Divergence and phylogeny of firmicutes from the cuatro ciénegas basin, Mexico: a window to an ancient ocean

Abstract The Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (CCB) has been identified as a center of endemism for many life-forms. Nearly half the bacterial species found in the spring systems have their closest relatives in the ocean. This raises the question of whether the high diversity observed today is the product of an adaptive radiation similar to that of the Galapagos Islands or whether the bacterial groups are "survivors" of an ancient sea, which would be of interest for astrobiology. To help answer this question, we focused on Firmicutes from Cuatro Ciénegas (mainly Bacillus and Exiguobacterium). We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Firmicutes with 28 housekeeping genes and dated the resulting tree using geological events as calibration points. Our results show that marine Bacillus diverged from other Bacillus strains 838?Ma, while Bacillus from Cuatro Ciénegas have divergence dates that range from 770 to 202?Ma. The members of Exiguobacterium from the CCB conform to a much younger group that diverged from the Andes strain 60?Ma and from the one in Yellowstone 183?Ma. Therefore, the diversity of Firmicutes in Cuatro Ciénegas is not the product of a recent radiation but the product of the isolation of lineages from an ancient ocean. Hence, Cuatro Ciénegas is not a Galapagos Archipelago for bacteria but is more like an astrobiological "time machine" in which bacterial lineages survived in an oligotrophic environment that may be very similar to that of the Precambrian. Key Words: Firmicutes-Cuatro Ciénegas-Precambrian-Molecular dating-Western Interior Seaway. Astrobiology 12, 674-684.     

Comparative Metagenomics of Two Microbial Mats at Cuatro Ciénegas Basin II: Community Structure and Composition in Oligotrophic Environments

Abstract Microbial mats are self-sustained, functionally complex ecosystems that make good models for the understanding of past and present microbial ecosystems as well as putative extraterrestrial ecosystems. Ecological theory suggests that the composition of these communities might be affected by nutrient availability and disturbance frequency. We characterized two microbial mats from two contrasting environments in the oligotrophic Cuatro Ciénegas Basin: a permanent green pool and a red desiccation pond. We analyzed their taxonomic structure and composition by means of 16S rRNA clone libraries and metagenomics and inferred their metabolic role by the analysis of functional traits in the most abundant organisms. Both mats showed a high diversity with metabolically diverse members and strongly differed in structure and composition. The green mat had a higher species richness and evenness than the red mat, which was dominated by a lineage of Pseudomonas. Autotrophs were abundant in the green mat, and heterotrophs were abundant in the red mat. When comparing with other mats and stromatolites, we found that taxonomic composition was not shared at species level but at order level, which suggests environmental filtering for phylogenetically conserved functional traits with random selection of particular organisms. The highest diversity and composition similarity was observed among systems from stable environments, which suggests that disturbance regimes might affect diversity more strongly than nutrient availability, since oligotrophy does not appear to prevent the establishment of complex and diverse microbial mat communities. These results are discussed in light of the search for extraterrestrial life. Key Words: Cuatro Ciénegas-Metagenomics-Microbial mats-Oligotrophic-Phosphorus limitation-Stromatolites. Astrobiology 12, 659-673.     

Biogeochemistry of hypersaline springs supporting a mid-continent marine ecosystem: an analogue for martian springs?

Hypersaline springs that host unique mid-continent marine ecosystems were examined in central Manitoba, Canada. The springs originate from a reflux of glacial meltwater that intrudes into underlying bedrock and dissolved buried salt beds. Two spring types were distinguished based both on flow rate and geochemistry. High flow springs (greater than 10 L/s) hosted extensive marine microbial mats, which were dominated by algae but also included diverse microbes. These varied somewhat between springs as indicated by changes in profiles of fatty acid methyl esters. Culture studies confirmed the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria in sediments at the high flow sites. In contrast, low flow springs were affected by solar evaporation, increasing salinity, and temperature. These low flow springs behaved more like closed nutrient-limited systems and did not support microbial mats. Direct comparison of the high and low flow springs revealed interesting implications for the potential to record biosignatures in the rock record. High flow springs have abundant, well-developed microbial mats, which desiccate and are cemented along the edges of the spring pools; however, the high mass flux overwhelms any geochemical signature of microbial activity. In contrast, the nutrient-limited low flow sites develop strong geochemical signatures of sulfate reduction, even in the absence of microbial mats, due to less dilution with the lower flows. Geochemical and physical evidence for life did not correlate with the abundance of microbial life but, rather, with the extent to which the biological system formed a closed ecosystem.     

