and to provide a good space environment services for the spacecraft and cosmonauts. In addition, by using the data from SEMs, we have achieved some scientific accomplishments, such as the energy spectra of precipitating electrons, the abnormal variety of atmospheric density and composition during geomagnetic disturbances, the electron angle distribution in the low orbit and so on.     

Interaction of growth-determining systems with gravity

The experiments have been carried out with lettuce shoots on board the Salyut-7 orbital station, the Kosmos-1667 biological satellite and under ground conditions at 180° plant inversion. By means of the centrifuge Biogravistat-1M the threshold value of gravitational sensitivity of lettuce shoots has been determined on board the Salyut-7 station. It was found to be equal to 2.9 × 10⁻³g for hypocotyls and 1.5 × 10⁻⁴g for roots. The following results have been received in the experiment performed on board the Kosmos-1667 satellite: a) under microgravity the proliferation of the meristem cells and the growth of roots did not differ from the control; b) the growth of hypocotyls in length was significantly enhanced in microgravity; c) under microgravity transverse growth of hypocotyls (increase in cross sectional area) was significantly increased due to enhancement of cortical parenchyma cell growth. At 180° inversion in Earth's gravity root extension growth and rate of cell division in the root apical meristem were decreased. The determination of DNA-fuchsin value in the nuclei of the cell root apexes showed that inversion affected processess of the cell cycle preceeding cytokinesis.     

神舟七号微小卫星伴随飞行技术试验

神舟七号 (SZ-7) 载人航天任务中释放的一颗微小伴随卫星 (BX-1), 首次开展了卫星在轨释放、对飞船观测和对轨道舱接近及绕飞等技术试验. 该卫星首次进行了GaInP2/GaAs/Ge 中国产太阳电池阵、锂离子蓄电池、微型液氨推进模块、小型化姿态跟踪控制模块、双焦距一体化可见光相机及小型化USB 测控应答机等技术验证. 本文介绍了SZ-7 微小卫星的设计方案, 讨论了形成稳定伴随飞行的轨道设计等技术, 并根据卫星在轨运行情况对试验任务进行了评价.      

离心力场中TiC/FeNiCr复合材料 涂层的原位反应合成

以Fe₂O₃,Cr₂O₃,CrO₃,NiO,Al,Ti粉和C粉为原料,在离心力场中在碳钢基体表面原位反应合成了TiC-FeNiCr复合材料涂层.利用X射线衍射、金相照相、扫描电镜、X射线能谱分析等手段对涂层的显微结构和组织形貌进行了研究.测试了涂层的显微硬度及干滑动磨损条件下的耐磨性能.结果表明,涂层和碳钢基体能形成冶金结合.涂层由FeNiCr奥氏体和其中弥散分布的TiC硬质相组成.TiC颗粒晶粒尺寸小于3μm,形状呈多边形或花瓣状.涂层显微硬度约为Hv 500~Hv 800,TiC含量增加,涂层的显微硬度提高.涂层较碳钢具有优异的耐磨性能.      

Gamma-ray detector on board lunar mission Chang’E-1

Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) is included in the payload of Chinese first lunar mission Chang’E-1 that will be launched in 2007. Specific objectives of the GRS are to map abundance of O, Si, Fe, Ti, U, Th, K, and perhaps, Mg, Al, and Ca to depths of about 20 cm. There are remarkable advantages for GRS application to remote sensing elemental materials over the entire lunar surface: large effective area and good ability for background rejection. We will describe the design of GRS and present its performance in this paper. Moreover, the GRS calibration will also be introduced.     

稀土元素对Al-Ni-Gd-Y合金晶化行为的影响

利用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)、X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)研究了稀土元素(RE)对Al-Ni-Gd-Y非晶合金晶化行为的影响.Al-Ni-Gd-Y非晶合金的初始晶化温度随着稀土元素含量的增加而升高.在Al_(88-x)Ni₆Gd₆Y _x ( x =1,2,3,4)系中,随着Y含量的增加,初始晶化产物由面心立方Al(fcc-Al)变成为fcc-Al+Al₃Gd/Al₃Y+未知相.研究了热处理工艺对Al₈₆Ni₈Gd₃Y₃合金力学性能的影响,其中,当Al₈₆Ni₈Gd₃Y₃在568K下保温10min时,其显微硬度及韧性较高,析出尺寸为1~3nm的fcc-Al纳米晶颗粒.     

Space flight experiment on Chinese silkworm on board the Russian 10th Biosatellite.

Space flight experiments on Chinese silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) were conducted on board the Russian 10th Biosatellite for 12 days. The samples included silkworm eggs, larvae, cocoons, pupae and moths. The processes of spinning, cocooning, mating, oviposition, larval hatching, pupation and moth emergence all completed well in space. The following effects of space flight on silkworm development were observed: The times of hatching and oviposition in the flight group were 2 to 3 days earlier than in the control group; the hatching rate of diapause eggs during space flight seemed higher than that of the control group; the life span of 2 of the 7 varieties flown was shortened; genetical variations appeared in 3 varieties. The results showed that the embryonic stage was probably the period most sensitive to the space flight environment.     

