Space radiation dosimetry using bubble detectors.

Bubble detectors--a new development in radiation detection--has only recently been used for radiation measurements in space. One important characteristic of the bubble detector is that it operates on a phenomenon which bears considerable resemblance to biological response. Recent experimental results from irradiating bubble detectors with high-energy heavy ions point to the need to re-examine the methodology used for assessing space radiation and the relevance of conventional quantities such as dose equivalent for space dosimetry. It may be that biological hazard associated with the intensely ionizing events--associated with nuclear fragmentation but delivering relatively small dose equivalent--may be much more important than that associated with lightly ionizing events which comprise the bulk of the conventional radiation dose equivalent.     

“阿特兰蒂斯”号航天飞机的谢幕之旅

<正>美国东部时间5月14日14时20分(北京时间15日2时20分),"阿特兰蒂斯"号航天飞机载着6名航天员从美国佛罗里达州的肯尼迪航天中心发射升空,8分半钟之后进入预定轨道,这是它第32次执行太空飞行任务。如果"发现"号和"奋进"号航天飞机能够顺利地完成接下来的太空飞行任务,那么这次飞行将成为"阿特兰蒂斯"号航天飞机的谢幕之旅。     

航天飞机热结构的辩证反思

挑战者号航天飞机失事的直接原因,是1986年1月28日肯尼迪航天中心的低温天气,使固体火箭助推器的氟橡胶密封圈失去弹性导致泄漏,挑战者号航天飞机发射升空73秒发生爆炸。哥伦比亚号航天飞机失事的直接原因,是升空过程中外贮箱脱落的绝热用聚氨酯泡     

“奋进”号的绝唱之旅

美国东部时间5月16日8时56分(北京时间20时56分),美国"奋进"号航天飞机从佛罗里达州卡纳维拉尔角发射基地肯尼迪航天中心升空,进行最后一次飞行。这是"奋进"号航天飞机第25次飞行,也是航天飞机第134飞行。主要任务"奋进"号的此次飞行代号为STS-134,其主要任务是为国际空间站送去阿尔法磁谱仪-2高能粒子探测器,以及快     

航天飞机经济性的辩证反思

航天飞机将于今年完成最后的告别飞行后正式退役。回顾航天飞机的传奇历程,极具两重性是航天飞机的真实写照。一方面主要依托上世纪七十年代的技术打造的航天飞机,集运载火箭、人货两用飞船、在轨航天器和飞机等技术     

雄鹰亦有折翼时——航天飞机退役原因简析

虽然美国航天飞机铸就了巨大的辉煌,但是它将在2011年发射3架次后退役,这是为什么呢?千方百计难圆满为了极大提高运输能力,航天飞机当初被设计得很复杂。它里面有3500个     

NASDA aquatic animal experiment facilities for Space Shuttle and ISS.

National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has developed aquatic animal experiment facilities for NASA Space Shuttle use. Vestibular Function Experiment Unit (VFEU) was firstly designed and developed for physiological research using carp in Spacelab-J (SL-J, STS-47) mission. It was modified as Aquatic Animal Experiment Unit (AAEU) to accommodate small aquatic animals, such as medaka and newt, for second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2, STS-65) mission. Then, VFEU was improved to accommodate marine fish and to perform neurobiological experiment for Neurolab (STS-90) and STS-95 missions. We have also developed and used water purification system which was adapted to each facility. Based on these experiences of Space Shuttle missions, we are studying to develop advanced aquatic animal experiment facility for both Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS).     

NASDA next generation aquatic habitat for Space Shuttle and ISS.

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has more than 20 years of experience developing aquatic animal experiment facilities. We are now studying the next-generation aquatic animal experiment facility or the Aquatic Habitat (AQH) for both Space Shuttle and International Space Station use. A prototype breeding system was designed and tested. Medaka adult fish were able to mate and spawn in this closed circulatory breeding system, and the larvae grew to adult fish and spawned on the 45th day after hatching. The water quality-control system using nitrifying bacteria worked well throughout the medaka breeding test. For amphibians, we also conducted the African clawed toad (Xenopus laevis) breeding test with the same specimen chambers, although a part of circulation loop was opened to air. Xenopus larvae grew and completed metamorphosis successfully in the small specimen chamber. The first metamorphic climax started on the 30th day and was completed on the 38th day.     

Observations and predictions of secondary neutrons on Space Shuttle and aircraft.

The Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor has flown on six Shuttle flights between September 1991 and February 1995 covering the full range of inclinations as well as altitudes between 220 and 570 km, while a version has flown at supersonic altitudes on Concorde between 1988 and 1992 and at subsonic altitudes on a SAS Boeing 767 between May and August 1993. The Shuttle flights have included passive packages in addition to the active cosmic ray monitor which comprises an array of pin diodes. These are positioned at a number of locations to investigate the influence of shielding and local materials. Use of both metal activation foils and scintillator crystals enables neutron fluences to be inferred from the induced radioactivity which is observed on return to Earth. Supporting radiation transport calculations are performed to predict secondary neutron spectra and the energy deposition due to nuclear reactions in silicon pin diodes and the induced radioactivity in the various scintillator crystals. The wide variety of orbital and atmospheric locations enables investigation of the influence of shielding on cosmic ray, trapped proton and solar flare proton spectra.     

发现号航天飞机迎来绝唱

美国东部时间2月24日16点50分,带着广大航天爱好者选定的"叫醒曲",6位航天员乘坐发现号航天飞机开始执行STS-133任务。此次航天任务是发现号最后一次飞行,航天飞机第35次     

Further analyses of human kidney cell populations separated on the Space Shuttle.

Cultured human embryonic kidney cells were separated into electrophoretic subpopulations in laboratory experiments and in two separation experiments on the STS-8 (Challenger) Space Shuttle flight using the mid-deck Continuous Flow Electrophoretic Separator (CFES). Populations of cells from each fraction were cultured for the lifetime of the cells, and supernatant medium was withdrawn and replaced at 4-day intervals. Withdrawn medium was frozen at -120 degrees C for subsequent analysis. Enzyme assays, antibodies and gel electrophoresis were used as analytical tools for the detection and quantitation of plasminogen activators in these samples. These assays of frozen culture supernatant fluids confirmed the electrophoretic separation of plasminogen-activator producing cells from non-producing cells, the isolation of cells capable of sustained production, and the separation of cells that produce different plasminogen activators from one another.     

Space Shuttle drops down the SAA doses on ISS

Long-term analysis of data from two radiation detection instruments on the International Space Station (ISS) shows that the docking of the Space Shuttle drops down the measured dose rates in the region of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) by a factor of 1.5–3. Measurements either by the R3DE detector, which is outside the ISS at the EuTEF facility on the Columbus module behind a shielding of less than 0.45 g cm⁻², and by the three detectors of the Liulin-5 particle telescope, which is inside the Russian PEARS module in the spherical tissue equivalent phantom behind much heavier shielding demonstrate that effect. Simultaneously the estimated averaged incident energies of the incoming protons rise up from about 30 to 45 MeV. The effect is explained by the additional shielding against the SAA 30–150 MeV protons, provided by the 78 tons Shuttle to the instruments inside and outside of the ISS. An additional reason is the ISS attitude change (performed for the Shuttle docking) leading to decreasing of dose rates in two of Liulin-5 detectors because of the East–West proton fluxes asymmetry in SAA. The Galactic Cosmic Rays dose rates are practically not affected.     

国际空间站与“发现”号航天飞机过境观测

201 1年3月9日,石家庄的天气异常晴朗,我们青少年宫天文馆提前从相关网站上得到了国际空间站将要经过石家庄地区上空的消息,于是组织了十几名星友与报社记者,分乘四辆车,在当天傍晚一起来到了位于石家庄市郊的滹沱河东边。我们一共携带了三台大口径望远镜和五架单反数码相机。大家在18:40左右准备好了各自的器材,跃跃欲试,只待国际空间站的出现。就在天刚     

Properties of electrophoretic fractions of human embryonic kidney cells separated on Space Shuttle flight STS-8.

Suspensions of cultured primary human embryonic kidney cells were subjected to continuous flow electrophoresis on Space Shuttle flight STS-8. The objectives of the experiments were to obtain electrophoretically separated fractions of the original cell populations and to test these fractions for the amount and kind of urokinase (a kidney plasminogen activator that is used medically for digesting blood clots), the morphologies of cells in the individual fractions, and their cellular electrophoretic mobilities after separation and subsequent proliferation. Individual fractions were successfully cultured after return from orbit, and they were found to differ substantially from one another and from the starting sample with respect to all of these properties.     

Description, analysis and impact of major solar activity during recent U.S. Shuttle missions.