The first "space" vegetables have been grown in the "SVET" greenhouse using controlled environmental conditions

The paper describes the "SVET" project--a new generation of space greenhouse with small dimensions. Through the use of a minicomputer, "SVET" is fully capable of automatically operating and controlling environmental systems for higher plant growth. A number of preliminary studies have shown the radish and cabbage to be potentially important crops for CELSS (Closed Environmental Life Support System). The "SVET" space greenhouse was mounted on the "CRYSTAL" technological module docked to the Mir orbital space station on 10 June 1990. Soviet cosmonauts Balandin and Solovyov started the first experiments with the greenhouse on 15 June 1990. Preliminary results of seed cultivation over an initial 54-day period in "SVET" are presented. Morphometrical characteristics of plants brought back to Earth are given. Alteration in plant characteristics, such as growth and developmental changes, or morphological contents were noted. A crop of radish plants was harvested under microgravity conditions. Characteristics of plant environmental control parameters and an estimation of functional properties of control and regulation systems of the "SVET" greenhouse in space flight as received via telemetry data is reported.     

Heat storage and electricity generation in the Moon during the lunar night

One of the biggest challenges of the exploration of the Moon is the survival of the crew and the lunar assets during the lunar night. The environmental conditions on the lunar surface and its cycle, with long periods of darkness, make any long mission in need of specific amounts of heat and electricity to be successful. We have analyzed two different systems to produce heat and electricity on the Moon's surface. The first system consists of Thermal Wadis, sources of thermal power that can be used to supply heat to protect the exploration systems from the extreme cold during periods of darkness. Previous results showed that Wadis can supply enough heat to keep lunar devices such as rovers above their minimum operating temperature (approximately 243 K). The second system studied here is the Thermal Energy Storage (TES), which is able to run a heat engine during the lunar night to produce electricity. When the Sun is shining on the Moon's surface, the system can run the engine directly using the solar power and simultaneously heat a thermal mass. This thermal mass is used as a high temperature source to run the heat engine during the night. We present analytical and numerical calculations for the determination of an appropriate thermal mass for the TES system.     

Initial performance assessment of hybrid inflatable structures

Inflatable technology for space applications is under continual development and advances in high strength fibers and rigidizable materials have pushed the limitations of these structures. This has lead to their application in deploying large-aperture antennas, reflectors and solar sails. However, many significant advantages can be achieved by combining inflatable structures with structural stiffeners such as tape springs. These advantages include control of the deployment path of the structure while it is inflating (a past weakness of inflatable structure designs), an increased stiffness of the structure once deployed and a reduction in the required inflation volume. Such structures have been previously constructed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory focusing on large scale booms. However, due to the high efficiency of these designs they are also appealing to small satellite systems.This article outlines ongoing research work performed at the University of Southampton into the field of small satellite hybrid inflatable structures. Inflatable booms have been constructed and combined with tape spring reinforcements to create simple hybrid structures. These structures have been subjected to bending tests and compared directly to an equivalent inflatable tube without tape spring reinforcement. This enables the stiffness benefits to be determined with respect to the added mass of the tape springs. The paper presents these results, which leads to an initial performance assessment of these structures.     

反压环境舱的设计及在雾化实验中的应用

介绍了反压环境舱的设计思路、结构特点及其在喷嘴特性研究过程中的应用.环境舱包括:舱盖提升机构、舱体移动机构、喷嘴调节装置、气幕隔离装置、视镜和散光装置.所设计的环境舱视镜通光直径为110mm,环境压力高达6.0MPa.实验结果表明,反压环境舱能配合高速动态分析系统完成高压环境下流量和雾化性能实验.     

Supraglacial sulfur springs and associated biological activity in the Canadian high arctic-signs of life beneath the ice

Unique springs, discharging from the surface of an arctic glacier, release H(2)S and deposit native sulfur, gypsum, and calcite. The presence of sulfur in three oxidation states indicates a complex series of redox reactions. Physical and chemical conditions of the spring water and surrounding environment, as well as mineralogical and isotopic signatures, suggest biologically mediated reactions. Cell counts and DNA analyses confirm bacteria are present in the spring system, and a limited number of sequenced isolates suggests that complex communities of bacteria live within the glacial system.     

