Variations of radiation environment onboard the ISS in the year 2008

Using the data of high-sensitivity dosimetric units DB-8, variations of the radiation environment onboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the year 2008 are analyzed. Very low level of solar activity was observed throughout this time, and no proton events occurred. It is shown that the variations of the mean daily dose rate during this period were caused by variations in the height of the ISS flight.     

反舰导弹末端机动的突防效果研究

利用共轭系统和拉氏变换技术,重点研究了反舰导弹的螺旋机动和摆式机动的突防效果。螺旋机动和摆式机动的加速度可以用纵向和航向平面内的加速度分量来表示。在平面内分析机动加速度引起的稳态脱靶量得到了简单的脱靶量解析解。利用该解析解,分析了机动持续时间对稳态脱靶量的影响。将纵向和航向平面内的稳态脱靶量综合起来得到了螺旋机动或者摆式机动所引起的稳态脱靶量。仿真结果表明这两种非平面机动方式比平面机动方式具有更好的突防效果。     

化学模型对数值模拟等离子体流动的影响研究

针对典型再入飞行试验条件,基于求解化学非平衡N-S方程的数值方法,对再入体非平衡等离子体绕流进行数值模拟,比较分析了两种典型化学模型对电子数密度数值模拟结果的影响。研究发现,7组分化学模型的电子数密度模拟结果具有较好的一致性,而11组分化学模型的数值模拟结果则存在较大差异,产生差异的主要机制在于不同模型中氧原子的电离效应,总体上Park模型的数值模拟结果与飞行测量结果具有较好的一致性。     

Precise modelling of solar and thermal accelerations on Rosetta

This paper presents an analytical approach for the high-fidelity model of the accelerations induced by the Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) and the Thermal Recoil Pressure (TRP) on ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft. The relevant gravitational forces that are induced by planets, moons, and asteroids can readily be incorporated for predicting interplanetary trajectories. However, there are additional perturbation forces that cause residual errors in the orbit determination process. These are the so-called “small forces”, which are mainly induced by the SRP and TRP effects and are often not modelled adequately or not completely. In the case of deep-space missions, the spacecraft travels a wide range of distances relative to the Sun. This makes the spacecraft exposed to a wide range of solar fluxes and surface temperatures. This paper establishes a high-fidelity acceleration model, which enables more precise orbit predictions for interplanetary spacecraft. The application of the model is demonstrated and validated using the orbit determination data and in-flight temperature data of the Rosetta spacecraft.     

Russian system of countermeasures on board of the International Space Station (ISS): the first results

The system of countermeasures used by Russian cosmonauts in space flights on board of International Space Station (ISS) was based on the developed and tested in flights on board of Russian space stations. It included as primary components: physical methods aimed to maintain the distribution of fluids at levels close to those experienced on Earth; physical exercises and loading suits aimed to load the musculoskeletal and the cardiovascular systems; measures that prevent the loss of fluids, mainly, water-salt additives which aid to maintain orthostatic tolerance and endurance to gravitational overloads during the return to Earth; well-balanced diet and medications directed to correct possible negative reactions of the body to weightlessness. Fulfillment of countermeasure's protocols inflight was thoroughly controlled. Efficacy of countermeasures used were assessed both in- and postflight. The results of studies showed that degrees of alterations recorded in different physiological systems after ISS space flights in Russian cosmonauts were significantly higher than those recorded after flights on the Russian space stations. This phenomenon was caused by the failure of the ISS crews to execute fully the prescribed countermeasures' protocols which was as a rule excused by technical imperfectness of exercise facilities, treadmill TVIS particularly.     

Nausogenic properties of various dynamic and static force environments.

Motion sickness can occur when an accelerating force acting on the human body repeatedly changes amplitude and direction or both. It also can occur without any motion after transfer into a constant force field significantly different from Earth-gravity. Dynamic and static causes of motion sickness can be distinguished accordingly. Space sickness, too, has dynamic as well as static aspects. Dynamic space sickness might depend on increased bilateral differential sensitivity of the peripheral and central vestibular apparatus, whereas static space sickness may be caused by erroneous compensation of bilaterial asymmetries of the otolith-system in the microgravity environment. Experiments in airplanes, cars and on a vestibular sled have shown that the susceptibility to motion sickness is highest for changes of acceleration in the negative X-axis (as compared to the other axes) of the body. During reciprocating linear accelerations on the vestibular sled, standstill periods of movement and the direction of movement cannot correctly be indicated, because the peripheral vestibular apparatus lacks true motion detectors.     

