Intellectual property rights and space activities

On 5 and 6 December 1994, a two-day workshop was organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL) at ESA's Headquarters in Paris on the theme ‘Intellectual property rights and space activities: a worldwide perspective’. It was attended by some 90 participants and 16 papers were presented, analysing legal and policy issues with regard to intellectual property rights (IPRs) and space activities in a world context.     

A new paradigm for international cooperation in space exploration

In announcing a new Vision for the US space program, President George Bush committed the USA to “a long-term human and robotic program to explore the solar system”, via a return to the Moon, leading to exploration of Mars and other destinations. He also stated that other nations would be invited to join the vision. Many other nations have, or are developing, ‘exploration visions’ of their own. The potential for international cooperation therefore exists, both at the vision and program/project levels. This paper, based on Working Group discussions as part of an AIAA space cooperation workshop,¹ presents an approach for maximizing the return on all global investments in space exploration. It proposes an international coordination mechanism through which all these various national activities could be integrated into an inherently global enterprise for space exploration, a ‘virtual program of programs’. Within the context of the coordination, individual activities would utilize the full range of cooperative mechanisms for implementation. A significant benefit of this mode of conducting cooperation is that it would not require the negotiation of complex overarching international agreements as a precondition for initiating international activity.     

Why space exploration should be a global project

Apollo should not serve as a model for the many programs for lunar and planetary exploration currently making headway: it was a unilateral effort whose generous budget would be inconceivable today. Yet President Kennedy was an advocate of cooperation in major space missions, an attitude that makes perfect sense today, when so many agencies have ambitious exploration plans. The importance of President G.W. Bush's ‘Vision for Space Exploration’, by providing a focus for NASA and others, has been underestimated. It should give us a chance to find out whether a long-term objective of moving humans off the home planet is really feasible—surely the point of exploration.     

载人深空探测任务航天医学工程问题研究

航天医学工程问题关系到载人深空探测任务中的人员生存及健康。文章从人员长期生存的生命保障、变重力生理效应及防护、地外环境效应与防护、人员生理健康监测与维护、人员心理健康等方面的问题入手,分析了问题产生的原因及解决的必要性,并提出了解决思路,为后续深入开展相关关键技术的攻关提供参考。最后,以载人月球基地任务为案例,提出了生命保障、变重力防护、辐射及月尘防护、生理及心理健康监测及维护等问题的解决方案。     

Hyper-interspersed nano/MEMS-architecture design for new concepts in miniature robotics for space exploration

Launch weight and volume requirements are substantially decreased by reduction of probe size in exploration mission systems, as mass and volume both scale as the third power of system size. Accordingly, the already quite developed MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology, that offers low cost, small, light weight, and increasingly reliable devices through durability and redundancy, is strongly attractive as a near-term technology for significantly reducing the cost to launch and operate space systems. It is shown that the final goal of MEMS technology, i.e. the merging through solid state microdcvices of the functions of sensing, computation, communication and actuation, can lead to a new, biomimetic kind of miniature robotics, particularly suitable for planetary exploration, through molecular mono- electronics/MEMS integration jointly with a hyper-interspersed architecture made up of autonomous units embodying sensors, information processors and actuators. The problem tackled here concerns the basic design of such miniature robots, from some μm to insect size, featuring finely structured intelligent autonomous parts as smart skins, sensory and manipulating members working on the analogue external reality and communicating with their inner molecular level nondiscrete pseudo-analogue information processing networks. The (mesoscopic network)/MEMS units are shown to embody a quantum mechanical/macroscopic world connection, in which the nondiscrete molecular devices allow the automaton parts to perform very complex, fast information processing operations as metaphores of bionic functions like learning, attention, and decision making under uncertain conditions, this last due to the stochasticity inherent in the quantum network. Flexible architectures instead of von Neumann type rigid architectures in addition to hyper-interspersion of autonomous units can be realized through such nano/MEMS devices, and the μm — cm size of the whole robots and their organs allow dynamic biochemical, possibly reaction - diffusion, spatially separated highly nonlinear systems to be exploited as additional primitive computing devices (e.g. chemical oscillators, dissipative biomolecular distributed systems, planar photoactivated enzyme biosensors). Each interspersed unit can be designed as a multilevel nondiscrete system according to the information processing “rank” to be obtained in simulating the biological nervous system activity.     

