Performance of a simple Closed Aquatic Ecosystem (CAES) in space.

A simple Closed Aquatic Ecosystem (CAES) consisting of single-celled green algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa, producer), a spiral snail (Bulinus australianus, consumer) and a data acquisition and control unit was flown on the Chinese Spacecraft SHENZHOU-II in January 2001 for 7 days. In order to study the effect of microgravity on the operation of CAES, a 1 g centrifuge reference group in space, a ground 1 g reference group and a ground 1 g centrifuge reference group (1.4 g group) were run concurrently. Real-time data about algae biomass (calculated from transmission light intensity), temperature, light and centrifugation of the CAES were logged at minute intervals. It was found that algae biomass of both the microgravity group and the ground 1 g-centrifuge reference group (1.4 g) fluctuated during the experiment, but the algae biomass of the 1 g centrifuge reference group in space and the ground 1 g reference group increased during the experiment. The results may be attributable to influences of microgravity and 1.4 g gravity on the algae and snails metabolisms. Microgravity is the main factor to affect the operation of CAES in space and the contribution of microgravity to the effect was also estimated. These data may be valuable for the establishment of a complex CELSS in the future.     

Performance and reliability of the NASA Biomass Production Chamber.

The Biomass Production Chamber (BPC) at the Kennedy Space Center is part of the Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) Breadboard Project. Plants are grown in a closed environment in an effort to quantify their contributions to the requirements for life support. Performance of this system is described. Also, in building this system, data from component and subsystem failures are being recorded. These data are used to identify problem areas in the design and implementation. The techniques used to measure the reliability will be useful in the design and construction of future CELSS. Possible methods for determining the reliability of a green plant, the primary component of a CELSS, are discussed.     

A step in embryonic axis specification in Xenopus laevis is simulated by cytoplasmic displacements elicited by gravity and centrifugal force.

Determination of the body pattern in Xenopus embryos is known to involve at least six steps. One of these steps can be experimentally simulated by inclining the fertilized egg with respect to gravity or centrifugal force (10-30 g x 4 min, directed 90 degrees to the animal-vegetal axis). In these eggs, the dorsal structures of the body axis form from the side of the egg that was uppermost in the gravitational or centrifugal field. This topography is seen even if the sperm entry point side (the prospective ventral side in control eggs) was uppermost. In addition, conjoined twin embryos form at very high frequencies in response to certain conditions of single or double centrifugation. Cytological analysis shows that the dorsal structures invariably form from the side(s) of the egg away from which vegetal cytoplasm was displaced. This is similar to the situation in the unperturbed egg, where the subcortical cytoplasm of the vegetal hemisphere rotates some 30 degrees relative to the surface, and the dorsal structures form from the side of the egg away from which the subcortical cytoplasm moved. The displacements elicited by centrifugation probably substitute for the normal displacements brought about by the subcortical rotation. These and other data suggest that the subcortical rotation is a crucial step in the process of axis determination. The subcortical rotation is an autonomous activity of the activated egg, and can displace cytoplasm against gravity. I believe that the subcortical rotation will function normally at microgravity, and I expect that overall development and axis polarity at microgravity will be normal. This will be tested in spaceflight.     

一种高性能跳频信号源的设计与实现

设计了一种高性能跳频信号源。该信号源以FPGA为控制电路核心,在FPGA内部实现了信号源数字部分相关电路功能,利用高性能的AD9777实现数模转换,通过串行通信SPI接口控制AD9777的工作模式;该跳频信号源采用改进的L-G模型电路作为跳频序列发生器,采用正弦波直接频率发生器作为跳频信号源的基础。实验测试证明:该跳频信号源性能良好,能满足实际工程的需要。     

Performance of the CELSS Antarctic Analog Project (CAAP) crop production system.

Regenerative life support systems potentially offer a level of self-sufficiency and a decrease in logistics and associated costs in support of space exploration and habitation missions. Current state-of-the-art in plant-based, regenerative life support requires resources in excess of allocation proposed for candidate mission scenarios. Feasibility thresholds have been identified for candidate exploration missions. The goal of this paper is to review recent advances in performance achieved in the CELSS Antarctic Analog Project (CAAP) in light of the likely resource constraints. A prototype CAAP crop production chamber has been constructed and operated at the Ames Research Center. The chamber includes a number of unique hardware and software components focused on attempts to increase production efficiency, increase energy efficiency, and control the flow of energy and mass through the system. Both single crop, batch production and continuous cultivation of mixed crops production studies have been completed. The crop productivity as well as engineering performance of the chamber are described. For each scenario, energy required and partitioned for lighting, cooling, pumping, fans, etc. is quantified. Crop production and the resulting lighting efficiency and energy conversion efficiencies are presented. In the mixed-crop scenario, with 27 different crops under cultivation, 17 m2 of crop area provided a mean of 515 g edible biomass per day (85% of the approximate 620 g required for one person). Enhanced engineering and crop production performance achieved with the CAAP chamber, compared with current state-of-the-art, places plant-based life support systems at the threshold of feasibility.     

