The Martian and extraterrestrial UV radiation environment--1. Biological and closed-loop ecosystem considerations

The Martian surface is exposed to both UVC radiation (<280 nm) and higher doses of UVB (280-315 nm) compared to the surface of the Earth. Terrestrial organisms have not evolved to cope with such high levels of UVC and UVB and thus any attempts to introduce organisms to Mars, particularly in closed-loop life support systems that use ambient sunlight, must address this problem. Here we examine the UV radiation environment of Mars with respect to biological systems. Action spectra and UV surface fluxes are used to estimate the UV stress that both DNA and chloroplasts would experience. From this vantage point it is possible to consider appropriate measures to address the problem of the Martian UV environment for future long term human exploration and settlement strategies. Some prospects for improving the UV tolerance of organisms are also discussed. Existing artificial ecosystems such as Biosphere 2 can provide some insights into design strategies pertinent to high UV environments. Some prospects for improving the UV tolerance of organisms are also discussed. The data also have implications for the establishment of closed-loop ecosystems using natural sunlight on the lunar surface and elsewhere in the Solar System.     

星间链路发射机时延零值的数字标定算法

The traditional absolute calibration based on oscilloscopic observation is not suitable for crosslink transmitter. A new calibration algorithm is developed by using a digital signal processing technique. The output signal of crosslink transmitter and the pulse per second signal are sampled in synchronization. At first, the delay reference is determined according to straight line fitting for the signal level stepping segment. The sampling data of crosslink transmitting signal is decimated and then phase acquisition processing is made to determine the initial synchronization point. A fine search for the start of the pseudo random code has been processed between front and rear of the initial synchronization point. Finally, the transmitter delay can be obtained according to the sampling frequency and the calibration delay of the test cable and attenuator. Compared with the oscilloscopic observation method, the analysis and test results show that the proposed technique has overcome the faults caused by whole chip ambiguity and the calibration accuracy can be improved by an order of magnitude.     

Superluminous supernovae: no threat from eta Carinae

Recently, Supernova 2006gy was noted as the most luminous ever recorded, with a total radiated energy of approximately 10(44) Joules. It was proposed that the progenitor may have been a massive evolved star similar to eta Carinae, which resides in our own Galaxy at a distance of about 2.3 kpc. eta Carinae appears ready to detonate. Although it is too distant to pose a serious threat as a normal supernova, and given that its rotation axis is unlikely to produce a gamma-ray burst oriented toward Earth, eta Carinae is about 30,000 times nearer than 2006gy, and we re-evaluate it as a potential superluminous supernova. We have found that, given the large ratio of emission in the optical to the X-ray, atmospheric effects are negligible. Ionization of the atmosphere and concomitant ozone depletion are unlikely to be important. Any cosmic ray effects should be spread out over approximately 10(4) y and similarly unlikely to produce any serious perturbation to the biosphere. We also discuss a new possible effect of supernovae-e-ndocrine disruption induced by blue light near the peak of the optical spectrum. This is a possibility for nearby supernovae at distances too large to be considered "dangerous" for other reasons. However, due to reddening and extinction by the interstellar medium, eta Carinae is unlikely to trigger such effects to any significant degree.     

高超声速飞行器强鲁棒自适应控制器设计新方法

针对高超声速飞行器飞行过程系统参数大范围剧烈变化以及存在严重不确定性的特点,同时考虑外界环境干扰复杂,内部干扰严重的特殊问题,提出了一种新型强鲁棒自适应控制器构型。该新型强鲁棒自适应控制器将控制器分为标称控制器和补偿控制器。标称控制器可采用成熟的控制理论来设计,主要考虑闭环系统的性能;采用合适的手段估计系统参数大范围剧烈变化、系统的不确定性以及内、外部干扰等“系统扰动”作为补偿控制器的输入,通过设计强鲁棒补偿控制器对“系统扰动”进行补偿,使整个闭环控制系统对“系统扰动”具有强鲁棒性。将新型强鲁棒自适应控制器应用于高超声速飞行器的姿态控制系统的设计,大大提高了高超声速飞行器控制系统对内、外部干扰的抑制和对系统参数大范围剧烈变化以及严重不确定性的适应能力,可满足高超声速飞行器飞行控制的需求。     

空间信息网络的中断容忍路由策略

在大规模空间信息网络中,频繁的星间链路(Inter-satellite link,ISL)切换会导致业务中断.与地面网络相比,传统的分布式/集中式路由策略的路由收敛时间过长,其原因是星间链路时延和链路状态同步时间长.在路由收敛过程中,由于缺乏最新的链路状态信息,可能会导致严重的丢包.考虑到卫星星座的星间链路切换是可预测...     

Astrophysical ionizing radiation and Earth: a brief review and census of intermittent intense sources

Cosmic radiation backgrounds are a constraint on life, and their distribution will affect the Galactic Habitable Zone. Life on Earth has developed in the context of these backgrounds, and characterizing event rates will elaborate the important influences. This in turn can be a base for comparison with other potential life-bearing planets. In this review, we estimate the intensities and rates of occurrence of many kinds of strong radiation bursts by astrophysical entities, ranging from gamma-ray bursts at cosmological distances to the Sun itself. Many of these present potential hazards to the biosphere; on timescales long compared with human history, the probability of an event intense enough to disrupt life on the land surface or in the oceans becomes large. Both photons (e.g., X-rays) and high-energy protons and other nuclei (often called "cosmic rays") constitute hazards. For either species, one of the mechanisms that comes into play even at moderate intensities is the ionization of Earth's atmosphere, which leads through chemical changes (specifically, depletion of stratospheric ozone) to increased ultraviolet B flux from the Sun reaching the surface. UVB is extremely hazardous to most life due to its strong absorption by the genetic material DNA and subsequent breaking of chemical bonds. This often leads to mutation or cell death. It is easily lethal to the microorganisms that lie at the base of the food chain in the ocean. We enumerate the known sources of radiation and characterize their intensities at Earth and rates or upper limits on these quantities. When possible, we estimate a "lethal interval," our best estimate of how often a major extinction-level event is probable given the current state of knowledge; we base these estimates on computed or expected depletion of stratospheric ozone. In general, moderate-level events are dominated by the Sun, but the far more severe infrequent events are probably dominated by gamma-ray bursts and supernovae. We note for the first time that so-called "short-hard" gamma-ray bursts are a substantial threat, comparable in magnitude to supernovae and greater than that of the higher-luminosity long bursts considered in most past work. Given their precursors, short bursts may come with little or no warning.     

运输机任务自适应机翼的气动特性优化研究

有关评估运输机变弯这机翼的气动性能已进行过理论上的初步研究。该研究致力于这种机翼的潜在应用：在很宽的升力变化范围内减小诱导阻力；在着陆的时间上时候产生比较大的升力。作为参考，对装备有现代增升装置，具有相同平面形状的传统机翼进行了相似研究。为了实现评估，采用约束直接优化方法，该方法由涡串分析方法结合多变量函数最小化算法组成。     

北约最新的敌我识别装置

到90年代初期,北约识别系统(NIS)计划的参与国拟用NIS的应答机和询问机来替换目前使用的IFF(敌我识别)系统.这一替换工作约长达25年.然后将需要有一个10年的过渡期,以便严格控制北约防空系统的敌我识别过程.当NIS替换过程全部完成后,西方的防空能力就会大大提高,并使友机误伤率降低到最小.