The search for life on Europa: limiting environmental factors, potential habitats, and Earth analogues

The putative ocean of Europa has focused considerable attention on the potential habitats for life on Europa. By generally clement Earth standards, these Europan habitats are likely to be extreme environments. The objectives of this paper were to examine: (1) the limits for biological activity on Earth with respect to temperature, salinity, acidity, desiccation, radiation, pressure, and time; (2) potential habitats for life on Europa; and (3) Earth analogues and their limitations for Europa. Based on empirical evidence, the limits for biological activity on Earth are: (1) the temperature range is from 253 to 394 K; (2) the salinity range is a(H2O) = 0.6-1.0; (3) the desiccation range is from 60% to 100% relative humidity; (4) the acidity range is from pH 0 to 13; (5) microbes such as Deinococcus are roughly 4,000 times more resistant to ionizing radiation than humans; (6) the range for hydrostatic pressure is from 0 to 1,100 bars; and (7) the maximum time for organisms to survive in the dormant state may be as long as 250 million years. The potential habitats for life on Europa are the ice layer, the brine ocean, and the seafloor environment. The dual stresses of lethal radiation and low temperatures on or near the icy surface of Europa preclude the possibility of biological activity anywhere near the surface. Only at the base of the ice layer could one expect to find the suitable temperatures and liquid water that are necessary for life. An ice layer turnover time of 10 million years is probably rapid enough for preserving in the surface ice layers dormant life forms originating from the ocean. Model simulations demonstrate that hypothetical oceans could exist on Europa that are too cold for biological activity (T < 253 K). These simulations also demonstrate that salinities are high, which would restrict life to extreme halophiles. An acidic ocean (if present) could also potentially limit life. Pressure, per se, is unlikely to directly limit life on Europa. But indirectly, pressure plays an important role in controlling the chemical environments for life. Deep ocean basins such as the Mariana Trench are good analogues for the cold, high-pressure ocean of Europa. Many of the best terrestrial analogues for potential Europan habitats are in the Arctic and Antarctica. The six factors likely to be most important in defining the environments for life on Europa and the focus for future work are liquid water, energy, nutrients, low temperatures, salinity, and high pressures.     

Strategy for modeling putative multilevel ecosystems on Europa

A general strategy for modeling ecosystems on other worlds is described. Two alternative biospheres beneath the ice surface of Europa are modeled, based on analogous ecosystems on Earth in potentially comparable habitats, with reallocation of biomass quantities consistent with different sources of energy and chemical constituents. The first ecosystem models a benthic biosphere supported by chemoautotrophic producers. The second models two concentrations of biota at the top and bottom of the subsurface water column supported by energy harvested from transmembrane ionic gradients. Calculations indicate the plausibility of both ecosystems, including small macroorganisms at the highest trophic levels, with ionotrophy supporting a larger biomass than chemoautotrophy.     

Project Galileo: completing Europa, preparing for Io.

Galileo has completed the Europa leg of the Galileo Europa Mission, and is now pumping down the apojove in each succeeding orbit in preparation for the Io phase. Including three encounters earlier in the primary mission, the total of ten close passes by Europa have provided a wealth of interesting and provocative information about this intriguing body. The results presented include new and exciting information about Europa's interactions with Jupiter's magnetosphere, its interior structure, and its tantalizing surface features, which strongly hint at a watery subsurface layer. Additional data concerning Callisto, and its own outlook for a subsurface ocean are also presented. In addition the engineering aspects of operating the spacecraft during the past year are explored, as well as a brief examination of what will be the challenges to prepare for the Io encounters. The steadily increasing radiation dosage that the spacecraft is experiencing is well beyond the original design parameters, and is contributing to a number of spacecraft problems and concerns. The ability of the flight team to analyze and solve these problems, even at the reduced staffing levels of an extended mission, is a testament to their tenacity and loyalty to the mission. The engineering data being generated by these continuing radiation-induced anomalies will prove invaluable to designers of future spacecraft to Jupiter and its satellites. The lessons learned during this arduous process are presented.     

Locating potential biosignatures on Europa from surface geology observations

We evaluated the astrobiological potential of the major classes of geologic units on Europa with respect to possible biosignatures preservation on the basis of surface geology observations. These observations are independent of any formational model and therefore provide an objective, though preliminary, evaluation. The assessment criteria include high mobility of material, surface concentration of non-ice components, relative youth, textural roughness, and environmental stability. Our review determined that, as feature classes, low-albedo smooth plains, smooth bands, and chaos hold the highest potential, primarily because of their relative young age, the emplacement of low-viscosity material, and indications of material exchange with the subsurface. Some lineaments and impact craters may be promising sites for closer study despite the comparatively lower astrobiological potential of their classes. This assessment will be expanded by multidisciplinary examination of the potential for habitability of specific features.     

