第二届全国超高速碰撞会议征文通知

正(第一轮)为交流国内超高速碰撞领域的最新技术进展,研讨当今国内外超高速碰撞领域的发展趋势,促进我国超高速碰撞技术研究与动能武器、空间碎片防护等工程应用的融合,为"十三五"规划提供有力支撑,经"第二届全国超高速碰撞会议筹备会议"和学术委员会讨论,并征得装备发展部和国家国防科工局有关部门同意,拟于2016年下半年召开第二届全国超高速碰撞会议。会议由北京卫星环境工程研究所主办,会议论文将择优正式发表在核心期刊《航天器环境工程》、《实验流体力学》或《现代     

数字全息测量超高速撞击碎片云实验研究

在中国空气动力研究与发展中心(CARDC)超高速碰撞中心(HIRC)7.6 mm超高速碰撞设备的基础上，搭建纳秒级脉冲激光数字全息系统。提出滤波片和衰减片组合布置，减弱超高速碰撞等离子体自发光、提高信噪比的方法。实验获得了2.25 mm铝球弹丸以4.0 km/s的速度撞击0.5 mm厚铝板形成碎片云的全息图。采用小波变换算法对碎片云全息图进行重建，得到超高速撞击碎片云的三维结构和碎片大小。碎片云的轮廓呈椭球型，分为碎片云的前端、核心和外壳，碎片主要分布在弹丸破碎形成的碎片云核心，存在大碎片，且分布较集中，对后板的损伤也严重     

第二届全国超高速碰撞会议征文通知

正(第一轮)为交流国内超高速碰撞领域的最新技术进展,研讨当今国内外超高速碰撞领域的发展趋势,促进我国超高速碰撞技术研究与动能武器、空间碎片防护等工程应用的融合,为"十三五"规划提供有力支撑,经"第二届全国超高速碰撞会议筹备会议"和学术委员会讨论,并征得装备发展部和国家国防科工局有关部门同意,拟于2016年下半年召开第二届全国超高速碰撞会议。会议由北京卫星环境工程研究所主办,会议论文将择优正式发表在中国科技核心期刊《航天器环境工程》、《实验流体力学》或《现代应用物理》等相关期刊。现将有关事项通知如下:     

球形弹丸超高速撞击铝靶的分子动力学模拟

基于开源分子动力学程序LAMMPS建立球形铝弹丸超高速撞击铝靶的计算模型,模拟弹丸以10 km/s的速度超高速撞击单层靶、双层靶和半无限厚靶;获得了超高速碰撞靶板的物理过程及靶板损伤特性,与超高速碰撞宏观现象相似;厚靶成坑坑深与宏观经验公式计算结果基本一致。模拟结果初步表明,分子动力学方法可以对弹丸超高速碰撞薄靶和半无限厚靶进行模拟,为揭示碰撞过程中的微观机理提供了一种新的研究方法。     

第二届全国超高速碰撞会议征文通知

正为交流国内超高速碰撞领域的最新技术进展,研讨当今国内外超高速碰撞领域的发展趋势,促进我国超高速碰撞技术研究与动能武器、空间碎片防护等工程应用的融合,为"十三五"规划提供有力支撑,经"第二届全国超高速碰撞会议筹备会议"和学术委员会讨论,并征得装备发展部和国家国防科工局有关部门同意,拟于2016年11月召开第二届全国超高速碰撞会议。会议由北京卫星环境工程研究所主办,     

两种物态方程在超高速碰撞数值模拟中的比较

材料在超高速碰撞下将发生熔化甚至气化相变。为反映超高速碰撞中材料相变带来的影响,文章采用GRAY三相物态方程与Tillotson物态方程,对超高速碰撞进行数值模拟对比研究。研究表明:当碰撞速度在3 km/s以下时,除了靶板穿孔直径外,两种物态方程所给出的碎片云的结果基本一致;但当碰撞速度在3 km/s以上时,两种物态方程给出的数值模拟结果有较大差异,这说明在超高速碰撞中相变的产生对碎片云形状参数有较大影响。     

克服地球轨道空间碎片的航天器防护结构几何规划设计

文章描述了一个用于航天器防护结构综合优化的独特方法——几何规划优化技术,以减小暴露于流星体和空间碎片超高速碰撞环境下的航天器防护结构系统的重量。空间碎片和流星体环境由广义加权目标函数的公式来定义。通过Wilkinson,Burch和Nysmith超高速碰撞预示模型说明几何规划的性能。表明遵循几何规划形式的超高速碰撞模型,可以进行综合非线性设计优化。     

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.     