The space elevator in the context of current space exploration policy

The space elevator is an advanced space transportation system that someday could replace chemical rockets as humanity's primary means of reaching Earth's orbit. However, before this can occur, a number of enabling technologies will need to be developed, and a variety of economic and policy questions must be addressed. The goal of this paper is to examine the feasibility of the space elevator in the context of current space exploration policy. The paper reviews the space elevator's critical enabling technologies and presents their wide variety of applications. The challenges of funding the space elevator and of building support for the program are discussed. The potential for international cooperation is considered, and the role of the space elevator in the Vision for Space Exploration is examined. The paper argues that each of the space elevator's component technologies ought to be developed independently to meet separate nearer-term objectives. The space elevator should be just one of many applications considered in making decisions to pursue research and development related to each component technology. The enabling technologies, once mature, might eventually be integrated in the construction of a full-scale space elevator from the Earth's surface to geosynchronous orbit and beyond.     

Toward a paradigm shift in managing future global space exploration endeavors

This paper analyzes the objectives and activities of space exploration programs, and presents action plans and guidelines for a future sustainable global space exploration platform. While new cooperative mechanisms have emerged in recent decades, the now-unfolding era of global space exploration will lead to new models of cooperation, reflecting the legacy of partnerships and the evolution of a global endeavor. Consequently, the successful alignment of national and international stakeholders along lines drawn by commonality of purpose will be crucial to achieve a basis for marshalling sufficient resources for ambitious space projects, and to create necessary new political, economic, and legal frameworks. For the development of a successful global space exploration program, traditional approaches may need to be supplanted by a new paradigm including focus on information exchange, organizational knowledge, and human capital – as practiced in high-performance organizations (HPOs) – that go well beyond the current international working groups and multinational space efforts.     

一种基于频移补偿的apFFT相位估计改进方法及应用

全相位快速傅里叶变换（all phase Fast Fourier Transform,apFFT)相位一致性特点使正弦信号相位估计不受频率估计影响,但由于频谱泄露和栅栏效应,apFFT相位估计性能受信号频率位置影响。针对该问题,提出了一种基于高精度频率估计和补偿的apFFT相位估计方法。首先,对信号进行高精度频率估计,并以此对信号进行频移补偿,然后对补偿信号进行apFFT,最后求解信号相位。蒙特卡洛仿真结果表明：所提算法的相位估计性能不受信号频率位置影响,相位估计误差性能与理论值一致,受两参数克拉美罗界（CRLB₂）约束,约为1.158 2倍的CRLB₂;相位估计性能和抗噪声能力明显优于经典apFFT算法和其他对比算法。更进一步,利用我国首次火星探测器TW-1（天问一号）近火捕获段干涉测量数据进行算法验证,结果表明：相位估计精度约4 mrad,干涉测量时延估计精度约50 ps。     

An international symbol for the sustained exploration of space

As humanity prepares to extend its reach beyond low-Earth-orbit for the first time since the 1970s, a new symbol of international cooperation is needed to further promote the message of peace and collaboration such exploration entails. The space race that occurred between the USSR and the USA is an ill-suited model for long-term sustained space exploration because it is too costly and too resource-intensive for a single nation to bear. While competition is healthy for technology development, the success of a sustained space exploration strategy lies beyond technological capabilities. It lies in international cooperation, space policy, and public support. Without these, no program can realistically achieve a sustained presence in space beyond low-Earth orbit. To this effect, this paper proposes a cost-effective first step in the form of a universal symbol which, when placed alongside national flags displayed on hardware and astronaut/cosmonaut/taikonaut flight-suits, would send a strong message to the world that space exploration is done for the benefit of humanity as a whole, not just for spacefaring nations. The “Blue Marble”, the first complete picture of Earth taken from space by humans in 1972, fits this universally appealing symbol. This symbol requires no political collaboration between countries, yet is an image that anyone, anywhere in the world, can relate to regardless of nationality, ethnic origin or religious beliefs. Placed on the shoulder pads of human ’nauts – ambassadors of planet Earth – or prominently displayed on spacebound hardware, this symbol would send a universal message to present and future generations that, in space, our planet is working together for the benefit of everyone.     

深空探测器间通信技术发展概述

器间通信技术能够确保遥控指令可靠到达探测器,并将探测器的科学探测数据回传给地面,在深空探测中发挥着重要作用。介绍了美国和中国的月球探测、火星探测工程中器间通信技术发展现状和工程应用情况,分析总结了深空探测器间通信技术的主要特点,并针对未来深空探测器间通信需求,提出了需要迫切解决的关键技术,为我国后续深空探测工程的实施提供支持。     

标准与知识产权融合战略研究

分析新的国际竞争形势以及标准与知识产权之间的关系,得出企业赢得竞争的新的战略选择即标准与知识产权融合,在此基础上给出实施战略的策略支撑,并在论述标准领域知识产权滥用的具体表现和案例实证后,从企业和政府两个层面提出应对标准领域知识产权滥用的建议.     

