Surface characteristics of spacecraft components affect the aggregation of microorganisms and may lead to different survival rates of bacteria on Mars landers

Layers of dormant endospores of Bacillus subtilis HA101 were applied to eight different spacecraft materials and exposed to martian conditions of low pressure (8.5 mbar), low temperature (-10 degrees C), and high CO(2) gas composition and irradiated with a Mars-normal ultraviolet (UV-visible- near-infrared spectrum. Bacterial layers were exposed to either 1 min or 1 h of Mars-normal UV irradiation, which simulated clear-sky conditions on equatorial Mars (0.1 tau). When exposed to 1 min of Mars UV irradiation, the numbers of viable endospores of B. subtilis were reduced three to four orders of magnitude for two brands of aluminum (Al), stainless steel, chemfilm-treated Al, clear-anodized Al, and black-anodized Al coupons. In contrast, bacterial survival was reduced only one to two orders of magnitude for endospores on the non-metal materials astroquartz and graphite composite when bacterial endospores were exposed to 1 min of Mars UV irradiation. When bacterial monolayers were exposed to 1 h of Mars UV irradiation, no viable bacteria were recovered from the six metal coupons listed above. In contrast, bacterial survival was reduced only two to three orders of magnitude for spore layers on astroquartz and graphite composite exposed to 1 h of Mars UV irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy images of the bacterial monolayers on all eight spacecraft materials revealed that endospores of B. subtilis formed large aggregates of multilayered spores on astroquartz and graphite composite, but not on the other six spacecraft materials. It is likely that the formation of multilayered aggregates of endospores on astroquartz and graphite composite is responsible for the enhanced survival of bacterial cells on these materials.     

Recurrent isolation of hydrogen peroxide-resistant spores of Bacillus pumilus from a spacecraft assembly facility

While the microbial diversity of a spacecraft assembly facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA) was being monitored, H2O2-resistant bacterial strains were repeatedly isolated from various surface locations. H2O2 is a possible sterilant for spacecraft hardware because it is a low-temperature process and compatible with various modern-day spacecraft materials, electronics, and components. Both conventional biochemical testing and molecular analyses identified these strains as Bacillus pumilus. This Bacillus species was found in both unclassified (entrance floors, anteroom, and air-lock) and classified (floors, cabinet tops, and air) locations. Both vegetative cells and spores of several B. pumilus isolates were exposed to 5% liquid H2O2 for 60 min. Spores of each strain exhibited higher resistance than their respective vegetative cells to liquid H2O2. Results indicate that the H2O2 resistance observed in both vegetative cells and spores is strain-specific, as certain B. pumilus strains were two to three times more resistant than a standard Bacillus subtilis dosimetry strain. An example of this trend was observed when the type strain of B. pumilus, ATCC 7061, proved sensitive, whereas several environmental strains exhibited varying degrees of resistance, to H2O2. Repeated isolation of H2O2-resistant strains of B. pumilus in a clean-room is a concern because their persistence might potentially compromise life-detection missions, which have very strict cleanliness and sterility requirements for spacecraft hardware.     

Survival and germinability of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to simulated Mars solar radiation: implications for life detection and planetary protection

Bacterial spores have been considered as microbial life that could survive interplanetary transport by natural impact processes or human spaceflight activity. Deposition of terrestrial microbes or their biosignature molecules onto the surface of Mars could negatively impact life detection experiments and planetary protection measures. Simulated Mars solar radiation, particularly the ultraviolet component, has been shown to reduce spore viability, but its effect on spore germination and resulting production of biosignature molecules has not been explored. We examined the survival and germinability of Bacillus subtilis spores exposed to simulated martian conditions that include solar radiation. Spores of B. subtilis that contain luciferase resulting from expression of an sspB-luxAB gene fusion were deposited on aluminum coupons to simulate deposition on spacecraft surfaces and exposed to simulated Mars atmosphere and solar radiation. The equivalent of 42 min of simulated Mars solar radiation exposure reduced spore viability by nearly 3 logs, while germination-induced bioluminescence, a measure of germination metabolism, was reduced by less than 1 log. The data indicate that spores can retain the potential to initiate germination-associated metabolic processes and produce biological signature molecules after being rendered nonviable by exposure to Mars solar radiation.     

