Adaptive environmental control for optimal results during plant microgravity experiments

The SVET Space Greenhouse (SG)--the first and the only automated plant growth facility onboard the MIR Space Station in the period 1990-2000 was developed on a Russian-Bulgarian Project in the 80s. The aim was to study plant growth under microgravity in order to include plants as a link of future Biological Life Support Systems for the long-term manned space missions. An American developed Gas Exchange Measurement System (GEMS) was added to the existing SVET SG equipment in 1995 to monitor more environmental and physiological parameters. A lot of long-duration plant flight experiments were carried out in the SVET+GEMS. They led to significant results in the Fundamental Gravitational Biology field--second-generation wheat seeds were produced in the conditions of microgravity. The new International Space Station (ISS) will provide a perfect opportunity for conducting full life cycle plant experiments in microgravity, including measurement of more vital plant parameters, during the next 15-20 years. Nowadays plant growth facilities for scientific research based on the SVET SG functional principles are developed for the ISS by different countries (Russia, USA, Italy, Japan, etc.). A new Concept for an advanced SVET-3 Space Greenhouse for the ISS, based on the Bulgarian experience and "know-how" is described. The absolute and differential plant chamber air parameters and some plant physiological parameters are measured and processed in real time. Using the transpiration and photosynthesis measurement data the Control Unit evaluates the plant status and performs adaptive environmental control in order to provide the most favorable conditions for plant growth at every stage of plant development in experiments. A conceptual block-diagram of the SVET-3 SG is presented.     

Analysis of DORIS range-rate residuals for TOPEX/Poseidon,Jason, Envisat and SPOT

Three currently operational radar altimeter satellites are equipped with the Doppler orbitography and radiopositioning integrated by satellite (DORIS) tracking system for precise orbit determination and two more are already foreseen. Any systematic errors in their computed orbits could possibly adversely affect scientific products used in climate change studies, such as sea level and ice sheet heights. DORIS residuals, which can be interpreted as a measure of orbit determination performance, often show systematic errors. We have therefore analyzed long time series of DORIS range-rate residuals in order to investigate possible systematic errors common to all DORIS analysis strategies and software packages, either on a satellite or on a station basis. In particular, the investigation has focused on global DORIS data of six satellites (TOPEX, Jason, Envisat and SPOT-2, -4 and -5) and station-specific data for Fairbanks, Easter Island and Syowa Base. Large measurement errors when crossing the South Atlantic Anomaly are easily detected in the DORIS residuals of Jason, while Envisat residuals show the most prominent evidence of multipath interference and the effect of a flight software update. Particularly, large errors were also found in low-elevation data.     

同心筒发射过程燃气射流冲击效应研究

为研究导弹发射过程中燃气射流对同心筒和弹体的热冲击和动力冲击效应,基于欧拉-拉格朗日方法,使用域动分层动网格方法,对同心筒发射过程含Al2O3颗粒的气-固两相流场进行了数值计算,得到了发射过程中流场的温度和压强分布情况,计算结果与试验数据的相对误差在允许范围内,表明文中所用计算模型是可靠的.发射过程中燃气射流对后盖的冲...     

Study of the psychological adaptation of the crew during a 135 days space simulation

The purpose of this study is to examine human adaptation of a three members' crew during a 135 days MIR flight simulation and to compare and validate psychological methods for monitoring and support in flight. The main findings showed that isolation was not a key factor for the subjects who were more concerned by recreational activities, family, and work. The individual reactions to stress of the crew members were to project their problems on the others. These reactions had some consequences upon the group: Although the three subjects developed a weak tendency to "group think", one of the crew members was considered as less integrated to the group by the other two subjects, who, however, acted to protect (successfully) the general cohesion and mood of the crew. From a methodological point of view, baseline data predicted the difficulties that occurred for one of the crew member. Both quantitative and qualitative tools were adequate, although qualitative tests gave a closer approach to the actual situation that developed during the simulation.     