Initial characterization of the microgravity environment of the international space station: increments 2 through 4

The primary objective of the International Space Station (ISS) is to provide a long-term quiescent environment for the conduct of scientific research for a variety of microgravity science disciplines. This paper reports to the microgravity scientific community the results of an initial characterization of the microgravity environment on the International Space Station for increments 2 through 4. During that period almost 70,000 hours of station operations and scientific experiments were conducted. 720 hours of crew research time were logged aboard the orbiting laboratory and over half a terabyte of acceleration data were recorded and much of that was analyzed. The results discussed in this paper cover both the quasi-steady and vibratory acceleration environment of the station during its first year of scientific operation. For the quasi-steady environment, results are presented and discussed for the following: the space station attitudes Torque Equilibrium Attitude and the X-Axis Perpendicular to the Orbital Plane; station docking attitude maneuvers; Space Shuttle joint operation with the station; cabin de-pressurizations and the station water dumps. For the vibratory environment, results are presented for the following: crew exercise, docking events, and the activation/de-activation of both station life support system hardware and experiment hardware. Finally, a grand summary of all the data collected aboard the station during the 1-year period is presented showing where the overall quasi-steady and vibratory acceleration magnitude levels fall over that period of time using a 95th percentile benchmark.     

Recent NASA research accomplishments aboard the ISS

The activation of the US Laboratory Module "Destiny" on the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2001 launched a new era in microgravity research. Destiny provides the environment to conduct long-term microgravity research utilizing human intervention to assess, report, and modify experiments real time. As the only available pressurized space platform, ISS maximizes today's scientific resources and substantially increases the opportunity to obtain much longed-for answers on the effects of microgravity and long-term exposure to space. In addition, it evokes unexpected questions and results while experiments are still being conducted, affording time for changes and further investigation. While building and outfitting the ISS is the main priority during the current ISS assembly phase, seven different space station crews have already spent more than 2000 crew hours on approximately 80 scientific investigations, technology development activities, and educational demonstrations.     

Regulating ISS— An interdisciplinary essay

The International Space Station (ISS) is a multifaceted international project. Several space agencies from different countries work together in the Outer Space. This paper will illustrate the exciting questions arising from such a venture and therefore the challenge to incorporate a variety of issues into a legal order. The Paper is addressed to lawyers who need not necessarily be experts in space law, and also to space experts who have no legal background. It demonstrates the three layers of the ISS regime—from the “Intergovernmental Agreement” (IGA) as a “frame” with pillars and boundaries, over the “Memoranda of Understanding” (MOU) which rules in a more specific way, to the so-called “Implementing Arrangements” regulating the overall and single aspects of ISS in detail.The paper underlines questions of applicable jurisdiction, utilization rights and the rights on intellectual property onboard of the ISS. Furthermore the problem of liability in space flight is highlighted, also with a view to the different aspects of the liability issue, for example (internal) liability caused by programme delays (e.g. US Space Shuttle delays).In conclusion, the paper illustrates the situation of astronauts by the “Code of Conduct for the International Space Station Crew” and provides an example for the actual ISS Programme—an international cooperation in a highly demanding environment which will be a basis for future space ventures in many ways.     

固体发动机前封头绝热层在加速度下烧蚀计算

对固体火箭发动机前封头ＮＢＲ绝热层在飞行加速度作用下的烧蚀机理与烧蚀模型进行了研究。     

Suboptimal,two-burn,midlevel thrust,LEO-GEO transfer: Practical control schemes

This paper presentes the results of an algorithm developed at INTELSAT to (1) synthesize suboptimal, two-burn midlevel thrust, LEO-GEO transfer trajectories; (2) define practical steering laws to approximate the nominal trajectories; and (3) simulate their performance. Capabilities of the algorithm include: independently selectable constant thrust levels for the two burns, constant acceleration, staging, fixing the mass at either ends of the transfer. Figures of inefficiency versus ideally impulsive transfer are plotted for a reference constant thrust case over a range of initial accelerations. The diagram indicates that acceptable inefficiencies are attainable in the initial acceleration range above 0.1 g. A comparison with an optimal two-burn low-thrust transfer indicates negligible degradation in efficiency. The results of an application to INTELSAT VI are included.     

