Low-cost solutions for Martian base

Technical and architectural problems of a Martian base have been arised in many publications. Usually there is one solution described in detail or general classification is presented. In this paper, a recognition of low-cost solutions for Martian architecture is analyzed. The overview through various building techniques based on previous concepts of extraterrestrial architecture is summarized. Several solutions taking advantages of the shape of terrain, aiming for cost decreasing of human settlement on Mars are proposed.     

Bacterial survival in response to desiccation and high humidity at above zero and subzero temperatures

Earthly microorganisms might have contaminated Mars for millions of years by intellectual activities or natural transfer. Knowledge on the preservation of microorganisms may help our searching for life on outer planets, particularly Mars-contaminated earthly microorganisms at ancient time. Extreme dryness is one of the current Mars characteristics. However, a humid or watery Mars at earlier time was suggested by evidence accumulated in recent decades. It raises the question that whether water helps preservation of the microorganisms or not, particularly those with high possibility of interplanetary transfer like spores and Deinococci. In this study, we examined the effects of desiccation and high humidity on survival and DNA double strand breaks (DSB) of Escherichia coli, Deinococcus radiodurans and spores of Bacillus pumilus at 25, 4 and −70 °C. They exhibited different survival rates and DSB patterns under desiccation and high humidity. Higher survival and less DSB occurred at lower temperature. We suggest that some Mars-contaminated bacteria might have been viably preserved on cold Mars regions for long periods, regardless of water availability. It is more likely to find ancient spores than ancient Deinococci on Mars. In our search for preserved extraterrestrial life, priority should be given to the Mars Polar Regions.     

Thermo-mechanical design and testing of a microbalance for space applications

This work focuses on the thermo-mechanical design of the microbalance used for the VISTA (Volatile In Situ Thermogravimetry Analyzer) sensor. VISTA has been designed to operate in situ in different space environments (asteroids, Mars, icy satellites). In this paper we focus on its application on Mars, where the expected environmental conditions are the most challenging for the thermo-mechanical design.     

火星进入气体辐射加热研究进展

针对飞行器进入火星大气时气体辐射加热对防热设计带来不确定性，在简述火星探测和气体辐射研究的发展历程的基础上，对火星进入气体辐射加热研究的进展进行综述。首先，针对火星大气环境描述了气体辐射加热的概念和问题由来。其次，重点综述了近年来火星进入气体辐射加热基础模型的数值和试验研究进展，其中包括：热化学非平衡气体动力学、气体辐射特性和辐射传输的计算模型与方法等数值研究；地面测试设备、试验技术和模拟火星大气环境的气体辐射测量与验证等试验研究。再次，综述了流动辐射耦合和后体气体辐射加热等火星进入器设计方面开展的研究。最后，对未来火星进入气体辐射加热研究进行了展望，提出了研究建议。     

火星探测降落伞模型高速风洞变迎角试验技术

为获得火星探测器物伞系统动力学仿真中需要使用的降落伞轴向力、法向力、俯仰力矩系数，开展了火星探测降落伞模型高速风洞变迎角试验技术研究，研制了火星探测降落伞模型高速风洞变迎角试验装置，进行了火星探测降落伞模型高速风洞变迎角试验，获得了火星探测降落伞模型在马赫数范围0.4～0.8、迎角范围0°～25°时的轴向力、法向力和俯仰力矩系数，并对支撑干扰及洞壁干扰影响进行了扣除修正。试验结果表明：火星探测降落伞模型的轴向力系数随迎角变化较小；常规透气伞的法向力系数随迎角增大而增大，在马赫数为0.4和0.6时，低透气伞的法向力系数在小迎角时随迎角增大而减小；在马赫数范围0.4～0.8时，常规透气伞静稳定，低透气伞的静稳定性较常规透气伞减小，在马赫数为0.4和0.6时，低透气伞在零迎角时静不稳定，出现了非零配平 迎角。     

火星进入器作强迫震荡运动壁面脉动压力数值模拟

为研究超声速阶段进入器作强迫震荡运动对壁面脉动压力环境的影响规律，本文耦合进入器刚体运动方程与流体力学方程，采用动网格技术，对火星进入器模型开展非定常数值模拟，获取壁面不同位置处的脉动压力信息。研究表明：在超声速阶段，进入器作强迫震荡运动诱导的脉动压力远大于进入器保持相对静止时仅由非定常流动诱导的脉动压力。来流马赫数为1.2时，进入器作强迫震荡运动对脱体激波影响较小，脱体激波强度较弱且形态变化较小，攻角的震荡导致同一测点距离脱体激波的位置发生周期性改变，舱体迎风面及配平翼迎风面的脉动压力环境主要受攻角变化的影响；来流马赫数为3时，进入器作强迫震荡运动对脱体激波的影响较大，脱体激波震荡剧烈，诱导舱体迎风面及配平翼迎风面产生极其恶劣的脉动压力环境，功率谱分析表明激波震荡诱导的脉动压力能量主要集中在30 Hz左右。     

