Advances of Microgravity Sciences

Advances of microgravity sciences in China are introduced. The research works include ground-based study and space experiments. In the recent years, the main means still are theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, ground-based experiment, and short-time microgravity experiments of drop tower. Besides, many space experiment projects are arranged. SJ-10 recoverable satellite will carry out 19 scientific experiment projects. Nine of them are for microgravity Sciences. The other ways for space microgravity experiment are with the help of Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft, Chinese Tiangong space laboratory, and Chinese space station in the near future. The Chinese space station will become main platform of Chinese microgravity sciences experiment in space.      

空间站微重力流体实验设备需求分析

对国际空间站和中国科学实验卫星及载人飞行器上开展的微重力流体实验情况进行论述和分析,重点分析了国际空间站（ISS）微重力流体科学实验设备情况.根据中国空间微重力流体物理科学发展需求,结合国际空间站微重力流体科学实验对设备的需求,提出了未来在中国空间站开展微重力流体实验时空间实验设备需要重点考虑和解决的问题,同时提出相关设计建议.      

天舟一号货运飞船空间实验装置蒸发相变地面实验

以天舟一号货运飞船为依托,开展空间蒸发相变传热规律的科学实验研究,探索重力对蒸发传热传质过程的影响规律.设计了一套地面蒸发实验平台,以蒸发相变液体FC-72为研究对象,通过红外热像仪测温、热流量计、差分热电偶等手段,观测FC-72液层在不同台面温度、注液量等情况下的相变界面变化、蒸发表面特性、流体物性及Marangoni对流涡胞的变化等,获取其蒸发两相流体的液层温度差、表面温度场、热流量值、蒸发速率和涡胞结构等.实验结果表明:在其他条件不变的情况下,FC-72液层与蒸发台面的温差越高,其蒸发速率越快;注液量越大,蒸发速率也越大;在蒸发过程中出现了浮力对流涡胞和Marangoni对流涡胞.此外,通过地面蒸发实验可以确定空间科学实验选用的实验介质和材料,进而优化确定空间科学实验的工况、参数及流程等,部分地面实验结果也将直接成为天地对比实验的科学成果.      

Longevity in space; experiment on the life span of Paramecium cell clone in space.

Life span is the most interesting and also the most important biologically relevant time to be investigated on the space station. As a model experiment, we proposed an investigation to assess the life span of clone generation of the ciliate Paramecium. In space, clone generation will be artificially started by conjugation or autogamy, and the life span of the cell populations in different gravitational fields (microgravity and onboard 1 x g control) will be precisely assessed in terms of fission age as compared with the clock time. In order to perform the space experiment including long-lasting culture and continuous measurement of cell division, we tested the methods of cell culture and of cell-density measurement, which will be available in closed environments under microgravity. The basic design of experimental hardware and a preliminary result of the cultivation procedure are described.     

Longevity in space; Experiment on the life span of Paramecium cell clone in space

Life span is the most interesting and also the most important biologically relevant time to be investigated on the space station. As a model experiment, we proposed an investigation to assess the life span of clone generation of the ciliate Paramecium. In space, clone generation will be artificially started by conjugation or autogamy, and the life span of the cell populations in different gravitational fields (microgravity and onboard 1 x g control) will be precisely assessed in terms of fission age as compared with the clock time. In order to perform the space experiment including long-lasting culture and continuous measurement of cell division, we tested the methods of cell culture and of cell-density measurement, which will be available in closed environments under microgravity. The basic design of experimental hardware and a preliminary result of the cultivation procedure are described.     

空间通信与BATS码：天成之合

创新通信技术在国家重大空间技术开发计划中有着巨大的需求。本文综述了基于网络编码的空间通信技术,旨在探索未来基于网络编码的空间通信技术的可行性和潜力。首先讨论了空间通信的特点,并给出了不同编码方法的概述;详细介绍了基于网络编码的批量稀疏编码（BATS码）创新技术。BATS码作为一种潜在的应用技术可以很好地解决多跳中继网络中严重丢包问题;给出一个BATS码原型设计和实现,实验结果证明BATS码比现有技术具有明显优势;最后,讨论了BATS码在空间通信中的应用前景。     

"From seed-to-seed" experiment with wheat plants under space-flight conditions.

An important goal with plant experiments in microgravity is to achieve a complete life cycle, the "seed-to-seed experiment." Some Soviet attempts to reach this goal are described, notably an experiment with the tiny mustard, Arabidopsis thaliana, in the Phyton 3 device on Salyut 7. Normal seeds were produced although yields were reduced and development was delayed. Several other experiments have shown abnormalities in plants grown in space. In recent work, plants of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were studied on the ground and then in a preliminary experiment in space. Biometric indices of vegetative space plants were 2 to 2.5 times lower than those of controls, levels of chlorophyll a and b were reduced (no change in the ratio of the two pigments), carotenoids were reduced, there was a serious imbalance in major minerals, and membrane lipids were reduced (no obvious change in lipid patterns). Following the preliminary studies, an attempt was made with the Svetoblock-M growth unit to grow a super-dwarf wheat cultivar through a life cycle. The experiment lasted 167 d on Mir. Growth halted from about day 40 to day 100, when new shoots appeared. Three heads had appeared in the boot (surrounded by leaves) when plants were returned to earth. One head was sterile, but 28 seeds matured on earth, and most of these have since produced normal plants and seeds. In principle, a seed-to-seed experiment with wheat should be successful in microgravity.     

