Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise after bed rest in men and women

The purpose of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory responses of men and women to submaximal and maximal workloads before and after bed rest (BR). Fifteen male college students (19-23 yr) and 8 female nurses (23-34 yr) underwent 14 d and 17 d, respectively of bed rest. The maximal work capacity test was performed in the supine position on a bicycle ergometer just before and immediately after bed rest. The women's maximal O2 uptake (maximal VO2) was 41% lower (P<0.05) than the men's before bed rest and 42% lower (P<0.05) after bed rest. During bed rest the women's maximal VO2 decreased from 2.06 to 1.86 liter/min (-9.7%, P<0.05), and that of the men decreased from 3.52 to 3.20 liter/min (-9.1%, P<0.05). Compared with pre-BR values, after bed rest the maximal ventilatory volume was essentially unchanged in the men (+1.8%) and women (+ 2.3%), but maximal heart rate was elevated from 185 to 193 b/min (+ 4.3%, P<0.05) in the men and from 181 to 187 b/min (3.3%, P<0.05) in the women. Submaximal VO2 was unchanged after bed rest in the men but was significantly reduced in the women; the women's Hct and RBC levels were lower (P<0.05) than comparable male data. Mean corpuscular volume was unchanged in both groups pre- and post-bed rest. It is concluded that the proportional deterioration in maximal VO2 following prolonged bed rest was essentially the same in young men and women.     

Women's health issues and space-based medical technologies

Biotechnological advances from NASA-sponsored research are reviewed with an emphasis on their effects on women's health issues. The Rotating-Wall Vessel (RWV) has allowed scientists to generate three-dimensional cellular growth. The RWV has been used to study the growth and spread of breast and ovarian tumor cells. Further applications include the study of biological and chemotherapeutic agents, gene expression, and genetic studies of cancer cells. The RWV also is used to study other cancers, cartilage cell growth, and immunotherapy for tumor cells. Other biomedical research related to women's health includes study of bone loss, immune changes, crystal structure and growth, and the effects of long-term radiation exposure on the endometrium.     

Women and mission leadership

Only one of NASA's planetary science flight missions in the past 30 years has been led by a women scientist as Principal Investigator. The number of senior women in the field is small, but women are still underutilized, as seen by a cohort age analysis correlating with median ages for various key science roles. Worse, the more junior women are not joining missions as Co-Investigators and Participating Scientists at rates approaching their representation in the field of planetary science. In fact, they are underutilized in these roles not by a few percent, but by greater than a factor of two. The pipeline of women gaining mission experience today is increasing, but it is not keeping pace with the rate that women are now choosing to stay in the field for postdoctoral studies and beyond. The numbers definitively show for the first time that, for whatever reason, women are still underrepresented in mission leadership at NASA.     

Harenodynamic cooling: The use of lunar sand as cooling medium

In the context of investigations to maximize the operational utilization of local resources on other worlds, a concept for using fine lunar sand as cooling medium for the rejection of waste heat is developed. Sand at cryogenic temperature is admixed to the working fluid containing the waste heat. Gas and sand form a mix of the desired and temperature of the working fluid. Subsequently, the sand is removed and intensely radiation-cooled, utilizing its very large $\text{surface}\text{volume}$ ratio. Thereafter it is recycled. It is shown that, compared to heat rejection by radiator, harenodynamic cooling offers superior efficiency, greater compactness and lower cost, improving the economics of nuclear power plants and of industrial expansion on the Moon in general.     

卫星典型电子设备单粒子防护效果试验验证

文章通过在卫星电子设备整机上开展单粒子试验验证的案例,揭示单粒子事件对卫星软件指令的影响。试验对象选取卫星平台中典型的电子设备——测控单元,它包含处理器、SRAM等单粒子敏感器件。本案例成功实现在整机状态下触发单粒子事件,测控单元发生单粒子事件的频度疏密适当,验证了测控单元抗单粒子设计的有效性,掌握了测控单元在发生单粒子事件时的工作状态,对漏指令、误指令的产生条件进行了试验验证,并依据试验数据计算了由单粒子事件引发卫星漏指令、误指令的概率。试验结果可为卫星在轨故障分析提供依据,也可为抗单粒子设计提供数据支持。     

Universal values of Canadian astronauts

Values are desirable, trans-situational goals, varying in importance, that guide behavior. Research has demonstrated that universal values may alter in importance as a result of major life events. The present study examines the effect of spaceflight and the demands of astronauts' job position as life circumstances that affect value priorities. We employed thematic content analysis for references to Schwartz’s well-established value markers in narratives (media interviews, journals, and pre-flight interviews) of seven Canadian astronauts and compared the results to the values of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Russian Space Agency (RKA) astronauts.Space flight did alter the level of importance of Canadian astronauts’ values. We found a U-shaped pattern for the values of Achievement and Tradition before, during, and after flight, and a linear decrease in the value of Stimulation. The most frequently mentioned values were Achievement, Universalism, Security, and Self-Direction. Achievement and Self Direction are also within the top 4 values of all other astronauts; however, Universalism was significantly higher among the Canadian astronauts. Within the value hierarchy of Canadian astronauts, Security was the third most frequently mentioned value, while it is in seventh place for all other astronauts. Interestingly, the most often mentioned value marker (sub-category) in this category was Patriotism. The findings have important implications in understanding multi-national crew relations during training, flight, and reintegration into society.     

