Oxygen requirement of germinating flax seeds.

Plant experiments in earth orbit are typically prepared on the ground and germinated in orbit to study gravity effects on the developing seedlings. Germination requires the breakdown of storage compounds, and this metabolism depends upon respiration, making oxygen one of the limiting factors in seed germination. In microgravity lack of run-off of excess water requires careful testing of water dispensation and oxygen availability. In preparation for a shuttle experiment (MICRO on STS-107) we studied germination and growth of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seedlings in the developed hardware (Magnetic Field Chamber, MFC). We tested between four to 32 seeds per chamber (air volume=14 mL) and after 36 h measured the root length. At 90 microliters O2 per seed (32 seeds/chamber), the germination decreased from 94 to 69%, and the root length was reduced by 20%, compared to 8 seeds per chamber. Based on the percent germination and root length obtained in controlled gas mixtures between 3.6 and 21.6% O2 we determined the lower limit of reliable germination to be 10 vol. % O2 at atmospheric pressure. Although the oxygen available in the MFC's can support the intended number of seeds, the data show that seed storage and microgravity-related limitations may reduce germination.     

The Rate of Single Event Upsets in Electronic Circuits onboard Spacecraft

Models and methods in use for quantitative estimates of the occurrence of single event upsets in microchips of orbiting spacecraft are considered. A calculation and experimental technique for determining the rate of these effects is described, taking into account spatial and temporal distributions of the fluxes of high-energy particles in the space and their penetration through protective shields. Examples of its application for the orbit of the International Space Station are presented.     

Nonlinear Evolution of a Balloon Satellite Orbit

The motion of a spherically symmetric balloon satellite near the equatorial plane is considered. Taking the Earth's oblateness and solar light pressure into account, the integral of motion can be obtained under certain simplifications. The eccentricity is related to the solar angle which represents an angle between pericenter and the Sun. This analytical approximation describes a large and complicated evolution of the eccentricity in corresponding areas of the phase space and the space of parameters. Phase portraits contain fixed saddle points and separatrices that divide different types of oscillations of the eccentricity. In the unsimplified problem, separatrices break down, and specific stochastic motions arise. The aims of the present study are (1) evaluation of the accuracy of analytical approximation with the help of numerical integration using a sufficiently complete model of motion and (2) numerical investigation of stochastic motions and dimensions of stochastic zones in the region of broken separatrices for an adequate model of motion. For a balloon satellite with a semimajor axis of 2.15 Earth's radii and a windage of 30 cm²/g the dimensions of a stochastic zone in eccentricity and solar angle are 10^–5and 0.1°, respectively. The analytical approximation describes the orbit evolution in the right way, except for the cases of large eccentricities, e> 0.4, which corresponds to a pericenter height of less than 1400 km, where the atmospheric drag is already significant.     

Solar particle dynamics during magnetic storms of July 23–27, 2004

It is a case study of a chain of three magnetic storms with a special attention to the particle dynamics based on CORONAS-F and SERVIS-1 low altitude satellite measurements. Solar proton penetration inside the polar cap and inner magnetosphere and dynamics at different phases of the magnetic storms was studied. We found, that solar protons were captured to the inner radiation belt at the recovery phase of the first and the second magnetic storms and additionally accelerated during the last one. No evidence of sudden commencement (SC) particle injection was found. Enhanced solar proton belt intensity with small pitch angles decreased slowly during satellite orbits for 30 days until the next magnetic storm. Then in 20–30 h we registered strong precipitation of these protons followed by the trapped proton flux dropout. Intensity decrease was more pronounced at lower altitudes and higher particle energies.     

Radial two-stage microturbine for pneumatic actuation

An innovative kinematic scheme of pneumatic turbine drive was proposed and the use of two-row centrifugal-centripetal turbine stage was justified. We proved the feasibility of the proposed kinematic scheme of the turbine drive in a variety of aircraft components by an example of the manual pneumatic grinding machine.     

Estimates of radiation effect for a spacecraft on the Earth-Mars-Earth route.

The space radiation environment predicted for a spacecraft on the Earth-Mars-Earth route at different solar activity levels is analyzed in terms of the Russian-devised models.     

