Application of mobile-IP to space and aeronautical networks

NASA is interested in applying Mobile Internet Protocol (mobile-IP) technologies to its space and aeronautics programs. In particular, mobile-IP will play a major role in the Advanced Aeronautic Transportation Technology (AATT), the Weather Information Communication (WINCOMM) and the Small Aircraft Transportation System; (SATS) aeronautics programs. This paper describes mobile-IP and mobile-routers-in particular, the features, capabilities, and initial performance of the mobile-router is presented. The application of mobile-router technology to NASA's space and aeronautics programs is also discussed     

The International Space Station: a question of federal funding andpolicy implications

A summary form is given of the author's full paper (ibid. vol. 33, p. 7, 1998). The ISS program is a huge investment by the U.S. government. It is estimated by NASA that the program will cost the American public more than $70 billion over a period of 30 years. Since the scientific impact of this program is relatively unknown (and uncertain), the question that policy makers will have to struggle with is whether the federal government should continue to fund the program, or to pull out from the program altogether, thus saving American taxpayers close to $30 billion. Although funding is a major concern, since the inclusion of Russia in the program, the ISS has also become a foreign policy tool. Therefore, additional questions about policy implications of the ISS program need to be addressed     

Creating a space exploration industry

The article provides an overview of funding for space exploration to the Moon and Mars under NASA's direction, and presents an argument for the creation of a commercial space industry.     

Decisions, endings, and new beginnings

The Washington Watch column examines NASA shuttle developments, airline pilot age issues, development of a personnel recovery vehicle, and includes an obituary for retired Air Force General Bernard Schriever, remembered as an air and space pioneer. The discussion of NASA shuttle developments reports on the space shuttle flight schedule and NASA's ability to deliver hardware to the International Space Station, funding levels and equipment development schedules related to President Bush's mandate to visit Mars, a report on the space program by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and top-level management changes at NASA. The discussion of airline pilot age issues examines efforts to change mandatory retirement requirements. The discussion of personnel recovery vehicles reports on development of an aircraft designed to rescue survivors during combat search and rescue missions.     

SIRTF — The moderate mission

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) has been planned by NASA and the US scientific and aerospace communities as a cryogenically-cooled observatory for infrared astronomy from space. Within the past few years, severe pressures on NASA's budget have led to the cancellation of many programs and to dramatic rescoping of others; SIRTF is in the latter category. This paper describes the resulting redefinition of SIRTF and the technical innovations which have made it possible to package SIRTF's key scientific capabilities into the envelope of a moderate-class mission.     

Conversations: with Sean O'Keefe. Interview by Frank Sietzen Jr

Sean O'Keefe, who took office as the 10th NASA administrator in December 2001, is interviewed after 9 months on the job. Topics of conversation include his transition from the Office of Management and Budget to NASA, management priorities, space shuttle safety, the Space Launch Initiative and the National Aerospace Initiative, future space exploration, relationships with Congress and the President, and NASA's budget.     

Development of a Digital Array Radar (DAR)

Twenty-first century littoral and open-sea missions present US Navy (USN) shipboard-radar systems with the challenge of detecting small targets in severe clutter and against multiple sources of interference. In Fiscal Year 2000 (FY00), the Office of Naval Research (ONR) sponsored a program to develop an active array radar that includes a digital beamforming (DBF) architecture. The DBF radar system has the potential for improved time-energy management, improved signal-to-clutter (S/C) ratios, improved reliability and reduced life-cycle costs. This paper summarizes the latest developments of the program during FY00     

A brief overview of the School of Aerospace Engineering of Tsinghua University

This article provides a brief overview of the teaching and research at the School of Aerospace Engineering (SAE) to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of aeronautics as a discipline at Tsinghua University. The evolution of the school, undergraduate/graduate students and faculty members, and research activities and achievements have been described. The research input including research funding and research projects are summarized, showing a diversity of funding sources and a significant growth in either sum total or spending per researcher. The achievements including publications and inter/national academic awards are also introduced. It can be seen that the level of academic publications has been growing over the past decades. In addition, four representative research achievements have been briefly described to show the scientific contributions of the school.     

NASA Automation and Robotics Technology Program

This paper presents an overview of NASA's Automation and Robotics (A&R) technology development program, covering its history, objectives, organization and content. This program is being carried out by the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST) which has the responsibility to provide long range, high risk aerospace technology.     

FY-2卫星应急章控技术的改进与实现

海上测控系统＂风云二号＂（FY-2）控制处理软件在应急章动控制中存在加速度负向过零时刻计算不准、应急章动控制反弹跳以及交叉控制过程脉冲前沿时间补偿等技术难点。在分析应急章动控制原理的基础上,提出了改进方案,并给出了软件实现的具体流程图。经过＂风云二号＂04～06星内部联调以及与测控中心联调任务的验证,软件计算结果准确,运行稳定可靠,实际控制效率较高。     

Aeronautics — a pioneer in European integration

As the first trans-national European industry, aeronautics has been a pioneer in European integration. The European aeronautics business is now a leading player on the world stage contributing to Europe's standing in the global market. Aeronautics creates employment and advances the cutting-edge technology sector in Europe — in education, business and defence matters. Taking its responsibility for the environment seriously, Europe sets the pace for environmental standards in international aeronautics. After all, air travel has become more convenient, practical and affordable — to the benefit of all citizens.     