第二届全国超高速碰撞会议邀请函

正为交流国内超高速碰撞领域的最新技术进展,研讨当今国内外超高速碰撞领域的发展趋势,促进我国超高速碰撞技术研究与动能武器、空间碎片防护等工程应用的融合,为"十三五"规划提供有力支撑,经第二届全国超高速碰撞会议筹备会议和学术委员会讨论,并征得装备发展部和国家国防科工局有关部门同意,拟于2016年11月30日-12月2日在北京会议中心召开第二届全国超高速碰撞会议。会议由北京卫星环境工程研究所主办,可靠性与环境工程技术国防重点实验室、材料空间环境效应与评价     

空间碎片超高速碰撞数值分析

采用光滑粒子流体动力学(SPH)方法对空间碎片超高速碰撞问题作了模拟分析,给出了靶孔直径和碎片云宽度随碰撞速度的变化、累积碎片分布、碎片云无量纲向前总动量随膨胀距离的变化、碎片云前端速度的变化规律以及碎片云速度矢量等。     

Some experimental progresses in the study of self-rewetting fluids for the SELENE experiment to be carried in the Thermal Platform 1 hardware

SELENE (SELf-rewetting fluids for thermal ENErgy management) is a microgravity experiment proposed to the European Space Agency (ESA) in response to the Announcement of Opportunities for Physical Sciences. Main objectives of the microgravity research onboard the International Space Station (ISS) include the quantitative investigation of heat transfer performances in model heat pipes and validation of adequate theoretical and numerical models. In particular the research is focused on “self-rewetting fluids”, i.e. fluid mixtures with unusual surface tension properties. This article summarizes preliminary ground-based research activities in preparation of the microgravity experiments. They include: (1) thermophysical properties measurements; (2) study of thermo-soluto-capillary effects in micro-channels; (3) numerical modeling; (4) measurements with optical (e.g. interferometric) and intrusive techniques; (5) surface tension-driven effects and thermal performances test on different capillary structures and heat pipes; and (6) breadboards development and support to definition of scientific requirements.     

Ten decisions that could shake the world

Contact with extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) will force policy makers to make some decisions, and will present opportunities for them to influence events by making others. The choices they make could have a profound impact on the human future. This paper describes 10 categories of decisions and briefly discusses their implications. The 10 categories are: (1) calling attention to ourselves; (2) information release and access to the signal; (3) managing political reactions; (4) who speaks for the Earth; (5) what we should say; (6) who decides; (7) how we conduct relations; (8) intensifying the search; (9) expanding human presence and capabilities; (10) adopting an extraterrestrial strategy for the human species.     

TD-1HNMR measurements show enantioselective dissociation of ribose and glucose in the presence of H2(17)O

We used Time Domain (1)H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to characterize changes in proton exchange between water and sugar enantiomers at different concentrations of H(2)(17)O (approximately 15-450 mM) and found that dissociation of the (-)-enantiomers of glucose and ribose occurs at significantly higher rates at higher concentrations of H(2)(17)O. The mechanism behind this enantioselective effect is unclear. The hypothesis we propose is that the large magnetic field (B(o) approximately 0.6T) applied during NMR measurements induces electric moments opposite in sign for the D and L-isomers. Because (17)O has a nuclear electric quadrupole moment not = 0, asymmetrically hydrated complexes may form between the B(o)-polarized enantiomers and H(2)(17)O. Either H(2)(17)O is more often hydrating the (+) than the (-)-enantiomers--and consequently pK differences between H(2)(16)O and H(2)(17)O lead to differences in proton exchange between enantiomers and water--or the orientation of H(2)(17)O relative to the B(o)-polarized enantiomers is different, in total or in part, which leads to hydrated complexes with different spatial geometries and different proton exchange properties. This effect is significant for Magneto-Chiral Stereo-Chemistry (MCSC) and astrobiology, and it may help us better understand specific instances of mass independent isotopic fractionation and aid in the development of new technologies for chiral and isotopic separation.     

Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Early Evolution of Life on Earth: In silico Comparative Analysis of Biochemical Pathways

Abstract In the Universe, oxygen is the third most widespread element, while on Earth it is the most abundant one. Moreover, oxygen is a major constituent of all biopolymers fundamental to living organisms. Besides O(2), reactive oxygen species (ROS), among them hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), are also important reactants in the present aerobic metabolism. According to a widely accepted hypothesis, aerobic metabolism and many other reactions/pathways involving O(2) appeared after the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. In this study, the hypothesis was formulated that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) was at least able to tolerate O(2) and detoxify ROS in a primordial environment. A comparative analysis was carried out of a number of the O(2)-and H(2)O(2)-involving metabolic reactions that occur in strict anaerobes, facultative anaerobes, and aerobes. The results indicate that the most likely LUCA possessed O(2)-and H(2)O(2)-involving pathways, mainly reactions to remove ROS, and had, at least in part, the components of aerobic respiration. Based on this, the presence of a low, but significant, quantity of H(2)O(2) and O(2) should be taken into account in theoretical models of the early Archean atmosphere and oceans and the evolution of life. It is suggested that the early metabolism involving O(2)/H(2)O(2) was a key adaptation of LUCA to already existing weakly oxic zones in Earth's primordial environment. Key Words: Hydrogen peroxide-Oxygen-Origin of life-Photosynthesis-Superoxide dismutase-Superoxide reductase. Astrobiology 12, 775-784.     

Energy, chemical disequilibrium, and geological constraints on Europa

Europa is a prime target for astrobiology. The presence of a global subsurface liquid water ocean and a composition likely to contain a suite of biogenic elements make it a compelling world in the search for a second origin of life. Critical to these factors, however, may be the availability of energy for biological processes on Europa. We have examined the production and availability of oxidants and carbon-containing reductants on Europa to better understand the habitability of the subsurface ocean. Data from the Galileo Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer were used to constrain the surface abundance of CO(2) to 0.036% by number relative to water. Laboratory results indicate that radiolytically processed CO(2)-rich ices yield CO and H(2)CO(3); the reductants H(2)CO, CH(3)OH, and CH(4) are at most minor species. We analyzed chemical sources and sinks and concluded that the radiolytically processed surface of Europa could serve to maintain an oxidized ocean even if the surface oxidants (O(2), H(2)O(2), CO(2), SO(2), and SO(4) (2)) are delivered only once every approximately 0.5 Gyr. If delivery periods are comparable to the observed surface age (30-70 Myr), then Europa's ocean could reach O(2) concentrations comparable to those found in terrestrial surface waters, even if approximately 10(9) moles yr(1) of hydrothermally delivered reductants consume most of the oxidant flux. Such an ocean would be energetically hospitable for terrestrial marine macrofauna. The availability of reductants could be the limiting factor for biologically useful chemical energy on Europa.     