High velocity impact characterization of Al alloys for oblique impacts

This paper describes the experimental and computational analyses of a high velocity aluminum projectile impact on an Al6061-T6 spacecraft inner wall at different oblique angles. Al2017-T4 spherical projectiles of 5.56 mm in diameter and 0.25 g in weight were chosen within the velocity range of 1000±200 m/s due to the limitation of the light gas gun. The energy absorbed was calculated by measuring the velocities before and after impact on the inner wall. The energy absorbed by the wall and the remaining energy carried by the projectile helped to estimate the severity of further damage to inner components. Afterwards, validation was done by using the commercially available software LS-DYNA with a dedicated SPH. On average, a 10% energy absorption difference between experimentation and simulation was found. By using C-SCAN, the damage area proportion of the total inner wall to impact penetration hole area was found to be on average 6%, 26% and 53% greater than the projectile cross sectional area for the oblique angle impacts of 30°, 45°, and 60°, respectively. These findings helped to understand the relationship between the oblique impact event and the damage area on a spacecraft inner wall along with space debris cloud propagation and comparison with experimental results using LS-DYNA.     

Determination of lethality rate constants and D-values for heat-resistant Bacillus spores ATCC 29669 exposed to dry heat from 125°C to 200°C

Exposing flight hardware to dry heat is a NASA-approved sterilization method for reducing microbial bioburden on spacecraft. The existing NASA specification only allows heating the flight hardware between 104°C and 125°C to reduce the number of viable microbes and bacterial spores. Also, the NASA specifications only allow a four log reduction by dry heat microbial reduction because very heat-resistant spores are presumed to exist in a diverse population (0.1%). The goal of this research was to obtain data at higher temperatures than 125°C for one of the most heat-resistant microorganisms discovered in a spacecraft assembly area. These data support expanding the NASA specifications to temperatures higher than 125°C and relaxing the four log reduction specification. Small stainless steel vessels with spores of the Bacillus strain ATCC 29669 were exposed to constant temperatures between 125°C and 200°C under both dry and ambient room humidity for set time durations. After exposures, the thermal spore exposure vessels were cooled and the remaining spores recovered and plated out. Survivor ratios, lethality rate constants, and D-values were determined at each temperature. The D-values for the spores exposed under dry humidity conditions were always found to be shorter than those under ambient humidity. The temperature dependence of the lethality rate constants was obtained by assuming that they obeyed Arrhenius behavior. The results are compared to those of B. atrophaeus ATCC 9372. In all cases, the D-values of ATCC 29669 are between 20 and 50 times longer than those of B. atrophaeus ATCC 9372.     

Resistance of bacterial endospores to outer space for planetary protection purposes--experiment PROTECT of the EXPOSE-E mission

Spore-forming bacteria are of particular concern in the context of planetary protection because their tough endospores may withstand certain sterilization procedures as well as the harsh environments of outer space or planetary surfaces. To test their hardiness on a hypothetical mission to Mars, spores of Bacillus subtilis 168 and Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 were exposed for 1.5 years to selected parameters of space in the experiment PROTECT during the EXPOSE-E mission on board the International Space Station. Mounted as dry layers on spacecraft-qualified aluminum coupons, the "trip to Mars" spores experienced space vacuum, cosmic and extraterrestrial solar radiation, and temperature fluctuations, whereas the "stay on Mars" spores were subjected to a simulated martian environment that included atmospheric pressure and composition, and UV and cosmic radiation. The survival of spores from both assays was determined after retrieval. It was clearly shown that solar extraterrestrial UV radiation (λ≥110?nm) as well as the martian UV spectrum (λ≥200?nm) was the most deleterious factor applied; in some samples only a few survivors were recovered from spores exposed in monolayers. Spores in multilayers survived better by several orders of magnitude. All other environmental parameters encountered by the "trip to Mars" or "stay on Mars" spores did little harm to the spores, which showed about 50% survival or more. The data demonstrate the high chance of survival of spores on a Mars mission, if protected against solar irradiation. These results will have implications for planetary protection considerations.     

空间超高速撞击碎片云前端速度的预测模型

文章利用一组二级轻气炮发射2017-T4 铝质球形弹丸撞击6061-T6单层铝板的地面试验数据,通过选择适当的函数模型,采用多元函数拟合的方法,得到了碎片云前端速度与靶板厚度、弹丸直径和弹丸速度关系的三元二阶多项式模型。再用另外一组数据对该模型进行检验,验证了其对碎片云前端速度具有较好的预测效果。将以上两组数据同样用于建立“无量纲化”模型进行碎片云前端速度预测,并与前述多项式模型的预测结果进行比较发现,该多项式模型预测的方均根误差及平均相对误差均明显优于“无量纲化”模型。该多项式模型可用于预测空间碎片撞击航天器产生的碎片云的前端速度,有助于航天器的空间碎片防护设计。     

Development of multi-functional composite structures with embedded electronics for space application