Developing error-free software

The authors describe experience gained in designing reconfiguration-error-free software at IBM's Federal Systems Division in Houston. From 1982-5, this division reduced software product defects to 0.11 errors per thousand lines of source code. Four measurements defining software quality are described. Also discussed is NASA's development of a standardized software support environment, and the US Department of Defense Software Technology for Adaptive Reliable Systems (STARS) program. These environments provide for early control, standardization, and integration of requirements, leading to more easily maintained software and reduction of critical skill level for its maintenance     

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence and the Nasa High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS): Historical perspectives

The modern era of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), which began with the paper of Cocconi and Morrison in 1959, reached a landmark with the inauguration of NASA's High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS) in 1992. SETI programs stand in the tradition of humanity's quest for its place in the Universe, and seek to test whether cosmic evolution results in widespread intelligence in our Galaxy. This paper reviews the history of the modern SETI era, with emphasis on the development of the NASA SETI program.     

Conversations: with Carl Pilcher [interview by Johan Benson

An interview with Carl Pilcher, science program director for solar system exploration at NASA, examines NASA's past, present, and planned missions to explore the solar system. Specific questions relate to the status of current and planned missions, science results of the Pathfinder mission to Mars, cooperation with the Japanese space agency, the status of the search for extraterrestrial life in solar system meteoroids and asteroids, mission size for more in-depth exploration, reports of water on the moon, and the exploration of near-Earth objects.     

模糊层次分析法在航空公司安全评估中的应用

在某航空公司安全评估指标体系的基础上,构建了其安全因素的模糊一致性判断矩阵,并通过权重分析获得各安全因素的影响程度;以人的因素为例进行综合评价,通过建立模糊隶属度矩阵从而得到了模糊综合评价矩阵,由此得出航空公司安全评估中人的风险值,方法为航空公司进一步加强管理提供了依据,因而具有一定的实用价值和经济效益。     

Advanced Crew Escape Suit

Design of the S1032 Launch Entry Suit (LES) began following the Challenger loss and NASA's decision to incorporate a Shuttle crew escape system. The LES (see Figure 1) has successfully supported Shuttle missions since NASA's Return to Flight with STS-26 in September 1988. In 1990, engineers began developing the S1035 Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) to serve as a replacement for the LES. The ACES was designed to be a simplified, lightweight, low-bulk pressure suit which aided self donning/doffing, provided improved comfort, and enhanced overall performance to reduce crew member stress and fatigue. Favorable crew member evaluations of a prototype led to full-scale development and qualification of the S1035 ACES between 1990 and 1992. Production of the S1035 ACES began in February 1993, with the first unit delivered to NASA in May 1994. The S1035 ACES first flew aboard STS-68 in August 1994 and will become the primary crew escape suit when the S1032 LES ends its service life in late 1995. The primary goal of the S1035 development program was to provide improved performance over that of the S1032 to minimize the stress and fatigue typically experienced by crew members. To achieve this, five fundamental design objectives were established, resulting in various material/configuration changes.     

基于FPGA的平台地面电路系统设计

本文围绕如何利用FPGA 技术实现平台地面电路系统功能这一主题进行了详细的系统设计、程序实现、程序仿真及结果分析。首先,依据平台系统的要求提出了基于FPGA的平台地面电路系统的总体设计方案。之后,按照接口电路的工作流程要求和状态控制要求,进行功能化模块设计和程序仿真。重点是按照地面控制回路电路的工作原理进行电路的连续系统设计、仿真、离散系统设计、仿真、分析、程序仿真及结果分析。最终,完成了FPGA的平台地面电路系统的设计。仿真的分析结果表明本设计控制流程正确,控制系统稳定可行,回路各项参数满足平台系统要求。     

Automation and Robotics for the Space Station: Recommendations

On January 25, 1984, President Reagan announced a United States program to place a permanent space station in orbit in 1992. The Congressional bill appropriating the funding for this program requires that a significant portion of the program funds be for the development of new automation and robotics technologies not in use on existing spacecraft. To assist it in developing plans to meet this requirement, NASA established an Automation and Robotics Panel in August 1984. This paper presents verbatim the Executive Summary of the Panel's report to NASA. It should be recognized that this report to NASA is advisory only, and that for a variety of reasons, including funding, what is actually implemented will certainly differ in many respects from the recommendations. Nevertheless, the report represents the thinking of a prestigious group of scholars and practitioners in automation and robotics, and many of the recommendations undoubtedly will be implemented. A summary of the NASA recommendations will be published following their official release.     

Al—Li合金表面的化学镀镍

介绍了Ａｌ－Ｌｉ合金表面化学镀镍的工艺方法，镀层结合力测试以及孔隙率、氯化钠浸泡试验表明，化学镀镍层可能成为Ａｌ－Ｌｉ合金这一新型航空航天材料的良好防护层。     

Artificial gravity

NASA's Artificial Gravity program consists of a team of researchers from Wyle Laboratories, NASA Johnson Space Center, and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). The short-radius centrifuge (SRC), built by Wyle Laboratories, will be integrated with UTMB's conducted bedrest studies, which mimic the detrimental effects of weightlessness (or microgravity). Bedrest subjects will be spun on the SRC at various accelerations and for various time periods, while being monitored medically. Parameters such as bone loss, muscle atrophy, balance control, and oxygen consumption will then be compared in order to research ways of mitigating the impact on astronauts' physiology. Other potential benefits from these studies extend to population groups on Earth, such as bedridden patients.