Since STS-26, three large solar events have occurred during Shuttle missions; a geomagnetic storm during STS-29 and solar particle events (SPEs) during STS-28 and -34. The maximum dose to a crew attributed to an SPE was estimated to be 30 microGy (70 microSv). Time-resolved dosimetry measurements of the SPE dose during STS-28 were made using the Air Force Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-III. Comparison of calculated and measured dose demonstrated a discrepancy, possibly a result of deficiencies in the geomagnetic cutoff model used. This experience demonstrates that dose from an SPE is strongly dependent on numerous factors such as orbit inclination, SPE start time, spectral parameters and geomagnetic field conditions; the exact combination of these factors is fortuitous. New sources of data and procedures are being investigated, including real-time tracking of auroral oval positions or determination of particle cutoff latitudes, for incorporation into operational Shuttle radiation support practices.     

Evaluation of the dynamic cutoff rigidity model using dosimetry data from the STS-28 flight.

We have a developed a dynamic cutoff rigidity model based on computed world grids of vertical cutoff rigidities derived from employing the Tsyganenko magnetospheric model. The dynamic range of this model covers all magnetic activity levels specified by integer values of the Kp magnetic index. We present comparisons of the measured dose observed on the space shuttle during the August 1989 solar proton event with the dose computed from solar particles predicted to be allowed through the magnetosphere to the space shuttle position. We find a one-to-one correspondence between the portion of the orbit predicted to be subjected to solar protons and the portion of the orbit where solar particle dose measurements were obtained.     

平衡空间到模态空间的反映射模型降阶方法

针对内平衡降阶方法物理意义不清晰,平衡坐标无法由传感器直接测量的问题,文章基于柔性航天器动力学模型,提出了通过反映射实现平衡空间到模态空间的模型降阶方法。利用状态空间线性变换传递函数和特征值的不变性,通过平衡降阶模型零极点传递函数获得了与原系统相对应的特征频率,给出了平衡降阶模型与原模态子空间的映射关系,成功构造了反映射矩阵。频率响应及可控可观性分析结果显示,模态子空间降阶模型能够准确找到与原模型相匹配的状态变量,物理意义清楚,便于控制系统使用。     

Measurements of trapped protons and cosmic rays from recent Shuttle flights.

We have flown two new charged particle detectors in five recent Shuttle flights. In this paper we report on the dose rate, equivalent dose rate, and radiation quality factor for trapped protons and cosmic radiation separately. A comparison of the integral linear energy transfer (LET) spectra with recent transport code calculations show significant disagreement. Using the calculated dose rate from the omni-directional AP8MAX model with IGRF reference magnetic field epoch 1970, and observed dose rate as a function of (averaged over all geographic latitude) and longitude, we have determined the westward drift of the South Atlantic anomaly. We have also studied the east-west effect, and observed a 'second' radiation belt. A comparison of the galactic cosmic radiation lineal energy transfer spectra with model calculations shows disagreement comparable to those of the trapped protons.     

立方体卫星正在促进太空工业模式的转变

自从1999年美国加州工艺技术大学(CalPoly)和斯坦福大学提出了立方体卫星概念以后,逐渐出现了立方体卫星的发展热潮。特别是2013年至今,已进入开发面向市场的决定性阶段。2014年全世界共成功发射了131颗立方体卫星,其中有大约100颗已投入商业运行,到2016年,立方体卫星的发射数量可能会超过240颗。由于立方体卫星体现了低成本、快速研制和应用效果好等优势,该类型的卫星很快就突破教学、技术试验的范围,冲向遥感、科学、通信、深空探测等太空系统主流应用领域。     

Biological dosimetry in Russian and Italian astronauts.

Large uncertainties are associated with estimates of equivalent dose and cancer risk for crews of long-term space missions. Biological dosimetry in astronauts is emerging as a useful technique to compare predictions based on quality factors and risk coefficients with actual measurements of biological damage in-flight. In the present study, chromosomal aberrations were analyzed in one Italian and eight Russian cosmonauts following missions of different duration on the MIR and the international space station (ISS). We used the technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to visualize translocations in chromosomes 1 and 2. In some cases, an increase in chromosome damage was observed after flight, but no correlation could be found between chromosome damage and flight history, in terms of number of flights at the time of sampling, duration in space and extra-vehicular activity. Blood samples from one of the cosmonauts were exposed in vitro to 6 MeV X-rays both before and after the flight. An enhancement in radiosensitivity induced by the spaceflight was observed.