Steady course for civil space in 2002

Total expenditures for space activities by civilian governments totaled $20.3 billion in 2002. National summaries by expenditure and type of flight are provided.     

ATS-6 Radio Frequency Interference Measurement Experiment

The frequency band from 5.925 to 6.425 GHz is served by fixed satellites and by terrestrial microwave links. There is a possibility of microwave links pointed at the horizon causing interference to the uplinks of domestic and international communications satellites sharing the same frequency band. A mathematical model has been derived for predicting the fields at geostationary orbit based on the known characteristics and known distribution of the terrestrial microwave relay system. The Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6) is sensitive to signals in the range of 10 dBW radiated in the direction of the satellite. Signals in the range of 10-30 dBW have been recorded over various parts of the United States.     

An examination of the carbon isotope effects associated with amino acid biosynthesis

Stable carbon isotope ratios (delta(13)C) were determined for alanine, proline, phenylalanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartate (aspartic acid and asparagine), glutamate (glutamic acid and glutamine), lysine, serine, glycine, and threonine from metabolically diverse microorganisms. The microorganisms examined included fermenting bacteria, organotrophic, chemolithotrophic, phototrophic, methylotrophic, methanogenic, acetogenic, acetotrophic, and naturally occurring cryptoendolithic communities from the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Here we demonstrated that reactions involved in amino acid biosynthesis can be used to distinguish amino acids formed by life from those formed by nonbiological processes. The unique patterns of delta(13)C imprinted by life on amino acids produced a biological bias. We also showed that, by applying discriminant function analysis to the delta(13)C value of a pool of amino acids formed by biological activity, it was possible to identify key aspects of intermediary carbon metabolism in the microbial world. In fact, microorganisms examined in this study could be placed within one of three metabolic groups: (1) heterotrophs that grow by oxidizing compounds containing three or more carbon-to-carbon bonds (fermenters and organotrophs), (2) autotrophs that grow by taking up carbon dioxide (chemolitotrophs and phototrophs), and (3) acetoclastic microbes that grow by assimilation of formaldehyde or acetate (methylotrophs, methanogens, acetogens, and acetotrophs). Furthermore, we demonstrated that cryptoendolithic communities from Antarctica grouped most closely with the autotrophs, which indicates that the dominant metabolic pathways in these communities are likely those utilized for CO(2 )fixation. We propose that this technique can be used to determine the dominant metabolic types in a community and reveal the overall flow of carbon in a complex ecosystem.     

A simplified theory of ELF propagation in the Earth-ionosphere transmission line

An approximate theory of ELF propagation in the Earth-ionosphere transmission line is developed by combining the reflection theory of Booker and Lefeuvre (1977) with Greifinger and Greiferinger's (1978, 1979) treatment of the effect of ionization below the level of reflection. The theory allows for the influence of the Earth's magnetic field, for reflection from the gradient on the underside of the D region (or, at night, of a ledge below the E region), for reflection from the gradient on the underside of the E region, and for reflection from the gradient on the topside of the E region. The procedure is to compare local vertical gradient with local wavelength, thereby classifying altitude into intervals where the gradient is high and ones where it is low. Where the gradient is low, the phase-integral treatment is adequate. An interval where the gradient is high may, to a first approximation, be replaced by a discontinuity. The amount of the discontinuity is the difference between the refractive indices at the top and bottom of the interval of high gradient, judged in relation to local wavelength. It is then a matter of combining reflections from the several discontinuities. This requires calculation of the complex phase-changes between the discontinuities. But these are the intervals where the phase-integral treatment is available. To a beter approximation, there is a non-zero phase-change associated with an interval of high gradient. The method for incorporating this is described.     

Observational evidence for the binary model of X-ray bursters

Most, but not all, theoretical models of X-ray bursters require a binary system consisting of a mass donating star and a neutron star. The observational evidence in support of this model, however, is both indirect and meager. We have detected absorption dips in the X-ray spectrum of the Burster MXB 1916-05 with the IPC and the MPC on the Einstein Observatory which occur with a binary period of 2985 seconds. These dips are shown to be the result of a gas stream emanating from a companion star and hence this data represents the first direct evidence of the binary nature of X-ray bursters. Detailed models of the interaction of the gas stream with the accretion disk are presented. A 22nd mag. optical candidate for the system has been found.     

飞机维修中人工成本的变化

<正>成本因素导致飞机机体大修业务被外包到海外。世界各地的机体维修工时费的差距正在减小,未来机体维修又将产生哪些变化呢?飞机维修成本占航空公司总成本的15%。人工成本在飞机大修成本中约占70%。因此削减人工成本是航空     

Space solar array reliability: A study and recommendations

Providing reliable power over the anticipated mission life is critical to all satellites; therefore solar arrays are one of the most vital links to satellite mission success. Furthermore, solar arrays are exposed to the harshest environment of virtually any satellite component. In the past 10 years 117 satellite solar array anomalies have been recorded with 12 resulting in total satellite failure. Through an in-depth analysis of satellite anomalies listed in the Airclaim's Ascend SpaceTrak database, it is clear that solar array reliability is a serious, industry-wide issue. Solar array reliability directly affects the cost of future satellites through increased insurance premiums and a lack of confidence by investors. Recommendations for improving reliability through careful ground testing, standardization of testing procedures such as the emerging AIAA standards, and data sharing across the industry will be discussed. The benefits of creating a certified module and array testing facility that would certify in-space reliability will also be briefly examined. Solar array reliability is an issue that must be addressed to both reduce costs and ensure continued viability of the commercial and government assets on orbit.     

新一代飞机将给维修供应链带来冲击

<正>机体制造商对于新一代飞机供应链所做的策略调整已经影响到售后服务市场的格局。在此调整的过程中航空产业链中的各方都面临着巨大的挑战,制造商通过业务集成加大对售后服务市场的掌控,但管理其庞大的内部业务远比想象中更困难,维修企业则面临更加激烈的市场竞争。在新一代波音787和空客A350飞机的研制过程中,波音公司和空客公司开始将更多地设计和制造工作转移给系统或部件供应商,这一转变同样也映射到了售后服务市场,影响到售后服务市场的格局,其中独立维修企业的感触最深。在售后服务市场中,负责集成和总     

The X-ray structure of nearby galaxy clusters

The combination of the large effective area and the very low internal background of the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter provides an extremely sensitive instrument for the study of diffuse X-ray sources. In this paper we review new results on the X-ray structure of nearby clusters as measured with ROSAT. Substructure is a common feature in these objects. Such structure provides evidence that clusters have formed relatively recently through mergers of relatively large subunits. This behavior is predicted by hierarchical formation theories in a dense universe.     

数字化培训

更安全、更好、更快、更廉价不仅仅是对维修生产的要求,同时也适用于维修人员的培训。为此,需要开发新的培训工具。这些工具通过改进后变得更为灵活和功能强大。