The future of earth observations in Central and Eastern Europe

The Central and Eastern Europe are characterized by a high theoretical and scientific level in space research and technology, including remote sensing, but inexperience in practical applications. The emerging private sector lacks management experience and needs appropriate training. Other constraints are inadequate administrative structures, a lack of coordination, and an outdated technology in general. In his report on the results of a study carried out for the European Commission, consultant and emeritus professor of the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, Caesar Voûte, outlines the new forms of European and regional cooperation being promoted. Agriculture, yield prediction and agricultural statistics, land use studies, environmental monitoring and environmental management are identified as future high priority operational applications of remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS). Hazard management and marine observations also need to be developed.     

基于Modelica的载人航天器环热控系统建模仿真

为了给载人航天器乘员营造一个良好的生活工作环境,需要将众多空气环境参数控制在指标范围内。文章结合载人航天器专业知识,基于Modelica统一建模语言建立了一种载人航天器环热控系统仿真分析模型;利用该模型仿真分析了温湿度控制风机取不同转速时,载人航天器空气环境参数随乘员代谢水平的变化趋势。结果表明:在其他参数不变的情况下,温湿度控制风机转速越大,空气温度越低,相对湿度越高;乘员代谢水平变化对空气环境参数有显著影响,通过调节系统运行参数可将各空气参数有效控制在指标范围内。舱体温度与氧分压、二氧化碳分压、舱体相对湿度有密切关系且相互影响,不可单独分析。     

ECSS空间用涂层标准探讨

空间硬件结构广泛采用涂层方式来提高其所用基体材料的空间环境适应性,因而涂层的质量至关重要,需要对涂装工艺及涂层检验等过程进行标准化。文章详细介绍了ECSS空间用涂层标准在涂装准备、工艺过程、验收准则（含测试方法）、质量保证等方面的技术和管理要求,分析了ECSS空间用涂层标准的特点及对我国的借鉴意义。     

汽车钢板弹簧参数化建模研究

研究了汽车钢板弹簧参数化建模的设计方法,确定了钢板弹簧的输入参数,利用共同曲率法设计弹簧各参数,通过VB设计与开发汽车钢板弹簧参数化建模系统的输入界面,并通过编程在CATIA中进行参数化设计,建立了具有可视化界面的汽车钢板弹簧参数化设计系统。通过应用表明,汽车钢板弹簧参数化建模系统提高了设计者的设计效率,避免了重复设计,极大提高了劳动生产率。     

航天产品环境试验技术体系现状分析与发展建议

文章回顾了我国航天产品环境试验发展历程,较系统地梳理了航天产品环境试验技术体系,分析了国内外航天产品环境试验技术体系现状,重点进行了与国外差距的分析,提出了发展思路和建议。     

Bacterial communities and the nitrogen cycle in the gypsum soils of cuatro ciénegas basin, coahuila: a Mars analogue

Abstract The OMEGA/Mars Express hyperspectral imager identified gypsum at several sites on Mars in 2005. These minerals constitute a direct record of past aqueous activity and are important with regard to the search of extraterrestrial life. Gale Crater was chosen as Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity's landing site because it is rich in gypsum, as are some desert soils of the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (CCB) (Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico). The gypsum of the CCB, which is overlain by minimal carbonate deposits, was the product of magmatic activity that occurred under the Tethys Sea. To examine this Mars analogue, we retrieved gypsum-rich soil samples from two contrasting sites with different humidity in the CCB. To characterize the site, we obtained nutrient data and analyzed the genes related to the N cycle (nifH, nirS, and nirK) and the bacterial community composition by using 16S rRNA clone libraries. As expected, the soil content for almost all measured forms of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were higher at the more humid site than at the drier site. What was unexpected is the presence of a rich and divergent community at both sites, with higher taxonomic diversity at the humid site and almost no taxonomic overlap. Our results suggest that the gypsum-rich soils of the CCB host a unique microbial ecosystem that includes novel microbial assemblies. Key Words: Cuatro Ciénegas Basin-Gale Crater-Gypsum soil microbial diversity-Molecular ecology-Nitrogen cycle. Astrobiology 12, 699-709.     

氧化亚氮推进技术研究进展

随着环境保护的加强,人们越来越希望找到一种绿色推进剂来代替现有的肼类有毒推进剂.氧化亚氮作为一种绿色推进剂,无毒性,地面实验操作处理方便,不需要繁琐昂贵的防护;常温贮存性,贮箱几乎不需要主动热控制;饱和压力高,可采用自增压方式供应推进剂;绝热分解温度较高,可作为单组元和双组元发动机的推进剂.分析了氧化亚氮作为推进剂的性能及其主要应用领域,着重研究其在液体火箭发动机的应用.通过对氧化亚氮自增压供应系统,单组元推进的催化分解系统,克服催化床限制的氧化亚氮与燃料混合的NOFBXTM技术,以及氧化亚氮作为氧化剂的双组元推进系统的国内外研究进展进行综述,指出当前研究工作中存在的问题,以期为该方面的进一步研究提供一定的参考.     