基于DSP和FPGA的静电悬浮加速度计控制器设计

针对静电悬浮加速度计高稳定悬浮控制和极微小加速度信号处理需求，设计了一种基于数字信号处理（digital signal processor,DSP)和现场可编程门阵列（field programmable gate array,FPGA)的加速度计控制器。该控制器采用DSP作为主控芯片，FPGA为辅助控制芯片。基于加速度计的工作特性，设计了一种加速度计工作模式切换控制策略，可根据加速度计当前工作状态，自动或者手动切换工作模式。基于加速度计的工作原理和测量需求，设计开发了基于FPGA的比例、积分、微分(proportional integral derivative,PID)控制算法和有限冲击响应(finite impulse response,FIR)滤波算法。为验证该控制器的控制性能，开展了地面高压悬浮实验。结果表明，该控制器及控制算法可以快速准确地实现加速度计稳定悬浮控制和模式切换，并且可以实现软件在轨重构和控制参数在轨更新，为后续重力场探测、空间引力波探测以及自主导航等提供了工程参考依据。     

The Nation of Celestial Space

Using family interviews and archive material, this article outlines the forgotten history of the Nation of Celestial Space, brainchild of a Chicago public relations man, James T. Mangan. From 1948 to 1970 Mangan sought international recognition for his micronation, and repeatedly protested at satellites encroaching upon his domain. Celestia issued passports to the Moon to astronauts, and its own currency and stamps, anticipating by decades the current debate on and ‘selling’ of property rights in space.     

环喉环簇塞式喷管推力矢量控制研究

针对环喉环簇塞式喷管发动机的结构特点,提出了二次流喷射实现推力矢量控制的方案,并用数值方法研究了二次流的总温、总压、位置、角度、流量、喷射孔的数量以及孔间距等工作参数对推力矢量控制性能的影响。结果表明,侧向力与二次流的总温、总压、流量成正比关系;多孔比单孔的喷射效果好,孔与孔的间距要适当;逆向喷射比顺向喷射产生的侧向力大;喷射孔位置的选取受工作压比的影响很大。     

静电绘图仪接口板设计

文章叙述了该接口板的硬件设计及工作原理。由于采用了8089IOP器件作为接口板的核心部件,并接成远程工作方式,使传送数据和执行程序都集于它一身,使它与主机CPU能并行工作,减轻了主机的工作负担。     

卫星天线及微波器件大功率微放电试验技术

卫星天线及微波器件在多载波工作时具有很高的瞬时功率,面临着大功率微放电的危险。文章针对卫星天线及微波器件在多载波输入下的工作状态,对天线及器件内的峰包功率量值进行了分析计算,得到了进行大功率微放电试验所需的功率量级,并提出了多载波状态下微放电试验的设备配置方案,为后续试验工作打下了基础。     

面向低轨卫星的双圆极化宽带宽角扫描阵列研究

随着卫星通信技术的日益成熟，相控阵天线被广泛应用于低轨卫星系统，提出了一种面向低轨卫星通信的新型双圆极化宽带宽角扫描阵列天线。阵列天线单元采用一种金属栅格加载的对称阵子，其工作宽带为17GHz~21GHz，相对带宽超过21%，同时金属栅格加载方法可有效展宽对称阵子波束宽度，从而在工作频段内使E面和H面波束宽度均超过140°。通过上述宽带宽波束对称阵子作为阵列天线单元，形成8×8的64单元阵面。然后，阵列天线单元经过旋转组阵，实现了双圆极化特性。由于天线单元具有宽带、宽波束性能，有效拓展了阵列波束扫描角度，即在不同旋向下，均能实现二维±60°的波束扫描。阵列在低频17GHz工作时，法向波束增益为18.2dB，当扫描离轴角为60°时，增益下降2.8dB，轴比小于2dB。在高频21GHz时，法向增益为19.6dB，当扫描离轴角为60°时，增益下降3.7dB，轴比小于3dB，具备良好的宽带宽角覆盖性能，从而在低轨卫星通信中具有广阔的应用前景。     

The development of materials processing in space

The assess the impact of the current crisis in the US space programme on the commercial aspects of space technology development, consultant Allan Spitzer has compiled a report based on interviews with senior representatives of government, industry and academe. The report concentrates on policies specifically related to materials processing in space (MPS) and covers areas such as access to space, the role of NASA, subsidies and pricing.     

