Reconstituting the US space programme

This response to Alex Roland's article, ‘Priorities in space for the USA’, argues that his analysis and conclusions are based on shaky historical evidence. Professor Roland's interpretation of NASA's priorities since 1959 is challenged, and it is pointed out that the manned spaceflight programme has widespread support in the USA. The most important issue, raised by the article but not treated extensively enough, is whether the pursuit of the widely accepted emphasis on manned spaceflight is a large-scale societal mistake.     

美国载人航天安全要求和管理

安全问题对载人航天的成败至关重要.文章介绍了美国NASA在载人航天安全管理方面的有关标准和管理文件.文章也不排斥人的安全意识对载人航天的安全十分关键.     

模拟载人探月中航天员空间辐射风险评估

空间辐射是长期载人航天飞行任务中影响航天员健康的重要风险因素。为了探求载人探月过程中对空间辐射的合理防护方式,文章借助空间辐射场模型对"嫦娥三号"飞行任务在不同质量厚度材料屏蔽下的舱内空间辐射环境进行了仿真计算,并确定了航天员各器官接受的空间辐射剂量、剂量当量以及有效剂量等辐射防护量以进行辐射风险评估。结果表明,随着屏蔽厚度的增加,航天员的各组织或器官的吸收剂量和剂量当量以及有效剂量均明显降低;采用质量屏蔽的方法对低于100 Me V的质子具有很好的防护效果,但对高能质子或重离子的防护效果不明显。计算和分析显示,载人探月过程中,只要采取适当的防护措施,航天员的空间辐射风险是可控的。     

失重模拟技术的发展及其比较研究

失重或称微重力环境是载人航天轨道飞行中的重要环境因素,地面上失重模拟实验是航天前的重要准备工作之一。失重模拟方法及其设备多种多样,要依其目的不同而进行选择。文章对上述问题进行了充分的比较研究,并在此基础上指出了中性浮力水槽和失重飞机是失重模拟设备中最常用和最有效的工具。建议从我国的实际情况出发,适时的加以建造。     

中国首次交会对接任务的技术成就和展望

首次交会对接任务的成功实施,使中国突破和基本掌握了航天器交会对接及其组合体的控制与管理技术,标志着中国载人航天工程二期任务取得重大突破,为空间实验室及后期空间站的建设奠定了坚实基础。文章对国内外交会对接技术进行了对比,对所取得的技术成就进行了综述,指出任务成功具有提升国家威望、产生广泛社会效益、带动基础学科发展、推动航...     

The origins and development of China's manned spaceflight programme

The development of manned spaceflight in China, which began in the 1960s, has now been progressing for over 40 years. This paper analyzes China's policy in this field from its tentative conception in 1965 to the 921 Project currently underway, before outlining future goals. The first step in China's ‘three-step’ plan has already been accomplished. The next goal, within the coming five years, is to develop rendezvous technology.     

载人航天器的断裂控制

为了确保载人航天系统的可靠性和航天员的生命安全,必须对载人航天器结构部件进行断裂控制。文章介绍了有关断裂控制的一般原理和基本要求。     

The Soviet manned lunar programme and its legacy

In the last two years the USSR has not only acknowledged publicly for the first time that it was trying to ‘race’ the USA to put the first man on the Moon, but they have finally given some details of the programme, the equipment and the political in-fighting which ensured that the programme was a failure. This article traces the history of the Soviet manned lunar programme and also discusses the implications for the future development of the Soviet manned programme of the giant N-1 booster's cancellation in 1974.     

China''s space policy: review and prospects

This article reviews the current status of the Chinese space programme, covering its military origins, launchers, applications satellites, manned spaceflight and exploration. It examines the growing commercialization of China's space activities and how far this is likely to be successful, especially in the light of MTCR constraints and other legal regulations. It is nonetheless concluded that commercialization, along with joint ventures with foreign companies, has been crucial to the development of China's space programme. However, the country still lacks the resources to become a first-rank space power.     

神舟六号载人飞船及其技术改进

介绍了我国第二次载人航天飞行试验的目标和主要任务，给出了神舟六号载人飞船的主要任务和技术指标，以及构型与布局、子系统设置与设备配套、飞行方案、发射窗口和飞行轨道等技术状态。概述了神舟五号飞船飞行试验问题归零、飞行任务引起的更改、提高产品可靠性的更改、其他原因引起的更改和工艺流程的变化等部分技术改进。神舟六号载人飞船飞行试验的成功表明，其技术可满足多人多天空间飞行的要求。     

Skill maintenance in extended spaceflight: a human factors analysis of space and analogue work environments

This paper discusses the implications of increasing mission lengths of manned spaceflight for the design of future space systems from a human factors point of view. It is argued that the increase in mission duration has brought about a number of new problems, which have not been sufficiently addressed in space research. Therefore, a review of analogue work environments is carried out to make up for the paucity of space research found in the area of human performance in long-duration spaceflight. This resulted in an evaluation of seven analogue environments concerning their similarity to space with industrial process control and nuclear submarines coming out as the closest match on the technical dimension. Finally, some recommendations are given from the lessons learned in spaceflight, simulation studies and appropriate analogue environments.     

