International Space Station power storage upgrade planned

As the Earth-orbit International Space Station (ISS) grows, it needs more power which is generated by solar panels. For periods in which the planet Earth occults sunlight, energy is stored in the biggest set of batteries ever flown in space. Reliability of power is important in a space station because a failure requires costly launch of replacement components. Even greater importance results when astronauts work in the station. A power failure that causes the astronauts to perish would be a very serious event. The first battery-containing "integrated equipment module" was launched November 30, 2000 and installed on port 6 of the International Space Station. Two more modules will be launched by the United States; to be launched in 2004 is the European Space Agency's "attached COLUMBUS APM laboratory," which will have its own power system. Unexpected battery-related events occurred in the integrated equipment module during its first year-and-a-half in orbit. The problems and their solutions were described in papers presented at the 37/sup th/ Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Since the International Space Station carries more battery cells than any other spacecraft, the in-flight performance data from its battery assembly can be useful to engineers who design power supplies for other spacecraft. We, therefore, summarize the battery development process, the adopted design, and an unexpected in-flight battery degradation and its correction.     

中性浮力和失重环境人体运动仿真比较研究

为了模拟失重状态,航天技术发达的国家都建立了用于航天员出舱活动训练的中性浮力水槽。但与太空失重环境相比,水中存在的水动阻力会导致两种环境下人体运动反馈的差异性。基于ADAMS多体动力学仿真软件,按照“飞天”舱外航天服的质量分布,建立了着舱外服人体动力学模型。利用此模型仿真比较了水下和失重环境中肘关节屈伸、肩内收外展、肩矢状面内运动时人体躯干的动力学反馈,发现水下环境中模型躯干的转动速度峰值和平均值均较大。研究结果已应用于神舟七号载人飞行任务出舱活动航天员训练,建立的航天员人体动力学模型可应用于我国未来空间站任务出舱活动仿真分析。     

Learning from living in space

The current state of space life sciences knowledge and research is described. Findings about the health of astronauts in space are reviewed and a plea is made by some former astronauts to increase the amount of research being conducted. Longitudinal studies of the long term effects of space travel, especially radiation exposure, are being conducted and have yet to show any ill effects. Current research focuses are discussed, including Neurolab, an upcoming shuttle mission devoted to neurological and vestibular research. Experiment and spacecraft hardware is discussed, as are future directions in research. Partnership with Russian space life sciences investigators is also underway.     

Can CO2 help harvest minerals on Mars?

When astronauts first go to Mars, it will be difficult for them to bring everything they need to survive. Even the first tentative explorations could last as long as two years. However, spaceships can carry only limited supplies. "We might have to do what explorers have done for ages: live off the land," says chemical engineer Ken Debelak of Vanderbilt University. It is a meager atmosphere, compared to Earth's, and it is about 95% carbon dioxide. This, however, turns out to be an advantage. The CO2, says Debelak, can be used to harvest almost everything else.     

多关节脚限位装置机构设计与仿真分析

对在空间微重力环境下,通过连接空间机械臂来固定和支撑航天员在轨维修操作的多关节脚限位器装置进行研究。多关节脚限位器装置限制航天服的靴子防止航天员脱离脚限位器,同时为航天员在轨维修操作提供多个自由度的调节范围。对多关节脚限位器装置的多关节结构进行设计与分析,针对某些特定动作进行运动学仿真,并进行试验验证。此外,还对关节运动范围进行了分析,使用Adams软件对载荷限制单元防冲击载荷与缓慢变化载荷的能力进行了仿真分析。     

近地空间航天员训练视景真实感渲染技术研究

载人航天任务中,地面模拟训练是培养提升航天员操作技能的重要手段。视景系统是航天飞行训练模拟的重要组成部分,高逼真度的仿真场景对提升航天员训练效果有重要的意义。针对空间视景仿真场景调度和渲染的特殊性,提出并设计实现视景仿真软件的总体架构。对影响空间场景真实感的地球纹理数据库的生成和调度技术、大气散射仿真技术、场景光照实时渲染等关键技术进行研究,融合各种方法,在视景仿真系统中基于GPU实现。试验验证表明,实现算法准确,模型设计合理,已经应用于航天员的训练中。     

US, Russian suits serve diverse EVA goals

U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts both use space suits when performing extravehicular activity (EVA), but these have been developed independently due to the diverse goals of each country's space program. The current versions of the U.S. and Russian space suits were compared when the author tested both suits on the same day. The similarities and differences are noted, as well as the strengths and limitations of each. Determination of the compatibility of these suits is important as increased cooperation between the U.S. and Russia has occurred (for example, astronauts and cosmonauts are flying together on Shuttle/Mir missions) and as the international space station becomes reality.     