先进上面级变轨段姿态解耦控制研究

针对多星部署先进上面级变轨段三轴姿态严重耦合以及主发动机开机引起的较大干扰力矩问题,研究了基于反馈线性化的姿态解耦算法。通过给出上面级多星部署任务中的坐标系和姿态角定义,建立了欧拉角描述的姿态动力学与运动学方程。分析了推力矢量与姿控发动机的控制方案,描述了该方案中主发动机、伺服机构和姿控发动机的配置结构,推导了推力矢量控制中的主发动机摆角计算公式和主发动机工作时质心偏移引起的干扰力矩。基于反馈线性化理论,设计了上面级姿态解耦控制律。算例验证结果表明姿态角速率误差和姿态角误差能够快速趋于1°/s和0.5°。文中设计的姿态解耦控制算法具有良好的稳定性和可行性。     

Tolerance of LSS plant component to elevated temperatures

Stability of LSS based on biological regeneration of water, air and food subject to damaging factors is largely dependent on the behavior of the photosynthesizing component represented, mainly, by higher plants. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tolerance of uneven-aged wheat and radish cenoses to temperature effects different in time and value. Estimation of thermal tolerance of plants demonstrated that exposure for 20 h to the temperature increasing to 45°C brought about irreversible damage both in photosynthetic processes (up to 80% of initial value) and the processes of growth and development. Kinetics of visible photosynthesis during exposure to elevated temperatures can be used to evaluate critical exposure time within the range of which the damage of metabolic processes is reversible. With varying light intensity and air temperature it is possible to find a time period admissible for the plants to stay under adverse conditions without considerable damage of metabolic processes.     

超高速碰撞闪光强度与碰撞速度关系初步研究

为了研究超高速碰撞过程中材料处于热力学平衡状态时碰撞闪光强度与碰撞速度的关系,采用理论与实验验证相结合的方法,结果表明碰撞闪光强度Ⅰ与碰撞速度v遵循指数关系.通过LY12铝弹丸超高速碰撞LY12铝靶实验验证了碰撞闪光强度Ⅰ与n的关系,且幂指数n值在3～4间.     

Space radiation effects on plant and mammalian cells

The study of the effects of ionizing radiation on organisms is related to different research aims. The current review emphasizes the studies on the effects of different doses of sparsely and densely ionizing radiation on living organisms, with the final purpose of highlighting specific and common effects of space radiation in mammals and plants. This topic is extremely relevant in the context of radiation protection from space environment. The response of different organisms to ionizing radiation depends on the radiation quality/dose and/or the intrinsic characteristics of the living system. Macromolecules, in particular DNA, are the critical targets of radiation, even if there is a strong difference between damages encountered by plant and mammalian cells. The differences in structure and metabolism between the two cell types are responsible for the higher resistance of the plant cell compared with its animal counterpart.     

Formation of higher plant component microbial community in closed ecological system

Closed ecological systems (CES) place at the disposal of a researcher unique possibilities to study the role of microbial communities in individual components and of the entire system. The microbial community of the higher plant component has been found to form depending on specific conditions of the closed ecosystem: length of time the solution is reused, introduction of intrasystem waste water into the nutrient medium, effect of other component of the system, and system closure in terms of gas exchange. The higher plant component formed its own microbial complex different from that formed prior to closure. The microbial complex of vegetable polyculture is more diverse and stable than the monoculture of wheat. The composition of the components' microflora changed, species diversity decreased, individual species of bacteria and fungi whose numbers were not so great before the closure prevailed. Special attention should be paid to phytopathogenic and conditionally pathogenic species of microorganisms potentially hazardous to man or plants and the least controlled in CES. This situation can endanger creation of CES and make conjectural existence of preplanned components, man, specifically, and consequently, of CES as it is.     

SPS — time for a pilot plant

Scientists have expended much energy researching SPS but their theories have never yet been realistically tested. It is time for this to change and SPS 2000 — a Japanese-sponsored project to construct and operate a pilot plant to supply electricity to residents of equatorial zones — could provide the means. The project and its benefits are described and the political—economic imperatives for undertaking it presented. The author argues that there are cogent — and practical — reasons for funding a pilot plant, especially given the vast sums spent on other space activities, and on nuclear power, although the latter has never lived up to expectations.     

Experiments and appropriate facilities for plant physiology research in space.