某种新型磁强计在星载部件测试中的应用研究

介绍了一种新型的磁强计,该磁强计用具有零磁滞伸缩系数的非晶态合金薄带作为探头铁心,多谐振荡回路作为磁强计电路。它具有结构简单,操作方便,频率响应范围大（０～５ｋＨｚ）等优点。给出了该磁强计的工作原理,并对其在星载部件测试中的应用进行了探索。     

星间链路抗干扰性能分析

星间链路中干扰是影响链路测量准确度的重要因素.抗干扰性能分析可以通过链路卫星空间状态信息和通信规划,分析不同类型的干扰对链路的干扰概率和干扰强度,最终得出链路对不同类型干扰的抗干扰能力.基于星间链路模型,结合链路通信规划,选择对链路系统影响较大的互干扰和单频干扰,分析了系统在运行周期内的干扰特性.经验证得出该链路模型和通信规划受互干扰影响较小,地面强干扰对系统影响可能导致单颗卫星短暂无法正常工作,但不会对整个星座性能产生影响.     

Performance simulation of high altitude scientific balloons

The design and operation of a high altitude scientific balloon requires adequate knowledge of the thermal characteristics of the balloon to make it safe and reliable. The thermal models and dynamic models of altitude scientific balloons are established in this paper. Based on the models, a simulation program is developed. The thermal performances of a super pressure balloon are simulated. The influence of film radiation property and clouds on balloon thermal behaviors is discussed in detail. The results are helpful for the design and operate of safe and reliable high altitude scientific balloons.     

Performance estimation for GEO space surveillance

For space surveillance Europe is currently strongly depending on external sources. Although some European radar and optical facilities for space object tracking exist, there is no operational European space surveillance system. An ESA-funded feasibility study for a future independent European space surveillance capability was performed recently. Some of the main conclusions are presented here. We discuss the surveillance of the geostationary ring (GEO) by evaluating existing and newly designed optical ground-based sensors in terms of their performance. The main performance-related issues – the coverage of the GEO ring and the minimum detectable objects size – are discussed. In order to perform detailed simulations, an observation strategy was defined and algorithms for the correlation of objects with a catalogue and for the maintenance of that catalogue were developed. We used the ESA PROOF software to estimate the sensor performance and AIUB tools to simulate the catalogue correlation. The performance was validated using data from campaigns performed with the ESA Space Debris Telescope at Tenerife, Spain.     

Performance of GPS-based accelerometry: A simulation experiment

Recent studies have shown that with the availability of high-quality CHAMP and GRACE gravity field models, it is feasible to determine accurate non-gravitational accelerations for low Earth orbiting satellites indirectly from precise GPS satellite-to-satellite observations. Possible applications of this so-called GPS-based accelerometry approach consist of accelerometer calibration and atmospheric density and wind computations. With the growing number of high-quality space-borne GPS receivers, this method could be applied to a large range of satellites. In this paper an extensive simulation study has been carried out, based on real accelerometer data from the GRACE mission, in order to determine the optimal processing strategy and the resulting accuracy of the estimated non-gravitational accelerations. It is shown that the optimal processing strategy consists of a piecewise linear parameterization of the estimated empirical accelerations, together with short 6-h orbit arcs. The GPS-based accelerometry approach makes use of triple-differenced GPS observations and the impact of considering the correlated observation noise was found to be marginal in the presence of other error sources such as GPS ephemeris errors. Using a priori non-gravitational force models improves the recovery of low temporal resolution accelerations, except during huge geomagnetic storms. With this strategy, non-gravitational accelerations can be recovered during high solar activity with an accuracy of better than 10% of the total signal in along-track direction and around 25–40% in cross-track direction, at time resolutions of around 8–20 min. During solar minimum conditions, the relative recovery error will increase to approximately 50% in along-track direction and around 60–70% in cross-track direction, due to the reduced atmospheric drag signal. Unfortunately, GPS-based accelerometry is hardly sensitive in the radial direction.     

应用分力合成方法提高系统性能指标的研究

提出了将柔性结构的分力合成主动振动抑制方法和反馈控制律结合使用来提高柔性结构控制系统性能指标的方法。应用该方法仅需要知道闭环系统及柔性振动的频率及阻尼，而且可以同时抑制任意多个振动模态（包括控制器引起的振动，柔性振动及其他形式的振动），分力合成方法对频率及阻尼的不确定性具有较强的鲁棒性，使该方法易于工程实现，文章针对单柔性杆，将分力合成主动振动抑制方法和反馈控制相结合，设计了不同形式的大角度机动控制律，数值仿真和试验结果充分验证了方法的有效性。     