Learning from Mir's mishaps

Problems on Mir during 1997 are reviewed and their impact on continued use of the station and long-term presence of American astronauts is explored. Changes in U.S.-Russian communication are noted.     

Astronaut-induced disturbances to the microgravity environment of the Mir Space Station

In preparation for the International Space Station, the Enhanced Dynamic Load Sensors Space Flight Experiment measured the forces and moments astronauts exerted on the Mir Space Station during their daily on-orbit activities to quantify the astronaut-induced disturbances to the microgravity environment during a long-duration space mission. An examination of video recordings of the astronauts moving in the modules and using the instrumented crew restraint and mobility load sensors led to the identification of several typical astronaut motions and the quantification of the associated forces and moments exerted on the spacecraft. For 2806 disturbances recorded by the foot restraints and hand-hold sensor, the highest force magnitude was 137 N. For about 96% of the time, the maximum force magnitude was below 60 N, and for about 99% of the time the maximum force magnitude was below 90 N. For 95% of the astronaut motions, the rms force level was below 9.0 N. It can be concluded that expected astronaut-induced loads from usual intravehicular activity are considerably less than previously thought and will not significantly disturb the microgravity environment.     

利用改进遗传算法优化载人机动装置飞行轨迹

为保障航天员的生命安全，载人机动装置（ MMU ）必须实现安全飞行。利用改进遗传算法，对载人机动装置执行救援任务的飞行轨迹进行分析研究和优化设计，得到了能够避开障碍物安全返回舱内的救援轨迹，并进行了仿真验证。结果表明，该算法可以实现载人机动装置飞行轨迹安全。     

Conversations with John H. Glenn Jr. Interview by Frank Sietzen Jr

Senator Glenn is interviewed about his experiences on Friendship 7 and the Shuttle Discovery, expectations of early astronauts, lunar missions, the International Space Station, international dimensions of space activities, public confidence in NASA, attracting young people to the aerospace industry, highlights of his career, and the future of flight.     

Hubble Space Telescope at twelve years of age

The Hubble Space Telescope was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery into a 380-mile high Earth orbit on April 25, 1990. It subsequently made outstanding astronomical discoveries with its 8-foot (2.4-meter) telescope and other scientific instruments. Critical to the successful observations was continuous availability of power from its solar arrays during sunlit periods, and from nickel-hydrogen batteries when the satellite was in the Earth's shadow. The adopted nickel-hydrogen batteries were carefully selected and tested to confirm their depth-of-discharge and operating temperature that delivered the longest life in charge/discharge cycling service. These batteries had a design life of 7 years. At 12 years after launch the Hubble batteries have delivered more charge/discharge cycles than any other batteries in low-Earth orbit. However, the Hubble batteries have been subjected to many unexpected stresses, and peculiar reductions in battery capacity have been observed. Battery replacement requires a costly trip to the Hubble Space Telescope by astronauts, so the remaining useful life of the batteries must be predicted. Already in four servicing missions, astronauts have replaced or modified optics, solar arrays, a power control unit, and various science packages. A fifth servicing mission is scheduled in 2004. This paper discusses battery charging hardware and software controls, history of battery events in Hubble, cell performance model and spare battery tests, and capacity walkdown.     

《爱犬弗拉狮传》的“戏仿”实验

研究伍尔夫颠覆传统传记的"戏仿"实验。在《爱犬弗拉狮传》中选择一条宠物狗作为传主,运用娴熟的操纵视角手法,以"戏仿"的方式,颠覆文坛沿袭的维多利亚传记传统。这种高超的叙事技巧证明伍尔夫不仅是一个艺术的讲故事者,还是一个才华横溢的维多利亚传记传统的反叛者。     

CRV investment offers safe return

The development and testing of a new emergency Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) prototype is discussed. The new CRV is being developed by NASA and ESA and is designed for use on the International Space Station as a supplement to the Soyuz ships of the Russians, which accommodate only three passengers. The new vehicle will provide a shirt-sleeve environment for up to six astronauts and will allow for emergency medical treatment to be provided.     