Lessons learned from Mir--a payload perspective

Among the principal objectives of the Phase 1 NASA/Mir program were for the United States to gain experience working with an international partner, to gain working experience in long-duration space flight, and to gain working experience in planning for and executing research on a long-duration space platform. The Phase 1 program was to provide the US early experience prior to the construction and operation of the International Space Station (Phase 2 and 3). While it can be argued that Mir and ISS are different platforms and that programmatically Phase 1 and ISS are organized differently, it is also clear that many aspects of operating a long-duration research program are platform independent. This can be demonstrated by a review of lessons learned from Skylab, a US space station program of the mid-1970s, many of which were again “learned” on Mir and are being “learned” on ISS. Among these are optimum crew training strategies, on-orbit crew operations, ground support, medical operations and crew psychological support, and safety certification processes.     

An economic assessment of space solar power as a source of electricity for space-based activities

Those in the space community interested in deploying space solar power (SSP) need to know whether it would make economic sense. This article aims to develop a conceptual model of the economic value of SSP as a source of power to in-space activities, such as spacecraft and space stations. We offer several estimates of the value based on interviews and published data, discuss technological innovations that may compete with or be complementary to SSP, and consider alternative institutional arrangements for government and the private sector to provide SSP.     

CAMS as a tool for human factors research in spaceflight

The paper reviews a number of research studies that were carried out with a PC-based task environment called Cabin Air Management System (CAMS) simulating the operation of a spacecraft's life support system. As CAMS was a multiple task environment, it allowed the measurement of performance at different levels. Four task components of different priority were embedded in the task environment: diagnosis and repair of system faults, maintaining atmospheric parameters in a safe state, acknowledgement of system alarms (reaction time), and keeping a record of critical system resources (prospective memory). Furthermore, the task environment permitted the examination of different task management strategies and changes in crew member state (fatigue, anxiety, mental effort). A major goal of the research programme was to examine how crew members adapted to various forms of sub-optimal working conditions, such as isolation and confinement, sleep deprivation and noise. None of the studies provided evidence for decrements in primary task performance. However, the results showed a number of adaptive responses of crew members to adjust to the different sub-optimal working conditions. There was evidence for adjustments in information sampling strategies (usually reductions in sampling frequency) as a result of unfavourable working conditions. The results also showed selected decrements in secondary task performance. Prospective memory seemed to be somewhat more vulnerable to sub-optimal working conditions than performance on the reaction time task. Finally, suggestions are made for future research with the CAMS environment.     

空间对接机构结构锁传动原理分析

针对异体同构周边式对接机构，提出了两种结构锁主动锁钩传动方案，分别对其运动原理及特点进行分析比较。数值仿真结果表明，在不同的电机驱动功率、作动时间和执行端行程等条件下，结构锁传动系统应采用不同传动方案。     

一种可移动检测机器人站位规划策略

针对大型舱体舱外有效载荷支架检测过程中机器人站位难以确定的问题，提出一种规划策略。首先，结合机器人正运动学构建检测环境的数学模型，分别从舱体轴向与径向初步划分工作区域。然后，基于遗传算法(GA)优化检测视点次序并对工作区域栅格化处理，结合工作区域内对应视点位姿信息及关节转角约束，通过机器人逆运动学求得满足约束条件站位。最后，考虑不同关节转角误差对机器人末端精度和机器人运行过程安全性的影响，对检测过程各关节角度变化方差加权处理并构造优化函数。通过算例验证了所构建的模型及方法的可行性，结果表明该策略能够得到满足检测需求的优化站位。     

Male and female characteristics in vestibular testing: a step toward the selection of the best participants for space flight

Vestibular disturbances in connection with space flight were reported by a majority of participating astronauts and cosmonauts. These include motion sickness symptoms in the first few days of the space flight, as well as standing, gait and orientation disturbances after the return to Earth. The Aerospace Medical Community has been trying to select those people that are particularly adapted to the above stresses or that can be further adapted through training programs. As the circle of selectees extends to women, the problem arises as to whether differences between men and women exist under the conditions of space flight. In seeking answers to this question we studied a group of 42 women and 44 men, who were further subdivided according to their subjective motion sickness sensitivity, as determined by a questionnaire. Using this material, 26 men and 22 women were designated as motion sickness resistant, and 18 men and 20 women were designated as nonresistant. The vestibular test battery given these test subjects consisted of caloric, rotatory, optokinetic, vestibulo-spinal and vestibulo-vegetative testing. Because of the mixed orthostatic and vestibular problems seen after space flights, we also studied the response of the vestibular apparatus during peripheral blood pooling as induced by lower body negative pressure. The collected historical and test data are analyzed in this paper with emphasis on the relationship to motion sickness tendency.     

Women''s place in space exploration

A Mars manned space mission would be characterized by long-lasting psycho-social stress for its human participants. Based on the results of our and other authors' experiments with small human groups under simulated space stress conditions, and bearing in mind historical evidence of the changing role of women in human society, the differences of feminine and masculine cognitive patterns should be taken into greater account. Participation of women in astronautics should be reconsidered from the point of view of the roles of women as members of a space ship crew, as members of a space control centre and in relation to the family life of male astronauts on long-term space missions.