Ultraviolet spectrometer experiment for the Voyager mission

The Voyager Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) is an objective grating spectrometer covering the wavelength range of 500–1700 Å with 10 Å resolution. Its primary goal is the determination of the composition and structure of the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and several of their satellites. The capability for two very different observational modes have been combined in a single instrument. Observations in the airglow mode measure radiation from the atmosphere due to resonant scattering of the solar flux or energetic particle bombardment, and the occultation mode provides measurements of the atmospheric extinction of solar or stellar radiation as the spacecraft enters the shadow zone behind the target. In addition to the primary goal of the solar system atmospheric measurements, the UVS is expected to make valuable contributions to stellar astronomy at wavelengths below 1000 Å.     

基于鲁棒自适应控制策略的混合型步进电机低速伺服控制性能

针对混合型步进电机低速运行状态下脉动转矩较大的特点,应用鲁棒自适应控制策略来设计其低速伺服控制器,以实现高精度的跟踪控制性能.首先,根据混合型步进电机转矩形成的机理,揭示了其固有的脉动转矩对低速运动控制产生不利影响的动力学特征,并将它归结为两种结构不确定性,便于控制器的设计;其次,采取标准的自适应控制及其鲁棒化设计思想,借助于μ-修整策略来实现相应的控制律,确保脉动转矩的最大化补偿及伺服系统低速跟踪控制满足高性能的要求;最后对所建立的低速跟踪控制系统的性能进行了试验评估,并与作者前期的工作进行了比较,试验结果验证了其有效性与可行性.     

Thermal drill sampling system onboard high-velocity impactors for exploring the subsurface of Europa

The planned Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) will provide a unique opportunity to place scientific instruments onto the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa in the late 2020s. After the Galileo mission, this will be a long awaited chance to have a close glimpse into some of the mysteries of this moon. Care must be taken in the choice of in-situ science that will be undertaken on the surface.     

Subcritical water extractor for Mars analog soil analysis

Abstract Technologies that enable rapid and efficient extraction of biomarker compounds from various solid matrices are a critical requirement for the successful implementation of in situ chemical analysis of the martian regolith. Here, we describe a portable subcritical water extractor that mimics multiple organic solvent polarities by tuning the dielectric constant of liquid water through adjustment of temperature and pressure. Soil samples, collected from the Yungay region of the Atacama Desert (martian regolith analogue) in the summer of 2005, were used to test the instrument's performance. The total organic carbon was extracted from the samples at concentrations of 0.2-55.4 parts per million. The extraction data were compared to the total organic carbon content in the bulk soil, which was determined via a standard analytical procedure. The instrument's performance was examined over the temperature range of 25-250 degrees C at a fixed pressure of 20.7 MPa. Under these conditions, water remains in a subcritical fluid state with a dielectric constant varying between approximately 80 (at 25 degrees C) and approximately 30 (at 250 degrees C).     

The Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph Investigation

The Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) is part of the remote sensing payload of the Cassini orbiter spacecraft. UVIS has two spectrographic channels that provide images and spectra covering the ranges from 56 to 118 nm and 110 to 190 nm. A third optical path with a solar blind CsI photocathode is used for high signal-to-noise-ratio stellar occultations by rings and atmospheres. A separate Hydrogen Deuterium Absorption Cell measures the relative abundance of deuterium and hydrogen from their Lyman-α emission. The UVIS science objectives include investigation of the chemistry, aerosols, clouds, and energy balance of the Titan and Saturn atmospheres; neutrals in the Saturn magnetosphere; the deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio for Titan and Saturn; icy satellite surface properties; and the structure and evolution of Saturn’s rings.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Nitrogen incorporation in CH(4)-N(2) photochemical aerosol produced by far ultraviolet irradiation

Nitrile incorporation into Titan aerosol accompanying hydrocarbon chemistry is thought to be driven by extreme UV wavelengths (λ<120?nm) or magnetospheric electrons in the outer reaches of the atmosphere. Far UV radiation (120-200?nm), which is transmitted down to the stratosphere of Titan, is expected to affect hydrocarbon chemistry only and not initiate the formation of nitrogenated species. We examined the chemical properties of photochemical aerosol produced at far UV wavelengths, using a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS), which allows for elemental analysis of particle-phase products. Our results show that aerosol formed from CH(4)/N(2) photochemistry contains a surprising amount of nitrogen, up to 16% by mass, a result of photolysis in the far UV. The proportion of nitrogenated organics to hydrocarbon species is shown to be correlated with that of N(2) in the irradiated gas. The aerosol mass greatly decreases when N(2) is removed, which indicates that N(2) plays a major role in aerosol production. Because direct dissociation of N(2) is highly improbable given the immeasurably low cross section at the wavelengths studied, the chemical activation of N(2) must occur via another pathway. Any chemical activation of N(2) at wavelengths >120?nm is presently unaccounted for in atmospheric photochemical models. We suggest that reaction with CH radicals produced from CH(4) photolysis may provide a mechanism for incorporating N into the molecular structure of the aerosol. Further work is needed to understand the chemistry involved, as these processes may have significant implications for how we view prebiotic chemistry on early Earth and similar planets.     

Stability of motion of a space vehicle under constantly acting disturbances

The attitude stability of an Earth-orbiting satellite experiencing aerodynamic torque is studied. This is accomplished by applying the theory of total stability (or, stability under constantly acting disturbances) to the equations of motion. The satellite is gravity-gradient stabilized and a damping torque is incorporated. The aerodynamic torque results from the presence of two flat panels attached to the cylindrical body of the vehicle. This perturbing torque is treated as an additive disturbance in Euler's equations of motion. A Lyapunov function is constructed and then used in an appropriate theorem on stability under constantly acting disturbances. Explicit expressions are thereby found for bounds on a hypothetical initial condition (a rotation from the Earth-pointing equilibrium) and on the aerodynamic torque, so that if these disturbances are less than their respective bounds then the resulting attitude motion of the satellite will not exceed a pre-assigned value. These bounds depend on that pre-assigned value, and on the physical parameters of the satellite. The design implications of these bounds are then discussed.     

香港制造业的质量使命及方向探讨(英文)

讨论了香港制造业对质量的最新看法，并且探讨了他们对改善质量的途径及技巧。通过问卷调查，结果显示现在一般对质量的定义乃重于满足顾客要求，改善运作制程及加强内部员工在提高质量方面的参与性。结果显示个人工作经验及制造行业的不同对质量的看法亦有一定影响。在控制运作制程方面，调查发现，统计制程管制（ＳＰＣ）及品管圈（ＱＣＣ）是常用的两种技巧；而全面优质管理（ＴＱＭ）及ＩＳＯ质量系统通常被用于大型电子公司。相反，零缺点（Ｚｅｒｏｄｅｆｅｃｔ）的概念就不常用。同时，标准借鉴（Ｂｅｎｃｈｍａｒｋｉｎｇ）渐渐成为被广泛采用的方法。