Conventional spacecraft structural function has been limited to supporting loads and mounting avionics only. In contrast, the technology of ‘multi-functional structures’ can integrate thermal and electronic functions into the spacecraft’s inherent load-bearing capability. In addition, sufficient radiation shielding effectiveness can be provided for the anticipated mission environment. Utilizing this concept, the ratio of electrical functionality to spacecraft volume can be dramatically increased and significant mass savings can be obtained. In this paper, spacecraft electronics are miniaturized using advanced IT applications such as flexible circuitry, miniaturized components, featherweight connectors, and so on, that they can be easily embedded within a structural panel. A sandwich structural panel consists of an aluminum honeycomb core and lightweight CFRP facesheets. Integration of electronics is implemented within the panel by mounting electronics on a multi-layered composite enclosure with multi-materials. This composite enclosure provides a load-bearing, effective thermal conduction, radiation shielding capabilities and an available space for embedding electronics. A series of environmental tests and analyses is carried out to demonstrate that the flight hardware is qualified for the expected mission environments. This approach will be utilized for the advanced small satellite ‘STSAT-3’ to validate the multi-functional structures concept.     

支持航天器全时监控的中继卫星全景波束技术

针对中低轨航天器监控全时全域覆盖的特点，提出一种采用中继卫星多址返向全景波束联合相扫前向波束支持航天器在轨全时监控的模式。对该模式涉及的全景波束技术进行了仿真分析比较。结果表明，选用数字波束形成技术和1.5 dB交叠的波束构型形成全景波束，设计新的短报文和连续业务数据传输协议，分别用于航天器自身健康信息汇报和常规管控，链路预算余量高于3 dB，单颗中继卫星可服务不少于1000个短报文用户。为下一步全景波束演示验证试验和工程应用提供了参考依据。     

SATSIM—A real-time multi-satellite simulator for test and validation in formation flying projects

The satellite simulator SATSIM was developed during the experimental PRISMA multi-satellite formation flying project and was primarily aimed to validate the Guidance, Navigation and Control system (GNC) and the on-board software in a simulated real-time environment. The SATSIM system has as a main feature the ability to simulate sensors and actuators, spacecraft dynamics, intra-satellite communication protocols, environmental disturbances, solar illumination conditions as well as solar and lunar blinding. The core of the simulator consists of MATLAB/Simulink models of the spacecraft hardware and the space environment. The models run on a standard personal computer that in the simplest scenario may be connected to satellite controller boards through a CAN (Controller Area Network) data bus. SATSIM is, in conjunction with the RAMSES Test and Verification system, able to perform open-loop, hardware-in-the-loop as well as full-fledged closed-loop tests through the utilisation of peripheral sensor unit simulators. The PRISMA satellites were launched in June 2010 and the project is presently in its operational phase. This paper describes how a low cost but yet reliable simulator such as the SATSIM platform in different configurations has been used through the different phases of a multi-satellite project, from early test of onboard software running on satellite controller boards in a lab environment, to full-fledged closed-loop tests of satellite flight models.     

航天器供配电测试设备硬件模块化、软件配置化设计思路

目前我国各型号航天器地面供配电测试设备的互换性差,采用硬件模块化、软件配置化的设计思路,可以扩展系统硬件的使用范围、延长系统软件的生命周期,在某航天器的地面供配电测试设备研制中取得了较好的效果,这是对地面供配电测试设备通用化的有益尝试。     

泡沫铝板弯曲振动特性数值研究

泡沫铝作为一种新型轻质高强度材料,是通过气泡层形成的多孔金属材料。文章结合泡沫铝的结构特点,以Timoshenko梁理论为基础,建立了泡沫铝板弯曲振动的理论模型,求解得到了泡沫铝板弯曲振动频率与振幅变化曲线,并通过有限元仿真验证了理论分析结果。通过求解泡沫铝板的频率特性确认了载人航天器使用的泡沫铝板的频率远离舱体基础频率,满足航天总装使用要求。最后,对比分析了泡沫铝材料弹性模量及密度的变化对泡沫铝弯曲振动基频的影响。随着泡沫铝弹性模量的增加,泡沫铝板的基频逐渐增加;随着密度的增加,泡沫铝板的基频逐渐变小。因此,可以通过改变泡沫铝的材料参数得到不同频率特性的泡沫铝,以满足航天器不同总装工况的使用要求。     

航天器总装过程特种车辆运输问题的研究

文章针对航天器总装过程所涉及的特种车辆转运问题进行研究。通过对特种车辆种类和航天器各平台总装涉及特种车辆数量分析,提出集装箱运输方案并对集装箱进行设计、实施,取得了良好效果,同时指出集装箱化运输也是航天器工装运输的趋势。     

Survival of Bacillus pumilus spores for a prolonged period of time in real space conditions

