Stoichiometric constraints and complete closure of long-term life support systems.

High closure of matter recycling is an obvious requirement for long-term life support systems (LSS). Biological species are obligate components of the LSS since physical/chemical components are not able yet to provide food for crew. However including biological species into LSS is difficult due to specific stoichiometric configuration of their inputs and outputs. Formally the problem is to estimate the ability for given set of species to provide complete closure of LSS. Two possible models of metabolism organization can be considered: rigid and flexible ones. Stoichiometric analyses showed that the rigid metabolism case is not typical and takes place with very specific requirements. The flexible metabolic model can be applied to describing wide range of systems. Some formal indications of ability to provide complete closure and stationarity of LSS state are considered in the paper. These indications establish some constraints on the form of mathematical models intended to describe artificial and natural ecological systems.     

Evaluation of optimal configuration of hybrid Life Support System for Space.

Any comprehensive evaluation of Life Support Systems (LSS) for space applications has to be conducted taking into account not only mass of LSS components but also all relevant equipment and storage: spare parts, additional mass of space ship walls, power supply and heat rejection systems. In this paper different combinations of hybrid LSS (HLSS) components were evaluated. Three variants of power supply were under consideration--solar arrays, direct solar light transmission to plants, and nuclear power. The software based on simplex approach was used for optimizing LSS configuration with respect to its mass. It was shown that there are several LSS configuration, which are optimal for different time intervals. Optimal configurations of physical-chemical (P/C), biological and hybrid LSS for three types of power supply are presented.     

临近空间大气化学过程快速建模技术初探

围绕临近空间大气化学过程数值模拟计算问题,以平流层大气4个典型光化学系统为例,运用化学动理学预处理(KPP)工具,对不同复杂度的光化学反应质量平衡方程体系进行预处理,快速建立各系统化学动理学方程组的代数表示;针对模型中的大刚性ODE方程组,选取6种不同的数值计算方案(rodas,ros3,ros4,rosenbrock...     

The biological component of the life support system for a Martian expedition.

Ground-based experiments at RF SSC-IBMP RAS (State Science Center of Russian Federation--Institute of Biomedical Problems of Russian Academia of Science) were aimed at overall studies of a human-unicellular algae-mineralization LSS (life support system) model. The system was 15 m3 in volume. It contained 45 L of algal suspension with a dry substance density of 10-12 g per liter; water volume, including the algal suspension, was 59 L. More sophisticated model systems with partial substitution of unicellular algae with higher plates (crop area of 15 m2) were tested in three experiments from 1.5 to 2 months in duration. The experiments demonstrated that LSS employing the unicellular algae play not only a macrofunction (regeneration of atmosphere and water) but also carry some other functions (purification of atmosphere, formation of microbial cenosis etc.) providing an adequate human environment. It is also important that functional reliability of the algal regenerative subsystem is secured by a huge number of cells able, in the event of death of a part of population, to recover in the shortest possible time the size of population and, hence, functionality of the LSS autotrophic component. For a long period of time a Martian crew will be detached from Earth's biosphere and for this reason LSS of their vehicle must be highly reliable, robust and redundant. One of the approaches to LSS redundancy is installation of two systems with different but equally efficient regeneration technologies, i.e. physical-chemical and biological. At best, these two systems should operate in parallel sharing the function of regeneration of the human environment. In case of failure or a sharp deterioration in performance of one system the other will, by way of redundancy, increase its throughput to make up for the loss. This LSS design will enable simultaneous handling of a number of critical problems including adequate satisfaction of human environmental needs.     

Management and control of microbial populations' development in LSS of missions of different durations.

The problem of interaction between man and microorganisms in closed habitats is an inextricable part of the whole problem of co-existence between macro- and microorganisms. Concerning the support of human life in closed habitat, we can, conventionally, divide microorganisms, acting in life support system (LSS) into three groups: useful, neutral and harmful. The tasks, for human beings for optimal coexistence with microhabitants seem to be trivial: (1) to increase the activity of useful forms, (2) decrease the activity harmful forms, (3) not allow the neutral forms to become the harmful ones and even to help them to gain useful activity. The task of efficient management and control of microbial population's development in LSS highly depends on mission duration. As for short-term missions without recycling, the proper hygienic procedures are developed. For longer missions, the probability of transformation of the neutral forms into the harmful ones is becoming more dangerous. The LSS for long-term missions are to use cycling-recycling systems, including system with biological recycling. In these systems, microbial populations as regenerative link should be useful and active agents. Some problems of microbial populations control and management are discussed in the paper.     