一个超冗余度移动操作臂机器人系统的实现与运动控制

冗余度或超冗余度移动操作臂机器人可在空间站上为宇航员提供很大的帮助.对一个超冗余度移动操作臂机器人系统的设计和实现作了介绍,这个系统由一个8自由度的模块机器人和一个1自由度的电机驱动的导轨组成;对该系统的逆运动学解法进行了讨论,提出了一种基于避关节极限与位形优化的简化逆运动学控制方法;并提供了仿真和实验结果.     

Solar Energetic Particle Composition, Energy Spectra, and Space Weather

Recent progress in measuring the composition and energy spectra of solar energetic particles (SEPs) accelerated by CME-driven shocks is reviewed, including a comparison of the observed charge-to-mass dependence of breaks in SEP spectra with model predictions. Also discussed is a comparison of SEP and CME kinetic energies in seventeen large SEP events, and estimates of the SEP radiation dose that astronauts would be subject to once they venture outside the protective cover of Earth’s magnetosphere.     

"引博从政"的经济学分析

运用诺贝尔经济学奖得主阿罗关于较高教育水平的甄选理论，从经济学的视角对“引博从政”现象进行分析，认为由于劳动力市场中存在不确定性和招聘方与应聘方之间信息的不对称，且招聘方获得应聘方相对准确的信息的成本较大，所以理性行为人为减少这些现象的发生，需要某种甄选手段。因此，“引博从政”就成为政府决策者在现实条件下的理性选择。     

Lunar photography: Techniques and results

Conclusion The lunar photography missions have included flyby, impacter, lander, and orbiter spacecrafts. These missions have provided photographs of the far side of the moon and a ten-fold increase in frontside resolution plus higher resolution of selected frontside areas. The resolutions which have been achieved vary from 1 m for the Lunar Orbiter to 1/2 m for the impacting Ranger to millimeters for Luna-IX and the Surveyors. The return from these missions have resolved much of the mystery surrounding the moon.The prime objective of the U.S. photographic missions has been the support of the Apollo-manned lunar landing program. The Ranger program, the Surveyor program, and the Lunar Orbiter program provided a logical progression in the utilization of a developing space exploration technology. These programs have provided the required information and have confirmed that the Apollo landing vehicle design is compatible with the conditions to be experienced on selected areas of the lunar surface.The future manned landing missions can be expected to provide additional lunar photography. Since the astronauts can be more selective in their photography, even more outstanding and informative results should be achieved. The addition of movies and even live television coverage will permit earth-based man to share more directly in the manned exploration of the moon.The unmanned photographic exploration of the moon has provided much of the technology required for similar missions to the planets. The U.S. Mariner-IV was the first successful mission to obtain close-up photographs of the planet Mars. It can be expected that both the U.S.A. and Russia will try for further photographic successes in the exploration of our solar system.This paper presents the results of one phase of research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under Contract No. NAS 7-100, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.     

基于桨叶角法的螺旋桨拉力确定方法研究

以SAE AIR4065A指南为基础,对计算螺旋桨拉力的桨叶角法进行了理论推导,考虑诱导速度和不同前进比的影响,对指南中简化后的桨叶角法进行了完善,从而提高了桨叶角法的准确性。以NACA CLARK-Y翼型的试验数据为基础,对改善后的桨叶角法进行了验证。验证结果表明,改善后的桨叶角法能够有效提高不同工况下螺旋桨拉力系数的预测精度。针对飞行试验的需求,提出了在试飞中应用桨叶角法确定飞机螺旋桨拉力的具体思路。     

Reducing Undesirable Effects in the Human Centrifuge

The human centrifuge is used to train pilots and astronauts for flights where they are subject to large accelerations. This paper deals with the problems of simulating such linear accelerations with a rotating device and presents suitable means of reducing undesirable simulation error. The advantages of using three gimbals rather than the usual two are considered. Numerical results illustrate the problems of simulation and the improvement achieved by the use of a third gimbal.