雷锡恩公司签署1.22亿美元合同为美海军升级战斧导弹

<正>雷锡恩公司近期签署了一份价值1.22亿美元合同,为海军114枚战斧BlockⅣ型巡航导弹进行现代化升级。这份合同也标志着海军在201 5财年采购214枚战斧BlockⅣ导弹的计划已经完成。雷锡恩公司高级项目主管称,战斧导弹在近期的历次冲突中都有登场,这种可从水面或水下发射的巡航导弹将依旧是美国未来打击高价值目标的首选。雷锡恩公司将依旧致力于保持这种武器的可承受性,并     

战斧Block Ⅳ成功进行飞行试验

据简氏导弹与火箭2006年12月14日报道．雷锡恩公司研制的战斧Block Ⅳ巡航导弹在12月6日成功完成了1398千米的飞行试验．导弹装备在美国海军Arleigh Burke级驱逐舰上。试验中．战斧Block Ⅳ导弹从垂直发射系统发射．在完成发射操作程序之后转而进入巡航飞行．     

美国将为水面舰和潜艇装备反舰型战斧导弹

正据美国海军官方透露,未来10年内,任何一艘可以发射战斧对陆攻击巡航导弹的美海军水面舰或潜艇都有可能装备射程1800千米的反舰型战斧导弹。在2017财年的预算申请中,包括了43.4亿美元的申请,在未来5年内升级245枚雷锡恩公司的战术战斧导弹,使其具备对海上目标的打击能力。但是,非所有战斧导弹都将进行升级,搭载平台也将由水面舰开始,随后是潜艇。据美国海军预算透露的计划,反舰型战斧将在2021年装备水面部队,用于实弹测试,随后部署到每艘能够发射战     

美对伊实施太空军事化打击的动态值得关注

□□伊拉克战争开战前,美国领导人就信心十足,他们认为能迅速打赢伊拉克战争,其主要原因之一就是美国在太空的军事优势。在伊拉克战争中,美国利用该优势对伊实施了太空使能的军事打击。伊战期间及随后的一些动态值得关注。1值得关注的动态1.1美新一代巡航导弹的发展战前曾有报道说美军将在2003年伊拉克战争中使用新一代舰射巡航导弹——战斧-4型,但实际上未及使用战争就已结束。新一代舰射巡航导弹与老式的“战斧”导弹相比,有许多新的特点。最突出的特点是发射后能在目标区域上空盘旋数个小时,待目标最后确定后再实施攻击。一般来说,战斧-4…     

印／俄合作研制布拉莫斯导弹将于2012年年底完成空射试验

11月5日，美国海军在的一次作战使用试验中试射了一枚战斧BlockIV巡航导弹，演示验证了该导弹新型抗干扰GPS系统的有效性和成功打击时敏目标的能力。     

美战斧巡航导弹击中移动舰艇目标

<正>据中国湖武器测试场进行的两次测试结果显示,最新研发的战斧Block IV导弹可在飞行途中更改指令,并击中1609千米外的移动舰艇目标,美国海军向着舰射远程反舰巡航导弹的目标又迈进了一部。试验中,美海军基德号驱逐舰发射了一枚战斧导弹,并在之后的飞行过程中更改了飞行指令,经过飞机伴随飞行一段距     

英国的核潜艇工业

近几年，英国皇家海军多次对现役的核潜艇进行改进。2004年年底，在“特拉法尔加”号核潜艇安装“战术战斧”武器控制系统，使海军英国拥有第1艘可发射“战术战斧”对地攻击巡航导弹的潜艇。英国皇家海军共定购了64枚该型导弹，并第2年5月在美国附近海域成功进行了首次“战术战斧”导弹的发射试验。2005年多国联合军事演习中，成功试射“三叉戟”Ⅱ导弹。但近年来．随着英国国防力量的裁减和国防预算的削减．导致了新型核潜艇设计和建造需求与保持基本核潜艇工业基础能力之间发生矛盾，也影响英国基于核潜艇的战略核威慑能力。为此．英国国防部委托兰德欧洲公司调查研究英国核潜艇工业基础的规模和能力．并从战略层次审视未来15年英国造船工业发展前景。[编者按]     