空气弹簧支撑的Hexapod微激振平台自动调平研究

Hexapod微激振平台具有负载重量大和振动量级小的特点,为了实现精确卸载、作动器小量级精密控制,研制了基于空气弹簧支撑的Hexapod微激振平台。该平台包括负责工作状态承载的4点梯形分布的空气弹簧柔性支撑和负责非工作状态承载的3点刚性辅助支撑两部分。针对该平台自动调平控制的两大问题:即柔性支撑与刚性支撑之间存在的力耦合以及气路控制中存在的非线性和时延性,提出了连续充气和脉冲充气相结合的开关控制策略。为验证自动调平控制的可行性,在负载重量约为200 kg的Hexapod微激振平台上进行试验,结果表明,平台可在140 s内实现自动调平,且6个作动腿位移误差不超过1 mm。     

自主机动空间绳网机器人设计与动力学建模

设计了一种新型“平台+绳系+柔性网+自主机动单元”结构的空间机器人系统,较强的机动能力和较大的任务范围使其在空间垃圾清理任务中具有显著的优势。详细描述了自主机动空间绳网机器人的概念、任务过程和特点。为了分析自主机动空间绳网机器人逼近目标过程开始时柔性网网型的变化趋势,采用质量集中法建立了逼近过程的动力学模型,模型中将柔性网离散化为无质量弹性杆和质点的集合,同时考虑了自主控制力的作用。在不同条件下对逼近过程中的网型变化进行了数字仿真,仿真结果表明：逼近过程开始时,自主机动单元无控状态下柔性网将产生收口运动,且收口运动的强弱与自主机动单元和柔性网的初速有关;逼近轨迹也将偏离目标方向。通过自主机动单元的自主控制力能够避免收口运动和逼近方向偏移的产生。     

Application of SDRE technique to orbital and attitude control of spacecraft formation flying

This paper proposes the application of a nonlinear control technique for coupled orbital and attitude relative motion of formation flying. Recently, mission concepts based on the formations of spacecraft that require an increased performance level for in-space maneuvers and operations, have been proposed. In order to guarantee the required performance level, those missions will be characterized by very low inter-satellite distance and demanding relative pointing requirements. Therefore, an autonomous control with high accuracy will be required, both for the control of relative distance and relative attitude. The control system proposed in this work is based on the solution of the State-Dependent Riccati Equation (SDRE), which is one of the more promising nonlinear techniques for regulating nonlinear systems in all the major branches of engineering. The coupling of the relative orbital and attitude motion is obtained considering the same set of thrusters for the control of both orbital and attitude relative dynamics. In addition, the SDRE algorithm is implemented with a timing update strategy both for the controller and the proposed nonlinear filter. The proposed control system approach has been applied to the design of a nonlinear controller for an up-to-date formation mission, which is ESA Proba-3. Numerical simulations considering a tracking signal for both orbital and attitude relative maneuver during an operative orbit of the mission are presented.     

Life and light: exotic photosynthesis in binary and multiple-star systems

The potential for Earth-like planets within binary/multiple-star systems to host photosynthetic life was evaluated by modeling the levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) such planets receive. Combinations of M and G stars in (i) close-binary systems; (ii) wide-binary systems, and (iii) three-star systems were investigated, and a range of stable radiation environments were found to be possible. These environmental conditions allow for the possibility of familiar, but also more exotic, forms of photosynthetic life, such as IR photosynthesizers and organisms that are specialized for specific spectral niches.     

Extremophiles may be irrelevant to the origin of life

In recent years, Bacteria and Archaea have been discovered living in practically every conceivable terrestrial environment, including some previously thought to be too extreme for survival. Exploration of our solar system has revealed a number of extraterrestrial bodies that harbor environments analogous to many of the terrestrial environments in which extremophiles flourish. The recent discovery of more than 105 extrasolar planets suggests that planetary systems are quite common. These three findings have led some to speculate that life is therefore common in the universe, as life as we know it can seemingly survive almost anywhere there is liquid water. It is suggested here that while environments capable of supporting life may be common, this does not in itself support the notion that life is common in the universe. Given that interplanetary transfer of life may be unlikely, the actual origin of life may require specific environmental and geological conditions that may be much less common than the mere existence of liquid water.