To prevent forward contamination and maintain the scientific integrity of future life-detection missions, it is important to characterize and attempt to eliminate terrestrial microorganisms associated with exploratory spacecraft and landing vehicles. Among the organisms isolated from spacecraft-associated surfaces, spores of Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 exhibited unusually high resistance to decontamination techniques such as UV radiation and peroxide treatment. Subsequently, B. pumilus SAFR-032 was flown to the International Space Station (ISS) and exposed to a variety of space conditions via the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF). After 18 months of exposure in the EXPOSE facility of the European Space Agency (ESA) on EuTEF under dark space conditions, SAFR-032 spores showed 10-40% survivability, whereas a survival rate of 85-100% was observed when these spores were kept aboard the ISS under dark simulated martian atmospheric conditions. In contrast, when UV (>110?nm) was applied on SAFR-032 spores for the same time period and under the same conditions used in EXPOSE, a ～7-log reduction in viability was observed. A parallel experiment was conducted on Earth with identical samples under simulated space conditions. Spores exposed to ground simulations showed less of a reduction in viability when compared with the "real space" exposed spores (～3-log reduction in viability for "UV-Mars," and ～4-log reduction in viability for "UV-Space"). A comparative proteomics analysis indicated that proteins conferring resistant traits (superoxide dismutase) were present in higher concentration in space-exposed spores when compared to controls. Also, the first-generation cells and spores derived from space-exposed samples exhibited elevated UVC resistance when compared with their ground control counterparts. The data generated are important for calculating the probability and mechanisms of microbial survival in space conditions and assessing microbial contaminants as risks for forward contamination and in situ life detection.     

纳米铝粉的活性评价方法研究进展

综述了纳米铝粉活性的2类评价方法:单质铝含量法和热分析参数法.单质铝含量的测定方法主要有气体容量法、氧化还原滴定法、热重分析法和透射电镜分析法,其中氧化还原滴定法又可分为重铬酸钾滴定法、水溶剂高锰酸钾滴定法、非水溶剂高锰酸钾滴定法及硫酸高铈法.基于热分析参数的活性评价方法主要采用:氧化起始温度、最大氧化速率、一定温度范...     

空间高能质子对航天器材料损伤的仿真分析

近地空间是各种载人飞船、应用卫星、空间站的主要活动区域,区域内存在大量由地磁场捕获的高能带电粒子,严重影响航天器和航天员的安全。为此,需要对内辐射带低高度空间的高能带电粒子环境及其通量分布进行研究。如何对质子进行有效屏蔽对空间辐射防护有重要的研究意义。文章针对粒子在空间环境中的辐射,简要介绍了质子在空间环境中的分布情况及在物质中的传输问题。利用SRIM软件模拟质子在不同材料(铝、聚乙烯)中输运过程。根据得到的射程与能量关系及对阻止本领的分析,从理论上提出航天器防护的合理方案。     

基于深度学习的组合体航天器模型预测控制

利用模型预测算法先预测控制结果后控制的类人行为特点，借助深度学习在多参数寻优上的优势，提出了一种基于卷积神经网络的模型预测控制算法，满足航天工程低硬件需求，实现组合航天器多场景下姿态控制律的重构。该算法首先利用模型预测控制将组合航天器从初始状态控制到预期状态，然后将控制过程中状态量用于3层3核卷积神经网络的训练，训练完成后，用该卷积神经网络代替模型预测对组合航天器进行控制，从而降低计算资源需求。仿真校验表明：该算法可预测5个控制周期内的控制参数，相比传统模型预测算法所需硬件计算时间降低约5倍，在一般硬件环境下30 s内即可完成各场景下的组合航天器姿态控制，控制精度在10 -4 量级。     

新型整星隔振器隔振性能分析

对整星进行振动隔离是降低作用于卫星上振动载荷的有效方法。在不改变火箭及卫星现有结构条件下，设计新型圆盘隔振器来实现整星隔振。通过建立隔振器动力学方程及有限元模型，分析了卫星-圆盘隔振器耦合系统的复模态、振动传递率及不同阻尼对隔振效果的影响。结果表明，在不改变星箭结构条件下，新型圆盘隔振器能有效地隔离振动载荷。     

无机型磷酸盐胶粘剂粘贴工艺对于有效粘贴的影响研究

为了满足部分结构热试验对传感器的粘贴要求,研究分析了无机型Al(OH)<,3>与H<,3>PO<,4>混合的基底胶粘剂粘贴工艺,对胶粘剂有效粘贴试件的影响因素进行了理论分析和试验对比.结果表明表面处理工艺及适当的固化工艺有利于胶粘剂有效地将传感器粘贴在试件上.