巴基斯坦成功试射改进型巡航导弹

3月21日,巴基斯坦军方一位发言人在伊斯兰堡发表的一份声明中说,巴在当天成功试射了1枚可携带核弹头的改进型“巴布尔”巡航导弹,其射程达500千米。发射计划的每个步骤都非常成功,导弹最终分毫不差地命中目标。虽然这枚导弹是从地面发射的,但也可以装备在潜艇上进行发射。此举标志着改进型“巴布尔”导弹的问世,使巴基斯坦已成为世界上为数不多的能够生产装备陆基和海基巡航导弹的国家。巴基斯坦首次试射这种自行研制的巡航导弹是在2005年8月11日。当时发射的是名为“哈塔夫-7”型“巴布尔”的陆基巡航导弹,其射程即为500千米。因为它能够进…     

美国导弹防御系统成功进行多目标拦截试验

<正>近日,美国陆军、空军、海军和导弹防御局对导弹防御系统进行了多目标拦截试验,成功拦截了多枚弹道弹道和巡航导弹目标。试验中,美国采用了末段高空区域防御系统(THAAD)和"宙斯盾"导弹防御系统拦截了三个几乎同时发射的模拟目标。试验是从10月31日开始的,首先由C-17运输机在威克岛西南海域发射一枚短程空射目标(SRALT)     

巡航导弹海上作战

巡航导弹是远距离海战的一种有力武器。对于敌方的多目标编队,可以通过巡航导弹的大规模齐射实施饱和攻击。这项作战任务将主要由水面舰只来承担,因为只有水面舰只才装得下数量较多的巡航导弹,这个优点在采用垂直发射系统时就可得到最好的利用。这一点已为在“诺顿海峡”导弹试验舰(AVM-1)上的一次“战斧”发射试验所证实。     

2005年全球反恐特警队赛记

2005年3月30日到4月2日为期4天，在美国拉斯维加斯举行的全球特警挑战赛（Original World SWAT Challenge,OWSC）中，总计有18支队伍参赛。[编者按]     

Indirect search for Dark Matter with H.E.S.S.

Observations of the Galactic center region with the H.E.S.S. telescopes have established the existence of a steady, extended source of gamma-ray emission coinciding with the position of the super massive black hole Sgr A^*. This is a remarkable finding given the expected presence of dense self-annihilating Dark Matter in the Galactic center region. The self-annihilation process is giving rise to gamma-ray production through hadronization including the production of neutral pions which decay into gamma-rays but also through (loop-suppressed) annihilation into final states of almost mono-energetic photons. We study the observed gamma-ray signal (spectrum and shape) from the Galactic center in the context of Dark Matter annihilation and indicate the prospects for further indirect Dark Matter searches with H.E.S.S.     

The Comet Halley flyby I.R. sounder “I.K.S.”

An infrared sounder is being developed in France to observe in 1986 Comet Halley from the Soviet “VEGA” flyby probes. The instrument, called “I.K.S.”, has three measuring channels. Two of these channels will provide the spectrum of the comet emission in the spectral intervals 2.5–5.0 μ and 6–12 μ, at a constant resolution λ/Δλ = 50.The third channel analyzes the comet I.R. image at a spatial frequency of about 1 arc minute^?1; two I.R. colours are used in this channel: 7–10 μ and 10–14 μ. From the results expected, it is hoped that (1) most primary simple molecules emitted by the nucleus will be identified; (2) the chemical composition and perhaps crystalline structure of the dust grains and ices released by the comet will be derived; and (3) the diameter of the nucleus and its brightness temperatures will be measured.     

The C.E.B.A.S.-Minimodule: behaviour of an artificial aquatic ecological system during spaceflight.

The C.E.B.A.S.-Minimodule, a closed aquatic ecosystem integrated into a middeck locker and consisting of a Zoological (animal tanks), a Botanical (plant bioreactor), a Microbial (bacteria filter) and an Electronic Component (data acquisition/control system) was flown on the STS-89 spaceshuttle mission in January 1998 for 9 days. Preflight the plant bioreactor was loaded with 53 g of Ceratophyllum demersum (coontail) and the animal tanks with 4 adult pregnant females of the fish, Xiphophorus helleri (sword-tails), 200 juveniles of the same species less than 1 week of age, 38 large and 30 juvenile Biomphalaria glabrata water snails. The filter compartment was filled with 200 g of lava grain inoculated with laboratory strains of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. A ground reference was undertaken with the same biological setup with a delay of 4 d. After an adaptation period of 5 d the system was closed and integrated into the spaceshuttle one day before launch. Video recordings of the animals were automatically taken for 10 minutes in 2-hour periods; the tapes were changed daily by the astronauts. The chemical and physical data for the aquatic system were within the expected range and were closely comparable in comparison to the ground reference. After 9 d under space conditions, the plant biomass increased to 117 g. The plants were all found in very good condition. All 4 adult female fish were retrieved in a good physiological condition. The juvenile fishes had a survival rate of about 33%. Almost 97% of the snails had survived and produced more than 250 neonates and 40 spawning packs. All samples were distributed according to a defined schedule and satisfied all scientific needs of the involved 12 principal investigators. This was the first successful spaceflight of an artificial aquatic ecosystem containing vertebrates, invertebrates, higher plants and microorganisms self-sustained by its inhabitants only. C.E.B.A.S. in a modified form and biological setup is a promising candidate for the early space station utilization as a first midterm experiment.     

