X-Ray Observations of Powerful AGN Outflows

Highly ionised winds with velocities ～0.1–0.2c were first detected in X-ray spectra of non-BAL AGN a decade ago. Subsequent observations and archival searches have shown such winds to be a common feature of luminous AGN, increasing the belief that powerful ionised winds have a wider importance in galaxy feedback models. Paradoxically, for the best-quantified high velocity outflow (the luminous Seyfert PG1211+143) the wind appears too powerful to be compatible with the observed stellar bulge and black hole masses, suggesting the energy coupling of wind to bulge gas must be inefficient. A recent XMM-Newton observation of the narrow line Seyfert NGC 4051 offers an explanation of this apparent paradox, finding evidence for the fast ionised wind to lose most of its kinetic energy after shocking against the ISM. Importantly, the wind momentum is maintained through such a shock, supporting the view that a momentum-driven flow provides the critical link between black hole and stellar bulge growth implied by the observed M–σ relationship.     

Solar and stellar seismology

This article reviews solar and stellar seismology, with emphasis on the enormous progress which has been made recently in the observation and understanding of solar p-modes. Precision measurements of p-mode frequencies and frequency splittings allow a greater understanding of the structure of the solar interior, while p-mode amplitudes and linewidths shed light on the mode excitation mechanism, which is probably stochastic excitation by turbulent convection. The prospects for making similar measurements on other stars are also discussed.     

基于Kriging模型插值的孔位修正策略

飞机装配时的孔位精度直接影响其最终装配质量，而待制孔零件易发生变形和整体偏移，因此一般通过基准孔信息对待制孔位进行补偿。提出一种基于Kriging插值的孔位修正方法，通过基准孔建立孔位理论坐标与实际偏差值的Kriging模型，进而预测待制孔的孔位偏差，并给出每个位置的预测标准误差，以指导基准孔的增添和布置。最后通过有限元和数值实验分别验证了零件在极限变形和整体平移旋转情况下该方法的有效性，实现了孔位估计误差小于0.3 mm。     

Conversations with Rep. Ken Calvert. Interview by Frank Sietzen Jr

Rep. Calvert, chair of the House aeronautics and space subcommittee of the Science Committee, answers questions related to priorities for space in the current congressional session: the Vision for Space Exploration, development of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and other heavy-lift launch vehicles, entrepreneurial alliances in the space transportation industry, the U.S. aerospace industry, space tourism, entrepreneurs and NASA, U.S. aeronautics research, a service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, and priority military space programs.     

Planetary protection on international waters: An onboard protocol for capsule retrieval and biosafety control in sample return mission

Planetary protection has been recognized as one of the most important issues in sample return missions that may host certain living forms and biotic signatures in a returned sample. This paper proposes an initiative of sample capsule retrieval and onboard biosafety protocol in international waters for future biological and organic constituent missions to bring samples from possible habitable bodies in the solar system. We suggest the advantages of international waters being outside of national jurisdiction and active regions of human and traffic affairs on the condition that we accept the Outer Space Treaty. The scheme of onboard biological quarantine definitely reduces the potential risk of back-contamination of extraterrestrial materials to the Earth.     

A preliminary survey of non-lichenized fungi cultured from the hyperarid Atacama Desert of Chile

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest environments on Earth, and has been so for over 200,000 years. Previous reports have suggested that surprisingly low numbers of culturable bacteria, counted as biomass or species diversity, are present in Atacama sands collected from the most hyperarid regions. In previous studies, the presence of eukaryotic organisms was not discussed. In this report, we describe a method of direct plating onto rich media that resulted in culturing a range of fungi from Atacama samples. All fungi identified in this preliminary survey are spore-forming saprobes that are readily dispersed by wind, a likely mechanism that accounts for their presence in the central Atacama Desert.     

Mercury Dust Monitor (MDM) Onboard the Mio Orbiter of the BepiColombo Mission

Space Science Reviews - In this chapter, we review the contribution of space missions to the determination of the elemental and isotopic composition of Earth, Moon and the terrestrial planets, with...     

基于多级等压混合的引射器参数匹配与优化

匹配和优化多级等压混合引射器的各项参数,得到理想的引射器增压比和引射效率,目的是提高多级等压混合引射器性能。通过数学分析和实验,研究了单级引射器参数变化对性能的影响,明确了多级等压混合引射器级数的确定原则,对影响单级引射器性能的参数在多级中进行了匹配和优化,表明引射马赫数、被引射气体温度、单级引射器引射系数和增压比匹配与优化后,能显著提升多级等压混合引射器性能。