Biological life-support systems for Mars mission.

Mars mission like the Lunar base is the first venture to maintain human life beyond earth biosphere. So far, all manned space missions including the longest ones used stocked reserves and can not be considered egress from biosphere. Conventional path proposed by technology for Martian mission LSS is to use physical-chemical approaches proved by the experience of astronautics. But the problem of man living beyond the limits of the earth biosphere can be fundamentally solved by making a closed ecosystem for him. The choice optimum for a Mars mission LSS can be substantiated by comparing the merits and demerits of physical-chemical and biological principles without ruling out possible compromise between them. The work gives comparative analysis of ecological and physical-chemical principles for LSS. Taking into consideration universal significance of ecological problems with artificial LSS as a particular case of their solution, complexity and high cost of large-scale experiments with manned LSS, it would be expedient for these works to have the status of an International Program open to be joined. A program of making artificial biospheres based on preceding experience and analysis of current situation is proposed.     

The conceptual design of a hybrid life support system based on the evaluation and comparison of terrestrial testbeds.

This report summarizes a trade study of different options of a bioregenerative Life Support System (LSS) and a subsequent conceptual design of a hybrid LSS. The evaluation was based mainly on the terrestrial testbed projects MELISSA (ESA) and BIOS (Russia). In addition, some methods suggested by the Advanced Life Support Project (NASA) were considered. Computer models, including mass flows were established for each of the systems with the goal of closing system loops to the extent possible. In order to cope with the differences in the supported crew size and provided nutrition, all systems were scaled for supporting a crew of six for a 780 day Mars mission (180 days transport to Mars; 600 days surface period) as given in the NASA Design Reference Mission Scenario [Hoffman, S.J., Kaplan, D.L. Human exploration of Mars: the Reference Mission of the NASA Mars Exploratory Study, 1997]. All models were scaled to provide the same daily allowances, as of calories, to the crew. Equivalent System Mass (ESM) analysis was used to compare the investigated system models against each other. Following the comparison of the terrestrial systems, the system specific subsystem options for Food Supply, Solid Waste Processing, Water Management and Atmosphere Revitalization were evaluated in a separate trade study. The best subsystem technologies from the trade study were integrated into an overall design solution based on mass flow relationships. The optimized LSS is mainly a bioregenerative system, complemented by a few physico-chemical elements, with a total ESM of 18,088 kg, which is about 4 times higher than that of a pure physico-chemical LSS, as designed in an earlier study.     

New concepts for the avoidance or utilisation of methane in life support systems

Due to high resupply costs, especially for long-duration stays in space habitats beyond low earth orbit, future manned space missions will require life support systems (LSS) with a high degree of regenerativity. Possible ways to overcome the waste of resources and to save on resupply mass are therefore of major interest for the development of next generation environmental control and life support systems.     

飞控系统虚拟设计环境

开展面向设计的飞控系统虚拟原型机开发环境研究,提出了飞控系统虚拟设计环境的3层次结构:第1层为运行管理层,以数据库为基础,其核心为PDM(产品数据管理)软件.第2层为虚拟技术层,提供余度飞控计算机、舵回路、传感器等的虚拟原型的生成.第3层为仿真支持层,支持人在回路的仿真验证.分析了实现每层功能的关键技术,并基于该虚拟设计环境,完成了虚拟四余度飞控计算机的设计和验证,使该开发环境具有面向主要结构参数、性能参数、价格参数的虚拟余度飞控计算机系统生成功能.     

The influence of microbial associations on germination of wheat seeds and growth of seedlings under impact of zinc salts

The life support systems (LSS) for long-term missions are to use cycling-recycling systems, including biological recycling. Higher plants are the traditional regenerator of air and producer of food. They should be used in many successive generations of their reproduction in LSS.     

An alternative approach to solar system exploration providing safety of human mission to Mars.