Mechanisms underlying cellular radiosensitivity and R.B.E.: introductory remarks.

A general outline of the symposium titled "Mechanisms underlying cellular radiosensitivity and R.B.E." will be given in the introduction. The essential topics of molecular radiation biology are described with respect to the damage, repair and mutagenesis caused by high-LET irradiation to cellular DNA. The importance of clustered DNA lesions (locally multiply damaged sites) formed in vivo is discussed. This symposium is devoted to the mechanisms of the biological effects of radiation with high LET, especially with regard to the effects of heavy ions and neutrons which may cause possible risks in space flight, (e.g. carcinogenesis and mutagenesis). Detailed understanding of these risks, however, demands knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biological effects of high-LET radiations. Thus, it was the organizers' idea to hold a symposium dealing with primary physical and chemical events caused in cellular deoxyribonucleoproteins by densely-ionizing radiations and to relate them to track structures and energy transfer processes. The mechanisms of DNA damage were regarded from different points of view including those considering DNA repair and mutagenesis. Problems associated with cell survival and radiation protection were discussed as well. Our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of high-LET radiation actions, however, is limited compared to what we know about low-LET radiation effects (e.g. from gamma-rays or X-rays). To emphasize this statement, I would like to summarize briefly the open questions in molecular radiation biology, what we know already about low-LET effects and what is lacking describing the effect of high-LET radiation.     

The "C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE": a self-sustaining closed aquatic ecosystem for spaceflight experimentation.

The C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE is the miniaturized space flight version of the Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.). It fits into a large middeck locker tray and is scheduled to be flown in the STS 85 and in the NEUROLAB missions. Its volume is about 9 liters and it consists of two animal tanks, a plant cultivator, and a bacteria filter in a monolithic design. An external sensor unit is connected to a data acquisition/control unit. The system integrates its own biological life support. The CO2 exhaled by the consumers (fishes, snails, microorganisms) is assimilated by water plants (Ceratophyllum demersum) which provide them with oxygen. The products of biomass degradation and excretion (mainly ammonia ions) are converted by bacteria into nitrite and nitrate. The latter is taken up by the plants as a nitrogen source together with other ions like phosphate. The plants convert light energy into chemical energy and their illumination is regulated via the oxygen concentration in the water by the control unit. In ground laboratory tests the system exhibited biological stability up to three month. The buffer capacity of the biological filter system is high enough to eliminate the degradation products of about one half of the dead animal biomass as shown in a "crash test". A test series using the laboratory model of the flight hardware demonstrated the biological stability and technical reliability with mission-identical loading and test duration. A comprehensive biological research program is established for the C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE in which five German and three U.S.-American universities as well as the Russian Academy of Sciences are involved.     

C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE: test results of an artificial (man-made) aquatic ecosystem.

The original Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) is a long-term multi-generation research facility for experiments with aquatic animals and plants in a space station the development of which is surrounded by a large international scientific program. In addition, a miniaturized laboratory prototype, the C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE, with a total volume of about 10-12 liters for a Spacelab middeck locker was developed and a first version was tested successfully for two weeks with a population of fishes (Xiphophorus helleri) in the animal tank and a Ceratophyllum spec. in the illuminated higher plant growth chamber. The water recycling system consisted of a bacteria filter and a mechanical filter and the silastic tubing gas exchanger was separated by valves for the utilization in emergency cases only. Data were collected with the acquisition module of the original C.E.B.A.S. process control system. In addition, an optimized version was tested for 7 weeks with fishes and plants and thereafter with fish and with plants only for 2 and 1 weeks, resp.. The paper presents the relevant water parameters (e.g., pH, pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation, flow rate, ion concentrations) during the test period as well as morphological and physiological data of the enclosed animals and plants. On the basis of the given results the possible role of the C.E.B.A.S. system as a scientific tool in artificial ecosystem research and for the development of a combined animal-plant intensive aquaculture system and its utilization in bioregenerative life support is discussed.     