天舟一号空间冷凝实验装置地基冷凝实验

天舟一号（TZ-1）蒸发与冷凝实验装置地面科学匹配实验是优化空间实验参数与两相试验系统技术参数的重要环节.通过地面科学匹配冷凝实验,控制冷凝实验输入条件,观察条件变化给非稳态冷凝换热带来的影响,可为空间实验数据处理提供修正依据.实验内容主要包括:改变冷凝台和蒸气温度,获得换热系数随时间变化的规律,从而指导空间实验数据采集和液池加热;通过实验验证蒸气压力对液膜换热系数的影响.实验还证明了冷凝台温度、蒸气温度、抽气压力等对换热系数也都有很大影响.地面科学匹配实验对于完善实验装置、优化工况与实验参数以及提高实验可靠性具有指导意义.      

基于空间映射的视觉注意力分配预测模型

为预测飞行员视觉注意力分配,在SEEV(Salient Effort Expectancy Value)模型和多因素模型的基础上引入注意控制空间和资源分配空间的概念.前者描述了影响注意力分配因素,而后者则反应了兴趣区域所获得的注意资源.并通过空间映射建立注意力分配的预测模型,应用模糊层次分析的方法对模型进行结算.为验证预测模型效度,采用16名被试在飞行模拟器上开展基于异常信息恢复的工效学实验,通过眼动追踪装置记录注视点分布作为注意力分配指标.被试需要根据实验条件对主飞行显示器仿真界面中的目标信息状态进行监视,并通过驾驶杆的指定操作对异常信息进行响应.实验结果表明,注意力分配预测模型的理论结果与工效实验中注视点分布的实验结果显著相关且吻合较好,验证了预测模型的可用性.     

空间液滴蒸发实验中液滴图像的无损压缩算法

为了提高空间液滴蒸发实验中图像无损压缩率, 根据连续采集到的液滴图像之间相关性很大的特点, 提出了一种基于JPEG-LS和帧间预测误差编码的图像序列无损压缩算法. 该算法对图像序列第一帧采用JPEG-LS算法编码, 对帧间预测误差帧进行Golomb编码, 从而实现对连续采集到的液滴图像序列进行无损压缩. 实验结果表明, 该算法比单纯采用JPEG-LS算法的压缩率有明显提高, 编解码过程更简单, 编码需要时间更少.      

Preparation of the Biochip experiment on the EXPOSE-R2 mission outside the International Space Station

Biochips might be suited for planetary exploration. Indeed, they present great potential for the search for biomarkers – molecules that are the sign of past or present life in space – thanks to their size (miniaturized devices) and sensitivity. Their detection principle is based on the recognition of a target molecule by affinity receptors fixed on a solid surface. Consequently, one of the main concerns when developing such a system is the behavior of the biological receptors in a space environment. In this paper, we describe the preparation of an experiment planned to be part of the EXPOSE-R2 mission, which will be conducted on the EXPOSE-R facility, outside the International Space Station (ISS), in order to study the resistance of biochip models to space constraints (especially cosmic radiation and thermal cycling). This experiment overcomes the limits of ground tests which do not reproduce exactly the space parameters. Indeed, contrary to ground experiments where constraints are applied individually and in a limited time, the biochip models on the ISS will be exposed to cumulated constraints during several months. Finally, this ISS experiment is a necessary step towards planetary exploration as it will help assessing whether a biochip can be used for future exploration missions.     

Kevlar BF—2及GD414材料充电性能研究

Kevlar作为最新型的航天结构材料,BF-2作为太阳电池盖片玻璃,GD414作为航天器材料粘接剂,都是空间技术必不可少的重要而基本的材料。因而它们在空间电环境条件中的表面电荷积累性质受到极大注意。该文就此三种材料在综合模拟空间环境条件下,进行了材料表面电导和环境诱发电导的实验研究,并给出了实验结果的分析。     

Space Research Plan of China's Space Station

China's manned spaceflight missions have been introduced briefly,and the research planning of space sciences for China's Space Station(CSS) has been presented with the topics in the research areas,including:life science and biotechnology,microgravity fluid physics and combustion science,space material science,fundamental physics,space astronomy and astrophysics,earth sciences and application,space physics and space environment,experiments of new space technology.The research facilities,experiment racks,and supporting system planned in CSS have been described,including:multifunctional optical facility,research facility of quantum and optic transmission,and a dozen of research racks for space sciences in pressurized module,etc.In the next decade,significant breakthroughs in space science and utilization will hopefully be achieved,and great contributions will be made to satisfy the need of the social development and people's daily life.     