神舟号载人飞船船载测控通信分系统

介绍了神舟号载人飞船船载测控通信分系统中统-S波段（USB）、C波段、遥测、遥控、图像、话音、超短波（VHF）、短波（HF）和天线等子系统的组成、主要功能与特点，以及跟踪测轨、话音通信、遥控、遥测和天线等的可靠性设计。地面试验和飞行试验结果表明，该测控通信分系统都完成了测量任务，完全能满足载人航天工程的高要求。     

"神舟"号载人飞船轨控发动机的研制

概述了“神舟”号载人飞船2500N轨控发动机研制的主要组件和相关试验的结果。介绍了研制试验情况，喷注器方案、燃烧稳定性、喷注器热相容性和推力室内冷却等关键技术，以及为满足载人航天高可靠性、高安全性要求而采取的可靠性措施。     

载人航天过程中人的可靠性研究

从失误分析、理论研究及可靠性预测三方面详细分析了人的可靠性研究现状 ,在此基础上 ,指出其未来主要的发展方向与手段。最后 ,认为必须从人、机、环境三个方面进行综合考虑来提高航天员的可靠性。     

Creating a UK human spaceflight capability: A modest proposal

Since the beginning of international manned activity in the early 1960s, UK governments have consistently avoided participation in human spaceflight, with its high cost and doubts over the resulting scientific gains generally cited as the reasons for opting out. This has resulted in the UK scientific community having no direct access to microgravity science experiments, while the education establishment has missed out on the gains to be had from scientific and technology inspiration for young people. It also makes realistic involvement in the future international manned exploration of the Moon and the solar system unlikely. A viable, low-cost programme could be implemented in the near future to allow for a modest UK manned access to the International Space Station. This need only cost around £50 million over five years, representing about a 5% increase in the current annual UK civil space budget, with funding sought from government departments, research councils and private industry. Making use of Soyuz commercial flights, the project would allow for two separate 10-day science missions. The small corps of three UK astronauts established for the project would form a modest ‘seed-corn’ for future international orbital, lunar and solar system manned exploration involvement for the UK. The benefits of this project would cover science research, education outreach, industrial employment and involvement in international cooperation in manned exploration of the cosmos, as well as in the microgravity research being undertaken by NASA and others.     

Thoughts on Europe's future in space

Fearing that mistaken decisions may be made, the author offers his comments to clarify the future possibilities for Ariane, Hermes and Columbus. The decisions soon to be taken on the manned spaceflight programme will affect the future of the entire European space programme. The possibilities for air-breathing propulsion are also reviewed.     

“Space superiority”: Wernher von Braun's campaign for a nuclear-armed space station, 1946–1956

The literature on the history of spaceflight has depicted the early 1950s Collier’s articles mostly as a forerunner to the peaceful and scientific exploration of space. Yet the centerpiece of Wernher von Braun's plan was a manned space station that would serve as reconnaissance platform and orbiting battle station for achieving “space superiority” over the USSR. One its roles could be the launching of nuclear missiles. When challenged as to the station's defensibility, von Braun even posited pre-emptive atomic strikes from space as a response to the development of a hostile anti-satellite capability.     

Space: The routes of the future

This paper is an attempt to describe the interplay of factors and constraints that will shape the future of space technology. A demand-pull relationship with the needs of global society is tending to become dominant, except with regard to the field of manned spaceflight. Against this background some guidelines for a European space policy are proposed.     

Choosing partners for a manned mission to Mars

Who are the best partners for a US manned mission to Mars? Arguments have been made for a joint US-Soviet manned mission which would improve relations between the superpowers and prevent the weaponization of space. However, from the viewpoint of the US space advocate, the issue is which is the most expeditious way to get humans to Mars. Let's go to Mars, the author argues, but with allies and friends rather than the USA's primary competitor on Earth.     

Solid Rocket Motors for Launch Escape Tower Provide Safety to Astronauts

Compared with other ordinary launch vehicles, the LM-2F launch vehicle has two special systems, the fault detection processing system and launch escape system, because it is used for manned spaceflight missions. During the 10 flight missions carried out by LM-2F, only the launch