Light is a very essential parameter in a plant's life. Changing the quality and/or quantity of illumination will not only determine the further development (photomorphogenesis), but also effect spontaneous responses like curvatures (phototropism). But there are several still unknown links in the signal transduction chain from the perception of the light signals to the terminal response. It is known from ground-based experiments, that part of this signal transduction path is congruous with that of gravitational signals. Biosample is a technology development programme, which enables sophisticated experiments with whole plants in a microgravity environment. It allows complex sequences of gravitational- and light-stimuli with simultaneous recording of the plant's response (e.g. curvature of the stem) by video. This facility in union with new genetic mutants, which are less- or insensitive to light, gravity or both, are convenient tools for progress in plant physiology research.     

Turbulence in the Plasma Sheet during Substorms: A Case Study for Three Events Observed by the INTERBALL Tail Probe

Variations of turbulence properties of the plasma sheet during geomagnetic substorms are investigated using observations of the INTERBALL Tail Probe satellite. The periods are chosen when the satellite was inside the plasma sheet. Fluctuations of the plasma bulk velocity across the plasma sheet are studied for the growth, expansion, and recovery phases of geomagnetic substorms on October 14, 1997; October 30, 1997; and December 16, 1998. It was demonstrated that the level of turbulence increases considerably after the onset of the substorm expansion phase and slowly decreases nearly to the presubstorm level later. The correlation times of plasma fluctuations in the Z-direction are estimated, and diffusion coefficients in the Z-direction are calculated.     

Role of nutrition during long-term spaceflight

The authors discuss changes in macro- and micro-nutrients which occur in weightlessness and consider factors which help maintain appropriate nutrition during extended space flight. Basic energy requirements and metabolism are reviewed. The discussion of handling of foodstuffs includes protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, folic acid, iron, and selenium. The discussion of fluids and minerals includes fluid intake, sodium, potassium, and calcium. Changes in gastrointestinal function are examined.     

Terraforming Mars: conceptual solutions to the problem of plant growth in low concentrations of oxygen

The widespread growth of higher plants on Mars following ecopoiesis has often been invoked as a method of generating atmospheric oxygen. However, one issue that has been overlooked in this regard is the fact that terrestrial plants do not thrive under conditions of low oxygen tension. A review of the relevant botanical literature reveals that the high oxygen demands of root respiration could limit the introduction of most plants on Mars until after terraforming has raised the atmospheric pO2 to 20-100 mbar. A variety of physiological strategies are discussed which, if it is possible to implement them in a genetically engineered plant specifically designed for life on Mars, might allow this problem to be overcome.     

The feasibility of Doppler monitoring during EVA

During extravehicular activities (EVA) outside the spacecraft, astronauts have to work under reduced pressure in a space suit. This pressure reduction induces the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) by the formation of gas bubbles from excess nitrogen dissolved in the organism by breathing air at normal pressure. Under laboratory conditions the gas bubbles moving in the blood stream can be detected by the non-invasive ultrasonic Doppler method. By early detection of excessive bubble formation the development of DCS symptoms may be prevented by early application of preventative measures. The method could also be useful when applied in the space suit in order to compare the results of laboratory tests with operational results, because there is a discrepancy according to the DCS risk of laboratory experiments and actual EVA missions, where no symptoms have been reported yet. A prototype Doppler sensor has been developed and implemented in the Russian Orlan suit. To investigate the feasibility of this method under simulated space conditions, the equipment has been used in a series of 12 thermovacuum chamber tests with suited subjects, where intravenous bubble formation was compared to unsuited control experiments. In more than 50% of the suited tests good Doppler recordings could be achieved. In some cases with unsatisfying results the signal could be improved by breathholding. Although the results do not yet allow any conclusion about a possible difference between suited and unsuited subjects due to the small number of tests performed, the method proved its feasibility for use in EVA suits and should be further developed to enhance the safety of EVA procedures.     

Characteristics of metabolism during prolonged water immersion

The effect on the organism of a 12-day stay in a water immersion medium (head on the water surface) was studied on 10 subjects. The condition of the metabolic processes in the subjects was judged from the investigation of the parameters of protein and carbohydrate metabolism, acid-base equilibrium, the activity of a number of enzymes and steroid hormones. The venous blood and diurnal urine served as the material for conducting the corresponding biochemical determinations. The stay in an immersion medium is accompanied by a significant increase in the content of residual nitrogen in the blood, by a reduction of the creatinine content in the blood and by an increase of the creatine content of the blood with the simultaneous increase of the excretion of creatinine and creatine with the urine, by a significant increase of the glucose and lactate content in the blood, by the development of acidosis of a respiratory and metabolic character, as well as by a significant increase of the activity of creatine phosphokinase and the isoenzyme fraction of lactate dehydrogenase3. In all the subjects, an expressed intensification of the glucocorticoid and androgenic functions of the adrenal cortex is noted during the experimental period.     