佘山VLBI站本振系统的性能评定

氢钟是甚长基线干涉仪(VLBI)中的一个关键系统。主要介绍与国际VLBI联测而建立的高质量频率标准的性能及氢钟的联接与技术要求。     

高速A／D变换动态特性测试系统

高速A/D变换的性能主要取决于其动态特性;这种动态特性不能用静态特性替代或推论。随着近年来高速A/D的迅速发展(采样率高达数百兆赫的A/D也已进入市场),如何测试高速A/D的动态特性,已成为当务之急。本文提出一个高速A/D变换测试系统以填补国内空白。文中介绍其工作原理,以及三种动态特性表征方法——直方图法、等效位数法以及谱分析法。文末还讨论了测试系统研制中的一些关键技术。     

蓝宝石氢钟的性能分析及研制

主要阐述了国产化蓝宝石氢钟产品化研制工作,并针对目前的情况及存在的关键问题进行了分析和论述,同时展望了蓝宝石氢钟实现产品化的进一步发展前景。     

卫星柔性热控材料性能及其稳定性研究

阐述热控材料的性能以及它在空间模拟环境下的稳定性。测试表明所镀制的立品其光、热、电性能很好，且在模拟空间环境下，如电子辐照、紫外辐照、原子氧作用以及湿热环境下其稳定性能优良。AFM分析表明，镀膜方法和工艺对制备高质量TO膜和高反射Al膜十分重要。     

陀螺仪短周期性能测试方法研究

讨论了陀螺仪短周期重复性能的标定测试方法,即极轴翻滚试验方法。该方法以地球极轴为基准,通过对一周过程的电流值进行离散傅立叶分析,经过相应的运算处理求出误差模型参数的估计值。试验结果表明,该方法辨识参数多,全面反映了陀螺仪性能,可以科学地考察陀螺仪的短周期重复性。     

INS辅助的GPS接收机跟踪环结构和性能分析

分析了GPS/INS的不同组合方式,研究了GPS接收机跟踪环的结构,给出了多普勒频移和时钟误差频率的外部估计方法,提出了一种使用低成本惯性器件信息辅助GPS接收机跟踪环的深组合(deepintegration)结构,建立了这种结构的前馈模型,并对其进行了仿真分析。仿真结果表明,这种结构可以使得接收机具有较宽的跟踪带宽和较好的抑制噪声能力,能显著提高GPS接收机的性能。     

Microbiological characterization of a regenerative life support system.

A Variable Pressure Plant Growth Chamber (VPGC), at the Johnson Space Center's (JSC) ground-based Regenerative Life Support Systems (RLSS) test bed, was used to produce crops of soil-grown lettuce. The crops and chamber were analyzed for microbiological diversity during lettuce growth and after harvest. Bacterial counts for the rhizosphere, spent nutrient medium, heat exchanger condensate, and atmosphere were approximately 10(11) Colony Forming Units (CFU) g-1 10(5) CFU ml-1, 10(5) CFU ml-1, and 600 CFU m-3, respectively. Pseudomonas was the predominant bacterial genus. Numbers of fungi were about 10(5) CFU g-1 in the rhizosphere, 4-200 CFU ml-1 in the spent nutrient medium, 110 CFU ml-1 in the heat exchanger condensate, and 3 CFU m-3 in the atmosphere. Fusarium and Trichoderma were the predominant fungal genera.     

Extinction of dinosaurs: a possible novel cause.

A novel cause of mass extinction of fauna close to the (K/T) Boundary is suggested. A large amount of non-protein amino acids (AIB and ISOVAL) has been observed close to this event. It is speculated that these amino acids may be toxic and are responsible for the extinction. The toxicity level is estimated for this suggestion to be true and experimentalists are encouraged to test this level of toxicity for the amino acids.     

Evolution of a phase separated gravity independent bioreactor.

The evolution of a phase-separated gravity-independent bioreactor is described. The initial prototype, a zero head-space manifold silicone membrane based reactor, maintained large diffusional resistances. Obtaining oxygen transfer rates needed to support carbon-recycling aerobic microbes is impossible if large resistances are maintained. Next generation designs (Mark I and II) mimic heat exchanger design to promote turbulence at the tubing-liquid interface, thereby reducing liquid and gas side diffusional resistances. While oxygen transfer rates increased by a factor of ten, liquid channeling prevented further increases. To overcome these problems, a Mark III reactor was developed which maintains inverted phases, i.e., media flows inside the silicone tubing, oxygen gas is applied external to the tubing. This enhances design through changes in gas side driving force concentration and liquid side turbulence levels. Combining an applied external pressure of four atmospheres with increased Reynolds numbers resulted in oxygen transfer intensities of 232 mmol O2/l/h (1000 times greater than first prototype and comparable to a conventional fermenter). A 1.0 liter Mark III reactor can potentially deliver oxygen supplies necessary to support cell cultures needed to recycle a 10 astronaut carbon load continuously.