Progress in Space Material Researches

New progress in the post researches on space grown materials, the development of experiment facilities, and the experiment techniques for space materials researches were introduced. Besides the conventional materials, such as alloys, semiconductors, and optical crystals, new materials have also been prepared on the ground.     

基于序列图像的空间目标三维重建

空间目标三维重建对空间态势感知和理论研究具有重要意义。针对空间目标图像存在的由纹理重复导致的错误重建问题,提出了一种新的基于运动信息恢复三维场景结构策略。该策略将序列目标图像的成像时间顺序作为先验信息,顺序地加入新图像进行迭代,以避免因目标结构对称、纹理重复所导致的重建错误。同时针对空间目标成像数据匮乏的问题,进行了空间目标图像仿真,并开展了空间目标地面模拟成像实验研究。结果表明:运动分析结果精确,对噪声有较强的鲁棒性,恢复出的目标三维点云能在一定程度上表达目标的结构信息。同时给出了进行空间目标三维重建时图像序列应满足的边界条件。      

Strategic Priority Program on Space Science

In 1957, the launch of the first artificial satellite ushered in a new era for modern space science.The past 50 years' developments in China's space science have witnessed many major missions, and substantial progress has been achieved in space science study, exploration technology as well as experiment technology. Strategic Priority Program on Space Science was officially started in 2011. Through both self-developed space science missions and those with international cooperation,it is expected that the innovative breakthroughs will be realized, leapfrog development of related high-tech will be achieved to establish the important strategic status of space science in national development. To sum up, the implementation of the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science will definitely promote the rapid development of China's space science endeavor, making contributions to China's development and the progress of human civilization.      

THE SPACE EXPERIMENT OF PROTEIN CRYSTALLIZATION ABOARD THE CHINESE SPACECRAFT SZ-3

Using a new flight hardware, a Chinese mission of space protein crystallization has been performed on the Chinese spacecraft SZ-3 for seven days from March 25 to Apr. 1, 2002. The rate of yielding crystals in the 60 samples is 75%, a little higher than the ground control experiment. Preliminary analysis of the experimental results have shown that among the 16 proteins involved in the mission, about 4 kinds of better diffraction-quality protein crystals were produced in space. At least one kind of protein crystals, i.e. crystals of cytochrome b5 mutant could diffract X ray beyond the highest resolution reported so far. In addition, some rules derived from our numerical studies of the liquid/liquid diffusion protein crystallization were proved by the crystallization of lysozyme as model protein in this space experiment,which also clearly showed the advantages and disadvantages of the gelled protein solution used in microgravity growth of protein crystals. In order to exploit this mission, more diffraction work with the grown crystals and detailed analysis of data to be obtained will be done in the next few months.     

Large scientific releases

Mass-injection experiments in space plasmas have been conducted for the last twenty years. These injections trace or stain chemical or physical processes, facilitating diagnosis of the natural state of the space plasma; artificially perturb the space plasma away from equilibrium, isolating and controlling selected parameters; simulate natural or artificial states of space plasmas; and utilize the advantages of space as a laboratory to study fundamental plasma physics.We use the Lagopedo ionospheric-depletion experiments to illustrate the special operational aspects of active experiments, including weather, logistics, communications, and real-time diagnostics. The various objectives and techniques of mass-injection experiments are described by example. The CAMEO experiment, a thermite barium release from a satellite over the nightside polar cap, is an excellent example of the use of barium injections to trace upward ion acceleration. The Periquito Dos experiment provided a “snapshot” view of convection electric fields in the dayside polar cusp region. Project Waterhole, an artificial depletion of the topside auroral ionosphere, attempted to modify the equilibrium character of the field-aligned currents and apparently shut off the aurora in a small space-time volume. The Trigger experiment is another example of an active perturbation experiment, wherein the auroral ionospheric transverse conductivities were modified via a cesium injection. The Buaro experiment, a shaped-charged barium injection perpendicular to the local geomagnetic field, resulted in an ion-beam/background-plasma system being displaced from equilibrium, permitting diagnostics of collisionless coupling of the ion beam to the background plasma.     

天基空间碎片光学探测影响因素分析及仿真

光学手段在天基空间碎片探测中被广泛应用,但容易受到杂光等因素影响。结合在轨试验数据,从探测器和碎片两方面分析了影响天基空间碎片光学探测的因素。影响探测器探测效果的因素包括太阳光、月光、地气光、大气辉光等杂光及南大西洋异常区辐射等;影响碎片可见性的因素包括地球遮挡、地影及反射的太阳光等。分别给出了上述影响因素涉及的特征量及规避影响的计算方法。基于某天基探测设备的仿真结果表明,上述影响在自然交会及姿态机动模式下均可能发生,在试验设计时需被充分考虑。最后,针对某天基空间碎片探测任务进行了规划。文章对天基光学探测试验设计具有一定的指导意义。