For systematic human Mars exploration, meeting crew safety requirements, it seems perspective to assemble into a spacecraft: an electrical rocket, a well-shielded long-term life support system, and a manipulator-robots operating in combined "presence effect" and "master-slave" mode. The electrical spacecraft would carry humans to the orbit of Mars, providing short distance (and low signal time delay) between operator and robot-manipulators, which are landed on the surface of the planet. Long-term hybrid biological and physical/chemical LSS could provide environment supporting human health and well being. Robot-manipulators operating in "presence effect" and "master-slave" mode exclude necessity of human landing on Martian surface decreasing the level of risk for crew. Since crewmen would not have direct contact with the Martian environment then the problem of mutual biological protection is essentially reduced. Lightweight robot-manipulators, without heavy life support systems and without the necessity of returning to the mother vessel, could be sent as scouts to different places on the planet surface, scanning the most interesting for exobiological research site. Some approximate estimations of electric spacecraft, long-term hybrid LSS, radiation protection and mission parameters are conducted and discussed.     

玻璃基环形振动微陀螺谐振子的设计与制造工艺

针对传统单晶硅材料热胀系数不稳定引起的硅基环形振动微陀螺的温度漂移问题,开展了玻璃基环形振动微陀螺谐振子的设计,并提出了一种新型的玻璃基准三维微结构制造工艺,借助微型电子机械系统（MEMS）工艺中成熟的深硅刻蚀、阳极键合、化学机械抛光等通用加工技术,融合玻璃熔融工艺,解决了玻璃基准三维微结构的制造工艺难题,同时保证了高的加工精度,实现了玻璃基环形振动微陀螺谐振子的高精度批量制造。     

Functional, regulatory and indicator features of microorganisms in man-made ecosystems.

Functional, regulatory and indicator features of microorganisms in development and functioning of the systems and sustaining stability of three man-made ecosystem types has been studied. 1) The functional (metabolic) feature was studied in aquatic ecosystems of biological treatment of sewage waters for the reducer component. 2) The regulatory feature of bacteria for plants (producer component) was studied in simple terrestrial systems "wheat plants-rhizospheric microorganisms-artificial soil" where the behavior of the system varied with activity of the microbial component. For example with atmospheric carbon dioxide content elevated microbes promote intensification of photosynthesis processes, without binding the carbon in the plant biomass. 3) The indicator feature for the humans (consumer component) was studied in Life Support Systems (LSS). High sensitivity of human microflora to system conditions allowed its use as an indicator of the state of both system components and the entire ecosystem. Grant numbers: N99-04-96017, N15.     

一种新的联想记忆系统及其学习收敛性

提出了一种新的联想记忆系统--基于牛顿前向插公式的联想记忆系统(NFI AMS),用以实现在任意阶多变量多项式函数的高精度逼近,设计了相应的学习方法,并证明了在通常情况下对于任意多变量连续函数,NFI-AMS的学习总是以任意精度收敛的.该系统较之传统的CMAC类型的AMS,具有所需供学习的样本点较少,学习精度高和存储单元空间较小的优点,且比多层BP网络具有学习算法简单和收敛速度快的特点,可望在智能控制与信号处理,模式识别中得到应用.     

自动铺丝成型构件缺陷在线检测技术进展

自动铺丝(AFP)工艺为连续纤维增强复合材料结构提供了高效和稳定的成型方法,但铺放工艺参数和成型装备性能的不稳定极易造成制件出现间隙、重叠、纤维波纹等各类缺陷,从而严重影响整体结构的机械性能及使用寿命,因此,利用在线检测系统对成型过程中铺层表面或内部缺陷进行实时识别与评估尤为重要。归纳了复合材料铺放过程中常见缺陷的产生原因、表现形式及其对结构产品综合性能的影响。基于不同检测原理综述了复合材料制件自动铺丝成型过程在线检测系统的发展及应用特点,涵盖激光技术、可见光图像技术、热成像技术及布拉格光纤光栅技术等。总结了当前在线检测系统存在的问题,并展望了其未来发展趋势。     

含气相细节化学反应的二硝酰胺铵燃烧模型

为了研究二硝酰胺铵ADN(Ammonium DiNitramide)燃烧中的细节物理化学过程,建立了一个包含细节气相化学反应的ADN燃烧数学计算模型.该模型基于总连续方程,组元连续方程及能量守恒方程而建立,并运用了有限速率化学动力学原理,最后引入多组元系统状态方程以封闭方程组.此外,该燃烧模型还成功应用了包含34种组元和165个细节气相化学反应的化学动力学方案.使用该模型对0.3MPa下ADN燃烧气相组元摩尔分数与火焰温度分布进行预测,计算结果与试验数据相当吻合,说明该燃烧能够准确描述ADN气相燃烧波结构.     