Aquatic modules for bioregenerative life support systems: developmental aspects based on the space flight results of the C.E.B.A.S. MIN-MODULE.

The Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) is an artificial aquatic ecosystem which contains teleost fishes, water snails, ammonia oxidizing bacteria and edible non-gravitropic water plants. It serves as a model for aquatic food production modules which are not seriously affected by microgravity and other space conditions. Its space flight version, the so-called C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE was already successfully tested in the STS-89 and STS-90 (NEUROLAB) missions. It will be flown a third time in space with the STS-107 mission in January 2003. All results obtained so far in space indicate that the basic concept of the system is more than suitable to drive forward its development. The C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE is located within a middeck locker with limited space for additional components. These technical limitations allow only some modifications which lead to a maximum experiment time span of 120 days which is not long enough for scientifically essential multi-generation-experiments. The first necessary step is the development of "harvesting devices" for the different organisms. In the limited space of the plant bioreactor a high biomass production leads to self-shadowing effects which results in an uncontrolled degradation and increased oxygen consumption by microorganisms which will endanger the fishes and snails. It was shown already that the latter reproduce excellently in space and that the reproductive functions of the fish species are not affected. Although the parent-offspring-cannibalism of the ovoviviparous fish species (Xiphophorus helleri) serves as a regulating factor in population dynamics an uncontrolled snail reproduction will also induce an increased oxygen consumption per se and a high ammonia concentration in the water. If harvesting locks can be handled by astronauts in, e. g., 4-week intervals their construction is not very difficult and basic technical solutions are already developed. The second problem is the feeding of the animals. Although C.E.B.A.S.-based aquaculture modules are designed to be closed food loop systems (edible herbivorous fish species and edible water plants) which are already verified on Earth this will not be possible in space without devices in which the animals are fed from a food storage. This has to be done at least once daily which would waste too much crew time when done by astronauts. So, the development of a reliable automated food dispenser has highest priority. Also in this case basic technical solutions are already elaborated. The paper gives a comprehensive overview of the proposed further C.E.B.A.S.-based development of longer-term duration aquatic food production modules.     

V.L.A. observations of flare build-up in coronal loops

Very Large Array (V.L.A.) measurements at 20 cm wavelength map emission from coronal loops with second-of-arc angular resolution at time intervals as short as 3.3 seconds. The total intensity of the 20 cm emission describes the evolution and structure of the hot plasma that is detected by satellite X-ray observations of coronal loops. The circular polarization of the 20 cm emission describes the evolution, strength and structure of the coronal magnetic field. Preburst heating and magnetic changes that precede burst emission on time scales of between 1 and 30 minutes are discussed. Simultaneous 20 cm and soft X-ray observations indicate an electron temperature $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\textcolor{red}{}\text{2.5 × 10}{}^7\text{K}$ and electron density $\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\textcolor{red}{}\text{10}{}^{10}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}$ during preburst heating in a coronal loop that was also associated with twisting of the entire loop in space. We also discuss the successive triggering of bursts from adjacent coronal loops; highly polarized emission from the legs of loops with large intensity changes over a 32 MHz change in observing frequency; and apparent motions of hot plasma within coronal loops at velocities V > 2,000 kilometerspersecond.     

Pigment composition and concentrations within the plant (Ceratophyllum demersum L.) component of the STS-89 C.E.B.A.S. Mini-Module spaceflight experiment.

The Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) Mini-Module, a Space Shuttle middeck locker payload which supports a variety of aquatic inhabitants (fish, snails, plants and bacteria) in an enclosed 8.6 L chamber, was tested for its biological stability in microgravity. The aquatic plant, Ceratophyllum demersum L., was critical for the vitality and functioning of this artificial mini-ecosystem. Its photosynthetic pigment concentrations were of interest due to their light harvesting and protective functions. "Post-flight" chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations within Ceratophyllum apical segments were directly related to the quantities of light received in the experiments, with microgravity exposure (STS-89) failing to account for any significant deviation from ground control studies.