Accomplishments in bioastronautics research aboard International Space Station

The tenth long-duration expedition crew is currently in residence aboard International Space Station (ISS), continuing a permanent human presence in space that began in October 2000. During that time, expedition crews have been operators and subjects for 18 Human Life Sciences investigations, to gain a better understanding of the effects of long-duration space flight on the crewmembers and of the environment in which they live. Investigations have been conducted to study: the radiation environment in the station as well as during extravehicular activity (EVA); bone demineralization and muscle deconditioning; changes in neuromuscular reflexes; muscle forces and postflight mobility; causes and possible treatment of postflight orthostatic intolerance; risk of developing kidney stones; changes in pulmonary function caused by long-duration flight as well as EVA; crew and crew–ground interactions; changes in immune function, and evaluation of imaging techniques. The experiment mix has included some conducted in flight aboard ISS as well as several which collected data only pre- and postflight. The conduct of these investigations has been facilitated by the Human Research Facility (HRF). HRF Rack 1 became the first research rack on ISS when it was installed in the US laboratory module Destiny in March 2001. The rack provides a core set of experiment hardware to support investigations, as well as power, data and commanding capability, and stowage. The second HRF rack, to complement the first with additional hardware and stowage capability, will be launched once Shuttle flights resume. Future years will see additional capability to conduct human research on ISS as International Partner modules and facility racks are added to ISS. Crew availability, both as a subject count and time, will remain a major challenge to maximizing the science return from the bioastronautics research program.     

航天器微振动环境分析与测量技术发展

文章分析了航天器在轨运行时出现的准稳态加速度、瞬变加速度、振动加速度的来源及对航天器产生的影响。介绍了美国、欧空局及我国的航天器微振动测试技术现状。并就Olympus卫星、Oicets卫星和我国“神舟”号飞船的情况,深入讨论了微振动测试的方法与结果。     

基于MME/EKF算法的卫星质心在轨标定

提出了一种基于MME/EKF的卫星质心在轨标定算法。首先以磁力矩器为执行元件给卫星施加一个明显大于干扰力矩的周期性力矩,将静电加速度计的量测信息分解为线性和周期性加速度,并将星敏感器标定后的陀螺仪数据代入MME算法中估计出卫星的角加速度,然后利用EKF算法求解卫星质心的位置。最后进行了数学仿真验证,仿真结果表明该算法不需要卫星的控制输入以及动力学特性信息,便能实现卫星质心较为精确的标定。     

Testing and evaluation of a method for locating potentially hazardous sites of eventual microdestruction and detecting marks of ISS RS hull leakage

In 2008, two experiments – BAR and EXPERT – were performed on the Russian segment (ISS RS) during ISS missions 16 and 17 using diagnostic equipment BAR. The experiments were aimed to enhance ISS safety by proposing means and methods of detecting leaks due to many factors including microdestruction of pressurized modules of the vehicle. The BAR experiment was designed to assess the ultraviolet background in 56 potentially dangerous locations identified by RS ISS designers and engineers. The method for locating sites carrying the risk of microdestruction of pressurized structure was verified. The study showed that the rate of microdestruction is highly affected by level of ultrasound vibrations caused by onboard equipment. The ultrasound measurements in 200 RS ISS sites were performed within the BAR experiment. The method consists of looking for surfaces with atmospheric condensate in the areas of increased levels of ultrasound vibrations. Twenty six sites were added to the nomenclature of potentially risky sites to be monitored on the regular basis. Some of these sites were contaminated by fungi and bacteria.     