Effects of muscle electrostimulation during simulated weightlessness

In a 45-day experiment test subjects were exposed to bed rest with their heads down at -4 degrees C. Twice a day their muscles of the stomach, back, femur, and shin were stimulated with electric current for 25-30 min. The value of muscle tension was close to their maximum voluntary contraction. The main objective was to prevent muscle atrophy and to maintain their trophic and functional state. Physiological measurements were carried out together with morphological, cytochemical, and biometric evaluations. The tissue removed during biopsy from M. soleus 7 days before the test and on the 30th hypokinetic day was used as substrate. Electrostimulation affected favourably the tone and strength of muscles as well as their static and dynamic endurance. Morphological studies showed a positive effect of electrostimulation on the muscle tissue, preventing the development of atrophic processes. During the first post-hypokinetic day orthostatic tolerance increased.     

卫星总装过程静电防护研究

静电防护是卫星总装过程中质量控制和安全保障的一个重要方面.为了提高航天器总装过程的静电控制水平,文章以某型号卫星为例,针对卫星总装实施特点,对卫星的总装过程进行了静电防护的相关试验和分析研究.首先使用FMEA分析表格,提出静电防护的关键项目,再利用静电检测手段,对这些关键项目进行静电测试.根据测试结果数据分析,查找出卫星总装过程中静电防护的薄弱环节,并针对性地提出相应的静电控制措施.这些研究成果为航天器总装静电控制的具体实施提供了技术支持,是对航天器总装过程静电防护深入研究的有益探索.     

Metabolic assessments during extra-vehicular activity

Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) has a significant role during extended space flights. It demonstrates that humans can survive and perform useful work outside the Orbital Space Stations (OSS) while wearing protective space suits (SS). When the International Space Station 'Alpha' (ISSA) is fully operational, EVA assembly, installation, maintenance and repair operations will become an everyday repetitive work activity in space. It needs new ergonomic evaluation of the work/rest schedule for an increasing of the labor amount per EVA hour. The metabolism assessment is a helpful method to control the productivity of the EVA astronaut and to optimize the work/rest regime. Three following methods were used in Russia to estimate real-time metabolic rates during EVA: 1. Oxygen consumption, computed from the pressure drop in a high pressure bottle per unit time (with actual thermodynamic oxygen properties under high pressure and oxygen leakage taken into account). 2. Carbon dioxide production, computed from CO2 concentration at the contaminant control cartridge and gas flow rate in the life support subsystem closed loop (nominal mode) or gas leakage in the SS open loop (emergency mode). 3. Heat removal, computed from the difference between the temperatures of coolant water or gas and its flow rate in a unit of time (with assumed humidity and wet oxygen state taken into account). Comparison of heat removal values with metabolic rates enables us to determine the thermal balance during an operative medical control of EVA at "Salyut-6", "Salyut-7" and "Mir" OSS. Complex analysis of metabolism, body temperature and heat rate supports a differential diagnosis between emotional and thermal components of stress during EVA. It gives a prognosis of human homeostasis during EVA. Available information has been acquired into an EVA data base which is an effective tool for ergonomical optimization.     

导弹目标遭遇过程中的剩余飞行时间估计

弹目遭遇末端目标至脱靶点剩余飞行时间的估算对起爆控制来说是非常重要的。本文详细讨论了脱靶情况下距离未知或丢失时，如何利用导引头测得的角度和角速度信息预测剩余飞行时间以及其它参数。结果表明 对于非机动目标，文中方法估计的剩余飞行时间及其它参数没有误差；目标机动能力的增加会导致预测误差变大，但是随着导弹逐渐接近目标以及剩余飞行时间的减小，预测精度也会逐渐提高。考虑到允许的起爆延时误差，目标机动对剩余飞行时间估计的影响是很小的。