Progress in Research on Materials Under Microgravity in China

Research on materials under microgravity in China began in the 1980s, sparked by Prof. Lanying Lin (academician of CAS), Prof. Xiji Wang (academician of CAS), Prof. Guirong Min (academician of CAS), and Prof. Huabao Lin (academician of CAS), and others. The first semiconductor crystal, first optical crystal, and first alloys were grown in space on board a recoverable satellite in 1987. Since then, microgravity materials science became a new scientific branch in China.Scientific and technical activities on space crystal growth and solidification are carried out through two major programs: ground-based studies and orbital experiments. The main results obtained during 2001-2003 are reported below.     

THE SPACE EXPERIMENT OF PROTEIN CRYSTALLIZATION ABOARD THE CHINESE SPACECRAFT SZ-3

Using a new flight hardware, a Chinese mission of space protein crystallization has been performed on the Chinese spacecraft SZ-3 for seven days from March 25 to Apr. 1, 2002. The rate of yielding crystals in the 60 samples is 75%, a little higher than the ground control experiment. Preliminary analysis of the experimental results have shown that among the 16 proteins involved in the mission, about 4 kinds of better diffraction-quality protein crystals were produced in space. At least one kind of protein crystals, i.e. crystals of cytochrome b5 mutant could diffract X ray beyond the highest resolution reported so far. In addition, some rules derived from our numerical studies of the liquid/liquid diffusion protein crystallization were proved by the crystallization of lysozyme as model protein in this space experiment,which also clearly showed the advantages and disadvantages of the gelled protein solution used in microgravity growth of protein crystals. In order to exploit this mission, more diffraction work with the grown crystals and detailed analysis of data to be obtained will be done in the next few months.     

星载毫米波反射面天线结构

“神舟4号”飞船的多模态微波辐射计天线的工作频率跨到毫米波段．这在我国过去的航天器天线中尚未遇到．采用了计算机机电热一体化设计手段，从材料的选择入手，把最佳的电性及结构设计、先进有效的制造、检测与装配技术有机地融为一体之后，保证了天线最终的高精度指标．本文从高精度反射面天线的要求出发，从设计、分析、实现以及验证多方面说明星载反射面天线形面高精度的控制与实现．     

贫燃型汽车尾气NOx的催化净化

用溶胶-凝胶混合法制备了Al₂O₃,Ag/Al₂O₃,Sn/Al₂O₃,Ga/Al₂O₃,Co/Al₂O₃和Pt/Al₂O₃等催化剂.在相同实验条件下,比较了C₃H₆在这些催化剂上还原NO的活性,并考察了反应条件对C₃H₆和CH₃OH在Ag/Al₂O₃上还原NO性能的影响.结果表明,Ag/Al₂O₃的还原NO活性优于其它催化剂.H₂O对Ag/Al₂O₃催化剂的NO还原具有可逆抑制作用,SO₂降低C₃H₆在Ag/Al₂O₃上还原NO的活性,但会显著提高CH₃OH还原NO的活性.     

First results of plasma and neutral gas measurements from Vega-1/2 near comet Halley

Based on the ion, electron and neutral gas observations, performed by five of the six sensors comprising the PLASMAG-1 experiment on board VEGA-1 and -2, the following results are discussed: (1) the existence of the bow shock and its location at 1.1×10⁶ km for VEGA-1 inbound; (2) the existence of a cometopause and its location at 1.6×10⁵ km for VEGA-2 inbound; (3) the plasma dynamical processes occurring inside the cometosheath; (4) the phenomena taking place within the cometary plasma region including mass-spectroscopy of cometary ions at distances 1.5×10⁴ km; (5) the existence of keV electrons near closest approach to the nucleus; and (6) the radial dependence of the cometary neutral gas and the comparison with model calculations, yielding a mean ionization scale length of 2×10⁶ km and an overall production rate of 1.3×10³⁰ molecules s⁻¹ for VEGA-1 inbound. The results are also discussed in the context of the other, both remote and in-situ, observations, performed on board the VEGA- and GIOTTO-spacecraft.     

Overview on experience to date on human exposure to space radiations.

The human exposure in space depends on the three factors: the flight trajectory, its date and duration and the cyclogram of the cosmonaut's activities. In the near-Earth orbits the daily dose varies within the limits of (1.5-5.0) 10(-4) Gy day-1 and greatly increases if the altitude increases. The mean daily quality factor is 1.6-2.0. Strong solar proton events in the orbits with the inclination of < 52 degrees result in the dose rate increase up to 2-3 cGy day-1. On the surface of the orbital spacecrafts the daily dose reaches 2 Gy. The neutron dose depends on the shielding mass distribution varying within the limits of 6%-30% of the charged particles dose. In deep space the dose is mainly formed by the galactic and solar cosmic rays(GCR,SCR). Behind the shielding of 2-3 g cm-2 Al the GCR dose varies in the range of (20-30) 10(-5) Gy day-1. The SCR dose can reach hundreds of cSv.