Soil carbon distribution and site characteristics in hyper-arid soils of the Atacama Desert: A site with Mars-like soils

The soil carbon content and its relation to site characteristics are important in evaluating current local, regional, and global soil C storage and projecting future variations in response to climate change. In this study we analyzed the concentration of organic and inorganic carbon and their relationship with in situ climatic and geological characteristics in 485 samples of surface soil and 17 pits from the hyper-arid area and 51 samples with 2 pits from the arid–semiarid region from the Atacama Desert located in Peru and Chile. The soil organic carbon (SOC) in hyperarid soils ranged from 1.8 to 50.9 μg C per g of soil for the 0–0.1 m profile and from 1.8 to 125.2 μg C per g of soil for the 0–1 m profile. The analysis of climatic (temperature and precipitation), elevation, and some geologic characteristics (landforms) associated with hyper-arid soils explained partially the SOC variability. On the other hand, soil inorganic carbon (SIC) contents, in the form of carbonates, ranged from 200 to 1500 μg C per g of soil for the 0–0.1 m profile and from 200 to 3000 μg C per g of soil for the 0–1.0 m profile in the driest area. The largest accumulations of organic and inorganic carbon were found near to arid–semiarid areas. In addition, the elemental carbon concentrations show that the presence of other forms of inorganic carbon (e.g. graphite, etc.) was negligible in these hyperarid soils. Overall, the top 1 m soil layer of hyperarid lands contains ∼11.6 Tg of organic carbon and 344.6 Tg of carbonate carbon. The total stored carbon was 30.8-fold the organic carbon alone. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the total budget carbon on the surface and shallow subsurface on ∼160,000 km² of hyperarid soils.     

Spectroscopic evaluation of polyurea crosslinked aerogels,as a substitute for RTV-based chromatic calibration targets for spacecraft

Room temperature vulcanizing (RTV)-based components have been used on Mars Pathfinder, the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, as well as the Phoenix Lander as a support matrix for pigmented panoramic camera calibration targets. RTV 655 has demonstrated superiority to other polymers due to its unique range of material properties namely mechanical stability between −115 and 204 °C and UV radiation tolerance. As a result, it has been the number one choice for many space-related missions. However, due to the high mass density and the natural tendency for electrostatic charging RTV materials have caused complications by attracting and retaining dust particles (Sabri et al., 2008). In the current project we have investigated the relevant properties of polymer-reinforced (crosslinked) silica aerogels with the objective of substituting RTV-based calibration targets with an aerogel based design. The lightweight, mechanical strength, ability to accept color pigments, and extremely low dust capture makes polyurea crosslinked aerogels a strong candidate as a chromatic standard for extraterrestrial missions. For this purpose, the reflection spectra, gravimetric analysis, and low temperature response of metal oxide pigmented, polyurea crosslinked silica aerogels have been investigated and reported here.     

Applying fuzzy bi-dimensional scenario-based model to the assessment of Mars mission architecture scenarios

Sending man to Mars has been a long-held dream of humankind. NASA plans human planetary explorations using approaches that are technically feasible, have reasonable risks and have relatively low costs. This study presents a novel Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) model for evaluating a range of potential mission scenarios for the human exploration of Mars. The three alternatives identified by the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) include split mission, combo lander and dual scenarios. The proposed framework subsumes the following key methods: first, the conjunction method is used to minimize the number of alternative mission scenarios; second, the Fuzzy Risk Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (RFMEA) is used to analyze the potential failure of the alternative scenarios; third, the fuzzy group Real Option Analysis (ROA) is used to estimate the expected costs and benefits of the alternative scenarios; and fourth, the fuzzy group permutation approach is used to select the optimal mission scenario. We present the results of a case study at NASA’s Johnson Space center to demonstrate: (1) the complexity of mission scenario selection involving subjective and objective judgments provided by multiple space exploration experts; and (2) a systematic and structured method for aggregating quantitative and qualitative data concerning a large number of competing and conflicting mission events.     

载人火星探测进展及其EDL过程GNC关键技术

随着火星探测技术的不断发展和探测任务的不断推进，载人火星探测在未来将会成为火星探测的重要手段。首先，回顾了无人火星探测任务的发展历程，对比分析了部分无人火星探测器进入、下降与着陆（EDL）过程的参数。然后，结合无人火星探测、载人月球探测和载人航天再入过程，梳理了载人火星探测的特点及需求，系统地总结了前苏联/俄罗斯和美国的载人火星探测研究进展以及技术储备。接着，归纳了载人火星探测的体系构成、集结方式和主要的技术挑战。最后，概括了载人火星EDL过程面临的难题，重点阐述了EDL的导航、制导与控制（GNC）关键技术。