Temporal changes in fluid chemistry and energy profiles in the vulcano island hydrothermal system

In June 2003, the geochemical composition of geothermal fluids was determined at 9 sites in the Vulcano hydrothermal system, including sediment seeps, geothermal wells, and submarine vents. Compositional data were combined with standard state reaction properties to determine the overall Gibbs free energy (DeltaG(r) ) for 120 potential lithotrophic and heterotrophic reactions. Lithotrophic reactions in the H-O-N-S-C-Fe system were considered, and exergonic reactions yielded up to 120 kJ per mole of electrons transferred. The potential for heterotrophy was characterized by energy yields from the complete oxidation of 6 carboxylic acids- formic, acetic, propanoic, lactic, pyruvic, and succinic-with the following redox pairs: O(2)/H(2)O, SO(4) (2)/H(2)S, NO(3) ()/NH(4) (+), S(0)/H(2)S, and Fe(3)O(4)/Fe(2+). Heterotrophic reactions yielded 6-111 kJ/mol e(). Energy yields from both lithotrophic and heterotrophic reactions were highly dependent on the terminal electron acceptor (TEA); reactions with O(2) yielded the most energy, followed by those with NO(3) (), Fe(III), SO(4) (2), and S(0). When only reactions with complete TEA reduction were included, the exergonic lithotrophic reactions followed a similar electron tower. Spatial variability in DeltaG(r) was significant for iron redox reactions, owing largely to the wide range in Fe(2+) and H(+) concentrations. Energy yields were compared to those obtained for samples collected in June 2001. The temporal variations in geochemical composition and energy yields observed in the Vulcano hydrothermal system between 2001 and 2003 were moderate. The largest differences in DeltaG(r) over the 2 years were from iron redox reactions, due to temporal changes in the Fe(2+) and H(+) concentrations. The observed variations in fluid composition across the Vulcano hydrothermal system have the potential to influence not only microbial diversity but also the metabolic strategies of the resident microbial communities.     

Ground based ISS payload microgravity disturbance assessments

In order to verify that the International Space Station (ISS) payload facility racks do not disturb the microgravity environment of neighboring facility racks and that the facility science operations are not compromised, a testing and analytical verification process must be followed. Currently no facility racks have taken this process from start to finish. The authors are participants in implementing this process for the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF). To address the testing part of the verification process, the Microgravity Emissions Laboratory (MEL) was developed at GRC. The MEL is a 6 degree of freedom inertial measurement system capable of characterizing inertial response forces (emissions) of components, sub-rack payloads, or rack-level payloads down to 10(-7) g's. The inertial force output data, generated from the steady state or transient operations of the test articles, are utilized in analytical simulations to predict the on-orbit vibratory environment at specific science or rack interface locations. Once the facility payload rack and disturbers are properly modeled an assessment can be made as to whether required microgravity levels are achieved. The modeling is utilized to develop microgravity predictions which lead to the development of microgravity sensitive ISS experiment operations once on-orbit. The on-orbit measurements will be verified by use of the NASA GRC Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS). The major topics to be addressed in this paper are: (1) Microgravity Requirements, (2) Microgravity Disturbers, (3) MEL Testing, (4) Disturbance Control, (5) Microgravity Control Process, and (6) On-Orbit Predictions and Verification.     

Martian CH(4): sources, flux, and detection

Recent observations have detected trace amounts of CH(4) heterogeneously distributed in the martian atmosphere, which indicated a subsurface CH(4) flux of ~2 x 10(5) to 2 x 10(9) cm(2) s(1). Four different origins for this CH(4) were considered: (1) volcanogenic; (2) sublimation of hydrate- rich ice; (3) diffusive transport through hydrate-saturated cryosphere; and (4) microbial CH(4) generation above the cryosphere. A diffusive flux model of the martian crust for He, H(2), and CH(4) was developed based upon measurements of deep fracture water samples from South Africa. This model distinguishes between abiogenic and microbial CH(4) sources based upon their isotopic composition, and couples microbial CH(4) production to H(2) generation by H(2)O radiolysis. For a He flux of approximately 10(5) cm(2) s(1) this model yields an abiogenic CH(4) flux and a microbial CH(4) flux of approximately 10(6) and approximately 10(9) cm(2) s(1), respectively. This flux will only reach the martian surface if CH(4) hydrate is saturated in the cryosphere; otherwise it will be captured within the cryosphere. The sublimation of a hydrate-rich cryosphere could generate the observed CH(4) flux, whereas microbial CH(4) production in a hypersaline environment above the hydrate stability zone only seems capable of supplying approximately 10(5) cm(2) s(1) of CH(4). The model predicts that He/H(2)/CH(4)/C(2)H(6) abundances and the C and H isotopic values of CH(4) and the C isotopic composition of C(2)H(6) could reveal the different sources. Cavity ring-down spectrometers represent the instrument type that would be most capable of performing the C and H measurements of CH(4) on near future rover missions and pinpointing the cause and source of the CH(4) emissions.     

Exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to hypobaric environments: implications for low-pressure bioregenerative life support systems for human exploration missions and terraforming on Mars

Understanding how hypobaria can affect net photosynthetic (P (net)) and net evapotranspiration rates of plants is important for the Mars Exploration Program because low-pressured environments may be used to reduce the equivalent system mass of near-term plant biology experiments on landers or future bioregenerative advanced life support systems. Furthermore, introductions of plants to the surface of a partially terraformed Mars will be constrained by the limits of sustainable growth and reproduction of plants to hypobaric conditions. To explore the effects of hypobaria on plant physiology, a low-pressure growth chamber (LPGC) was constructed that maintained hypobaric environments capable of supporting short-term plant physiological studies. Experiments were conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana maintained in the LPGC with total atmospheric pressures set at 101 (Earth sea-level control), 75, 50, 25 or 10 kPa. Plants were grown in a separate incubator at 101 kPa for 6 weeks, transferred to the LPGC, and acclimated to low-pressure atmospheres for either 1 or 16 h. After 1 or 16 h of acclimation, CO(2) levels were allowed to drawdown from 0.1 kPa to CO(2) compensation points to assess P (net) rates under different hypobaric conditions. Results showed that P (net) increased as the pressures decreased from 101 to 10 kPa when CO(2) partial pressure (pp) values were below 0.04 kPa (i.e., when ppCO2 was considered limiting). In contrast, when ppCO(2) was in the nonlimiting range from 0.10 to 0.07 kPa, the P (net) rates were insensitive to decreasing pressures. Thus, if CO(2 )concentrations can be kept elevated in hypobaric plant growth modules or on the surface of a partially terraformed Mars, P (net) rates may be relatively unaffected by hypobaria. Results support the conclusions that (i) hypobaric plant growth modules might be operated around 10 kPa without undue inhibition of photosynthesis and (ii) terraforming efforts on Mars might require a surface pressure of at least 10 kPa (100 mb) for normal growth of deployed plant species.     

Lithopanspermia in star-forming clusters

This paper considers the lithopanspermia hypothesis in star-forming groups and clusters, where the chances of biological material spreading from one solar system to another is greatly enhanced (relative to action in the field) because of the close proximity of the systems and lower relative velocities. These effects more than compensate for the reduced time spent in such crowded environments. This paper uses approximately 300,000 Monte Carlo scattering calculations to determine the cross sections for rocks to be captured by binaries and provides fitting formulae for other applications. We assess the odds of transfer as a function of the ejection speed v (eject) and number N(.) of members in the birth aggregate. The odds of any given ejected meteoroid being recaptured by another solar system are relatively low, about 1:10(3)-10(6) over the expected range of ejection speeds and cluster sizes. Because the number of ejected rocks (with mass m > 10 kg) per system can be large, N (R) approximately 10(16), virtually all solar systems are likely to share rocky ejecta with all of the other solar systems in their birth cluster. The number of ejected rocks that carry living microorganisms is much smaller and less certain, but we estimate that N (B) approximately 10(7) rocks can be ejected from a biologically active solar system. For typical birth environments, the capture of life-bearing rocks is expected to occur N (bio) asymptotically equal to 10-16,000 times (per cluster), depending on the ejection speeds. Only a small fraction (f (imp) approximately 10(4)) of the captured rocks impact the surfaces of terrestrial planets, so that N (lps) asymptotically equal to 10(3)-1.6 lithopanspermia events are expected per cluster (under favorable conditions). Finally, we discuss the question of internal versus external seeding of clusters and the possibility of Earth seeding young clusters over its biologically active lifetime.