Empirical model of pitch-angle distributions of trapped protons on the inner boundary of the Earth’s radiation belt

We have made a generalization of experimental data on the fluxes of trapped protons that were detected by various instruments on three low-orbit satellites (NOAA-17, Universitetskii-Tatiana, and CORONAS-F) during April of 2005. Based on these data, a new quantitative model is suggested to describe the fluxes of trapped protons. It allows one, using analytical expressions, to predict the fluxes of protons with energy from 30 keV to 140 MeV under quiet geomagnetic conditions in the period close to the solar activity minimum at drift shells L = 1.14–1.4. The suggested model establishes differential directional fluxes of protons as a function of pitchangle on the geomagnetic equator and takes into account the anisotropy of trapped particles on the lower boundary of the Earth’s radiation belt.     

Catalogue of gamma-bursts detected by the Soviet-French experiment “signe 2M” (Venera-11, 12 and Prognoz-7)

This catalogue includes 49 confirmed gamma-ray bursts recorded by the Signe-2M experiment over the period September 1978 – January 1980. This Soviet-French experiment was launched on the three Soviet spacecraft Venera-11, Venera-12, and PROGNOZ-7. The PROGNOZ-7 spacecraft recorded bursts from November 1978 to May 1979. The Venera interplanetary spacecraft operated with short interruptions.The catalogue gives the histories of selected bursts with a time resolution of 1/64 s, which have never appeared in the literature. These time histories demonstrate the difference between and temporal peculiarities of these events. Table 1 summarizes precise burst arrival times at the spacecraft and the coordinates of the spacecraft at those times.     

Influence of Space-Flight Factors on the Properties of Microorganisms, Producers of Biologically Active Substances

The following substances were isolated under the influence of space-flight factors in cosmic experiments aboard the Mirorbital station: an MIB-90 monoisolant, which is distinguished by its morphological and biochemical properties and enhanced productivity, was isolated from the Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. Kurstaki var. Z-52culture, which is a producer of the plant protection agent Lepidocide; and MIA-74 and MIP-89 monoisolants, which are highly active toward heavy petroleum fractions (C₂₃–C₃₃), were isolated from the Arthrobacter OC-1culture, which is a producer of biodegradants for petroleum.     

Fluid and salt supplementation effect on body hydration and electrolyte homeostasis during bed rest and ambulation

Bed rest (BR) induces significant urinary and blood electrolyte changes, but little is known about the effect of fluid and salt supplements (FSS) on catabolism, hydration and electrolytes. The aim was to measure the effect of FSS on catabolism, body hydration and electrolytes during BR.

Studies were done during 7 days of a pre-bed rest period and during 30 days of a rigorous bed rest period. Thirty male athletes aged, 24.6±7.6 years were chosen as subjects. They were divided into three groups: unsupplemented ambulatory control subjects (UACS), unsupplemented bed rested subjects (UBRS) and supplemented bed rested subjects (SBRS). The UBRS and SBRS groups were kept under a rigorous bed rest regime for 30 days. The SBRS daily took 30 ml water per kg body weight and 0.1 sodium chloride per kg body weight.

Plasma sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels, urinary Na, K, Ca and Mg excretion, plasma osmolality, plasma protein level, whole blood hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) level increased significantly (p≤0.05), while plasma volume (PV), body weight, body fat, peak oxygen uptake, food and fluid intake decreased significantly (p≤0.05) in the UBRS group when compared with the SBRS and UACS groups. In contrast, plasma and urinary electrolytes, osmolality, protein level, whole blood Hct and Hb level decreased significantly (p≤0.05), while PV, fluid intake, body weight and peak oxygen uptake increased significantly (p≤0.05) in the SBRS group when compared with the UBRS group. The measured parameters did not change significantly in the UACS group when compared with their baseline control values.

The data indicate that FSS stabilizes electrolytes and body hydration during BR, while BR alone induces significant changes in electrolytes and body hydration. We conclude that FSS may be used to prevent catabolism and normalize body hydration status and electrolyte values during BR.