Dextre: Improving maintenance operations on the International Space Station

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), known as “Dextre”, is currently slated to launch in February 2008 for deployment on the International Space Station (ISS) as the final component of Canada's Mobile Servicing System (MSS). Dextre's primary role on the Space Station is to perform repair and replacement (R&R) maintenance tasks on robotically compatible hardware such as Orbital Replaceable Units (ORUs), thereby eventually easing the burden on the ISS crew.This burden on the on-orbit crew translates practically into crew time being a limited resource on the ISS, and as such, finding ways to assist the crew in performing their tasks or offloading the crew completely when appropriate is a bonus to the ISS program. This is already accomplished very effectively by commanding as many non-critical robotics tasks as possible, such as powering up and free-space maneuvering of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), known as “Canadarm2”, from the Ground.Thus, beyond its primary role, and based on an increasing clarity regarding the challenges of external maintenance on the ISS, Dextre is being considered for use in a number of ways with the objective of improving ISS operations while reducing and optimizing the use of crew time through the use of ground control for various tasks, pre-positioning hardware, acting as a temporary storage platform to break an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) day into manageable timelines, and extending the physical reach and range of the Canadarm2.This paper discusses the planned activities and operations for Dextre an rationale for how these will help optimize the use of crew resources on the ISS.     

舱体入水工况参数对冲击特性的影响分析

为分析大型舱体返回入水时入水垂直速度等工况参数对其冲击特性的影响,提出一种基于任意拉格朗日欧拉法的舱体入水过程模拟方法,应用球底结构入水问题理论计算方法验证该模拟方法的有效性。通过对不同入水工况的有限元模拟,分析入水垂直速度和入水角度对冲击特性的影响。结果表明本文建立的舱体-流体有限元模型能够有效模拟舱体入水过程,舱体冲击加速度峰值与入水垂直速度成正比,舱体以一定角度入水能够降低入水过程的冲击加速度。研究结果可以为新型舱体的结构设计和入水冲击试验提供指导,从而减少试验次数,缩短开发周期。     

Main problems of the Russian Orlan-M space suit utilization for EVAs on the ISS

In the recent years the Russian Orlan-M space suits have been improved as applied to their operational requirements for the ISS. A special attention is paid to enhancement of EVA crew efficiency and safety. The paper considers the main problems regarding specific features of the Russian space suit operation in the ISS, and analyses measures on their solution. In particular, the problems associated with the following are considered: enhancement of the anthropometric range for the EVA crewmembers; use of some US EMU elements and unified NASA equipment elements; Orlan-M operation support in the wide range of the ISS thermal conditions; use of Simplified Aid For Extravehicular activity Rescue (SAFER) designed as a self-rescue device, which will be used for an EVA crewmember return in the event that he (she) breaks away inadvertently from the ISS surface. The paper states the main space suit differences with reference to solution of the above problems. The paper presents briefly the design of space suit arms developed for crewmembers with small anthropometric parameters, as well as peculiarities and test results for the gloves with enhanced thermal protection. Measures on further space suit development with the purpose to improve its performances are considered.     

Integration of multiple research disciplines on the International Space Station.

The International Space Station will provide an extremely high-quality, long-duration microgravity environment for the conduct of research. In addition, the ISS offers a platform for performing observations of Earth and Space from a high-inclination orbit, outside of the Earth's atmosphere. This unique environment and observational capability offers the opportunity for advancement in a diverse set of research fields. Many of these disciplines do not relate to one another, and present widely differing approaches to study, as well as different resource and operational requirements. Significant challenges exist to ensure the highest quality research return for each investigation. Requirements from different investigations must be identified, clarified, integrated and communicated to ISS personnel in a consistent manner. Resources such as power, crew time, etc. must be apportioned to allow the conduct of each investigation. Decisions affecting research must be made at the strategic level as well as at a very detailed execution level. The timing of the decisions can range from years before an investigation to real-time operations. The international nature of the Space Station program adds to the complexity. Each participating country must be assured that their interests are represented during the entire planning and operations process. A process for making decisions regarding research planning, operations, and real-time replanning is discussed. This process ensures adequate representation of all research investigators. It provides a means for timely decisions, and it includes a means to ensure that all ISS International Partners have their programmatic interests represented.