Life support systems for Mars transit.

The long-held human dream of travel to the stars and planets will probably be realized within the next quarter century. Preliminary analyses by U.S. scientists and engineers suggests that a first trip to Mars could begin as early as 2016. A proposal by U.S.S.R. space planners has suggested that an effort involving the cooperation and collaboration of many nations could begin by 2011. Among the major considerations that must be made in preparation for such an excursion are solidification of the scientific, economic and philosophical rationales for such a trip made by humans, and realistic evaluations of current and projected technical capabilities. Issues in the latter category include launch and propulsion systems, long term system stability and reliability, the psychological and physiological consequences of long term exposure to the space environment, the development and use of countermeasures to deleterious human physiological responses to the space environment, and life support systems that are both capable of the immense journey and reliable enough to assure their continued operation for the duration of the voyage. Many of the issues important in the design of a life support system for a Mars trip are based on reasonably well understood data: the human requirements for food, oxygen and water. However, other issues are less well-defined, such as the demands that will be made on the system for personal cleanliness and hygiene, environmental cleanliness, prevention or reduction of environmental toxins, and psychological responses to the environment and to the diet. It is much too early to make final decisions about the characteristics of the long-duration life support system needed for travel to Mars, or for use on its surface. However, it is clear that life support systems will evolve during the next few decades form the relatively straightforward systems that are used on Shuttle and Soyuz, to increasingly more complex and regenerative systems. The Soviet Union has an operating life support system on Mir that can apparently evolve, and the United States is currently planning the one for Space Station Freedom that will use partial regeneration. It is essential to develop concepts now for life support systems on an advanced Space Station, the lunar outpost (to be launched in about 2004) and the lunar base. Such concepts will build on current technology and capabilities. But because of the variety of different technologies that can be developed, and the potential for coordinating the functions of very diverse sub-systems within the same life support system, the possibility of developing an efficient, reliable mixed process system is high. It is likely that a life support system for Mars transit and base will use a composite of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potentially useful structural elements of a life support system for use on a Mars trip, and to identify the features that, at this time, appear to be most appropriate for inclusion in the system.     

Interaction of physical-chemical and biological regeneration processes in ecological Life Support Systems.

Catalytic combustion of inedible biomass of plants in ecological Life Support Systems (LSS) gives rise to gaseous oxides (CO2, NO2, SO2, etc.). Some of them are toxic for plants suppressing their photosynthesis and productivity. Experiments with "Bios-3" experimental LSS demonstrate that a decrease of photosynthetic productivity in a system with straw incineration can jeopardize its steady operation. Analysis of the situation by a mathematical model taking into account absorption parameters of the system in terms of toxic elements makes it possible to formulate requirements for the structure and operation of LSS to provide for its stability. Avenues for further investigation of the problem of toxic stability of LSS are proposed.     

载人深空探测活动中的尿液处理回收技术分析

生物再生生命保障系统(Bioregenerative Life Support System,BLSS)是人类进行深空探测活动,实现长期载人空间飞行必需的关键技术,对于太空的探索开发具有重要意义。在BLSS系统内,航天员尿液废水的处理回收是非常重要的一部分。将尿液中所含有的大量的水分和丰富的营养物质回收用于系统内植物生长所需营养液的配制,既可以保证植物的正常生长,也有助于实现系统内物质的循环利用进而提高BLSS的闭合度。尿液中所含的大量盐分会威胁植物生长,所以需通过一定的技术手段处理尿液废水并回收其中的水分和营养。为了探索适用于BLSS中的尿液处理回收技术,首先分析了几种面向空间站应用的尿液处理技术,如蒸馏技术等;然后基于回收营养物质的需求,分析了面向民用的、发展较为成熟的尿液处理回收技术,如离子交换吸附技术、氨气吹脱技术和鸟粪石沉淀技术,并讨论了这些尿液处理回收技术在BLSS中的应用前景。最后基于BLSS的实际需求,提出了有望用于BLSS中的尿液处理回收技术流程。