Is the presence of oxygen on an exoplanet a reliable biosignature?

We revisit the validity of the presence of O(2) or O(3) in the atmosphere of a rocky planet as being a biosignature. Up to now, the false positive that has been identified applies to a planet during a hot greenhouse runaway, which is restricted to planets outside the habitable zone (HZ) of the star that are closer to the star. In this paper, we explore a new possibility based on abiotic photogeneration of O(2) at the surface of a planet that could occur inside the HZ. The search for such a process is an active field of laboratory investigation that has resulted from an ongoing interest in finding efficient systems with the capacity to harvest solar energy on Earth. Although such a process is energetically viable, we find it to be a very unlikely explanation for the observation of O(2) or O(3) in the atmosphere of a telluric exoplanet in the HZ. It requires an efficient photocatalyst to be present and abundant under natural planetary conditions, which appears unlikely according to our discussion of known mineral photochemical processes. In contrast, a biological system that synthesizes its constituents from abundant raw materials and energy has the inherent adaptation advantage to become widespread and dominant (Darwinist argument). Thus, O(2) appears to continue to be a good biosignature.     

Calcification and silicification: fossilization potential of cyanobacteria from stromatolites of Niuafo'ou's Caldera Lakes (Tonga) and implications for the early fossil record

Calcification and silicification processes of cyanobacterial mats that form stromatolites in two caldera lakes of Niuafo'ou Island (Vai Lahi and Vai Si'i) were evaluated, and their importance as analogues for interpreting the early fossil record are discussed. It has been shown that the potential for morphological preservation of Niuafo'ou cyanobacteria is highly dependent on the timing and type of mineral phase involved in the fossilization process. Four main modes of mineralization of cyanobacteria organic parts have been recognized: (i) primary early postmortem calcification by aragonite nanograins that transform quickly into larger needle-like crystals and almost totally destroy the cellular structures, (ii) primary early postmortem silicification of almost intact cyanobacterial cells that leave a record of spectacularly well-preserved cellular structures, (iii) replacement by silica of primary aragonite that has already recrystallized and obliterated the cellular structures, (iv) occasional replacement of primary aragonite precipitated in the mucopolysaccharide sheaths and extracellular polymeric substances by Al-Mg-Fe silicates. These observations suggest that the extremely scarce earliest fossil record may, in part, be the result of (a) secondary replacement by silica of primary carbonate minerals (aragonite, calcite, siderite), which, due to recrystallization, had already annihilated the cellular morphology of the mineralized microbiota or (b) relatively late primary silicification of already highly degraded and no longer morphologically identifiable microbial remains.     

美国空军卫星控制网和国防部其它地面支持系统

在设计卫星系统时,一个基本的但经常被忽视的领域是地面支持系统。地面支持系统的及早规划,可以和其它计划共用卫星支持能力,资源共享,从而节省计划开支。要达到这一目标,首先要了解其它地面支持系统的结构和能力。本文是关于地面支持系统的系列文章中的第一篇综述性文章,主要介绍美国军方地面支持系统,重点则是空军卫星控制网(AFSCN)。 空军卫星控制网是一个全球性的遥控、跟踪和通信系统,它为国防部的航天任务提供地面支持。本文介绍了该控制网的历史,描述了目前的情况,并说明了其支持不同卫星计划的途经。本文还介绍了该网的将来和正在考虑的几种系统结构。另外还谈到了海军和陆军的地面支持系统。     

对NASA指控中心软件测试度量的评定

软件度量用于软件开发过程和软件产品质量的评定。在NASA航天飞机指挥控制中心(MCC)改造(MCCU)工程的测试阶段,采用了五种度量,除一种度量之外,其它度量均提供了很有用的信息。根据我们的经验,我们建议在软件开发的测试阶段使用这些度量,同时提出另外的侯选度量供进一步研究。     

未来机载雷达可靠性和寿命周期成本的研究

目前还没有对未来机载雷达系统的可靠性和维修性的要求充分量化，但已经认识到需要对现有可靠性和可用性的标准进行较大的改进。     

Microbial survival rates of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under low temperature, low pressure, and UV-Irradiation conditions, and their relevance to possible Martian life

Viability rates were determined for microbial populations of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under the environmental stresses of low temperature (-35 degrees C), low-pressure conditions (83.3 kPa), and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (37 W/m(2)). During the stress tests the organisms were suspended in saltwater soil and freshwater soil media, at variable burial depths, and in seawater. Microbial populations of both organisms were most susceptible to dehydration stress associated with low-pressure conditions, and to UV irradiation. However, suspension in a liquid water medium and burial at larger depths (5 cm) improved survival rates markedly. Our results indicate that planetary surfaces that possess little to no atmosphere and have low water availability do not constitute a favorable environment for terrestrial microorganisms.     

美国国防部有关GPS在试验和训练靶场的应用计划

美国国防部着手组建的NAVSTAR GPS(图1)可为装备用户设备的运动体提供高精度位置、速度和时间信息。该项研究计划一开始注重GPS的战术和战略应用。目前,国防部已认识到GPS应用于靶场跟踪的潜力。本文介绍了GPS应用于国家试验和训练靶场的国防部计划。     

加拿大国家研究院(NRC)的时间传递工作

加拿大的CHU分别以3.330兆赫(3千瓦)、7.335兆赫(10千瓦)和14.670兆赫(3千瓦)的频率连续进行广播。每分钟用法语和英语报时,而它的第31个至第39个秒脉冲用频移键控(FSK)时间码发播。加拿大广播公司每天在历书时中午12点用它们的法语线路,而在每天历书时下午1点用它们的英语线路向全加拿大广播NRC的时间信号。在直接远距离拔号(DDD)的电话线路上,可以用法语和英语询问通话时钟(Talking Clocks)。在具有三重冗余码(triply redundant Code)发生器和逻辑电路的DDD电话线路上也可以使用FSK码,以保证不出错码。已研制出一种原型遥控钟,它能测量并校正由于遥远位置产生的延迟,甚至通过卫星也能保证毫秒的精度。利用“交响乐”卫星进行的双路卫星时间传递实验,在与法国实验了四年,与德国实验了两年之后,于1983年7月1日结束。在NRC时间实验室附近建设了两座带有3米天线、功率为1瓦的卫星地面站。采用低功率连续波音调,通过加拿大Anik通讯卫星用6/4GHz的商用频段进行的双向传输实验,取得了亚毫微秒的精度。正在计划进行伪随机噪声码(Prn Code)的传输实验。