深空探测天线技术发展现状及趋势

为了满足我国新世纪深空探测任务的需求,文章结合国内外部分典型深空探测项目,介绍了有关探测器上天线系统的设计思路,从而了解深空探测天线技术的发展现状,并根据目前星载天线技术发展和深空探测领域测控通信系统的需求,归纳和总结了未来深空探测领域中探测器上天线技术的发展趋势,为我国深空探测天线技术的发展提供参考。     

Estimating the life cycle cost of the space exploration initiative

The Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) will take mankind back to the Moon and then to Mars. Preliminary estimates of SEI life cycle cost (LCC) are central to assessing programme alternatives. SEI LCC should be estimated by identifying the additional cost to accomplish the initiative over and above the cost to sustain a ‘base’ of space activities. Results of a study of four SEI alternatives provided SEI LCC cost estimates ranging from $91 billion to $308 billion (constant 1989 US dollars) from 1992 through 2020, depending upon programme philosophy. SEI LCC will be driven by the philosophy and goals of the programme, and, given the goal of ‘permanence’, essentially indeterminate because of the open-ended time horizon.     

Cooperation and dialogical modeling for designing a safe Human space exploration mission to Mars

This paper proposes an approach for a complex and innovative project requiring international contributions from different communities of knowledge and expertise. Designing a safe and reliable architecture for a manned mission to Mars or the Asteroids necessitates strong cooperation during the early stages of design to prevent and reduce risks for the astronauts at each step of the mission. The stake during design is to deal with the contradictions, antagonisms and paradoxes of the involved partners for the definition and modeling of a shared project of reference. As we see in our research which analyses the cognitive and social aspects of technological risks in major accidents, in such a project, the complexity of the global organization (during design and use) and the integration of a wide and varie d range of sciences and innovative technologies is likely to increase systemic risks as follows: human and cultural mistakes, potential defaults, failures and accidents. We identify as the main danger antiquated centralized models of organization and the operational limits of interdisciplinarity in the sciences. Beyond this, we can see that we need to take carefully into account human cooperation and the quality of relations between heterogeneous partners. Designing an open, self-learning and reliable exploration system able to self-adapt in dangerous and unforeseen situations implies a collective networked intelligence led by a safe process that organizes interaction between the actors and the aims of the project. Our work, supported by the CNES (French Space Agency), proposes an innovative approach to the coordination of a complex project.     

The European space exploration programme: current status of ESA's plans for Moon and Mars exploration

After a large consultation with the scientific and industrial communities in Europe, the Aurora Space Exploration Programme was unanimously approved at the European Space Agency (ESA) Council at ministerial level in Edinburgh in 2001. This marked the start of the programme's preparation phase that was due to finish by the end of 2004. Aurora features technology development robotic and crewed rehearsal missions aimed at preparing a human mission to Mars by 2033. Due to the evolving context, both international and European, ESA has undertaken a review of the goals and approach of its exploration programme. While maintaining the main robotic missions that had been conceived during Aurora, the European Space Exploration Programme that is currently being proposed to the Aurora participating states and other ESA Member States has a reviewed approach and will feature a greater synergy with other ESA programmes. The paper will present the process that led to the revision of ESA's plans in the field of exploration and will give the current status of the programme.     

Global partnerships: Expanding the frontiers of space exploration education

Globalization is creating an interdependent space-faring world and new opportunities for international partnerships that strengthen space knowledge development and transfer. These opportunities have been codified in the Global Exploration Strategy, which endorses the “inspirational and educational value of space exploration” [1]. Also, during the 2010 Heads of Space Agencies Summit celebrating the International Academy of Astronautics’ (IAA) 50th Anniversary, space-faring nations from across the globe issued a collective call in support of robust international partnerships to expand the frontiers of space exploration and generate knowledge for improving life on Earth [2].Educators play a unique role in this mission, developing strategic partnerships and sharing best educational practices to (1) further global understanding of the benefits of space exploration for life on Earth and (2) prepare the next generation of scientists required for the 21st Century space workforce. Educational Outreach (EO) programs use evidence-based, measurable outcomes strategies and cutting edge information technologies to transfer space-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) knowledge to new audiences; create indigenous materials with cultural resonance for emerging space societies; support teacher professional development; and contribute to workforce development initiatives that inspire and prepare new cohorts of students for space exploration careers. The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) have sustained a 13-year space science education partnership dedicated to these objectives.This paper briefly describes the design and achievements of NSBRI's educational programs, with special emphasis on those initiatives' involvement with IAA and the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). The IAA Commission 2 Draft Report, Space for Africa, is discussed as a model for developing sustainable partnerships and indigenous programs that support Africa's steady emergence as a global space-faring force. The IAC will provide timely: 2011 South Africa will provide timely feedback to refine that report's strategies for space life sciences education and public engagement in Africa and around the globe.