Near-infrared detection of potential evidence for microscopic organisms on Europa

The possibility of an ocean within the icy shell of Jupiter's moon Europa has established that world as a primary candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life within our Solar System. This paper evaluates the potential to detect evidence for microbial life by comparing laboratory studies of terrestrial microorganisms with measurements from the Galileo Near Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (NIMS). If the interior of Europa at one time harbored life, some evidence may remain in the surface materials. Examination of laboratory spectra of terrestrial extremophiles measured at cryogenic temperatures reveals distorted, asymmetric nearinfrared absorption features due to water of hydration. The band centers, widths, and shapes of these features closely match those observed in the Europa spectra. These features are strongest in reddish-brown, disrupted terrains such as linea and chaos regions. Narrow spectral features due to amide bonds in the microbe proteins provide a means of constraining the abundances of such materials using the NIMS data. The NIMS data of disrupted terrains exhibit distorted, asymmetric near-infrared absorption features consistent with the presence of water ice, sulfuric acid octahydrate, hydrated salts, and possibly as much as 0.2 mg cm(-3) of carbonaceous material that could be of biological origin. However, inherent noise in the observations and limitations of spectral sampling must be taken into account when discussing these findings.     

GAP高能低特征信号推进剂的研究

综述了四十二所GAP粘合剂和GAP高能低特征信号推进剂的研究及取得的进展、目前达到的技术水平。叠氮类推进剂可发展成高能、低特征信号和纯感推进剂，是今后战术发动机用固体推进剂的发展重点和方向。     

Optimization of transfers under constraints on the thrust direction: I

Transfers with a low thrust are considered under constraints imposed on the thrust vector direction. These constraints can be caused by peculiarities of the attitude control system and the mode of stabilization of a spacecraft, and, in the general case, they are functions of the time and state vector. The constraints specified by equalities and inequalities are investigated. It is shown that the optimal thrust is directed along the projection of the Lawden’s primer vector onto the restricting set.     

Development of a global EDOS: political support and constraints

The development of a global environmental and disaster satellite observation system (EDOS) has recently received attention, particularly as a potential cooperative project with the USA and Japan as the initiators. Such a system, proponents contend, would provide valuable and potentially lifesaving information to developed and particularly developing countries which might not otherwise have such information available, as well as provide a vehicle to strengthen ties between the USA and Japan at a time when strife over trade issues is too often emphasized. The initiation of such a project, however, has not been without difficulty. Beyond the technical issues, there has been hesitation and scepticism on the part of some national space players concerning the project, often motivated by parochial political concerns rather than conceptual or technical issues. The focus of this article is an examination of those political factors which have acted as impetus and barriers for the initiative, using interviews with programme participants, direct author observation at related meetings and internal documents and correspondence.     

基于能量沉淀分布的Polar自主定位方法

本文通过对polar自主定位方法的研究,发展了基于gamma射线源在polar塑料闪烁体能量沉淀分布的定位方法,开展了polar自主定位方法的模拟试验验证,分析了polar自主定位可能的影响因素,提出了polar自主定位对电子学系统的设计要求和建议。该研究课题在没有专门定向仪器的情况下,仅采用polar基于Geant4模拟粗略分辨出gamma射线源从哪一个方向入射,分析其显著性。课题成果将应用于polar偏振探测器对gamma射线源的定位,同时可为评估polar电子学系统提供测试依据。     

基于能量沉淀分布的Polar自主定位方法

本文通过对polar自主定位方法的研究,发展了基于gamma射线源在polar塑料闪烁体能量沉淀分布的定位方法,开展了polar自主定位方法的模拟试验验证,分析了polar自主定位可能的影响因素,提出了polar自主定位对电子学系统的设计要求和建议。该研究课题在没有专门定向仪器的情况下,仅采用polar基于Geant4模拟粗略分辨出gamma射线源从哪一个方向入射,分析其显著性。课题成果将应用于polar偏振探测器对gamma射线源的定位,同时可为评估polar电子学系统提供测试依据。     

Geochemical constraints on sources of metabolic energy for chemolithoautotrophy in ultramafic-hosted deep-sea hydrothermal systems

Numerical models are employed to investigate sources of chemical energy for autotrophic microbial metabolism that develop during mixing of oxidized seawater with strongly reduced fluids discharged from ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems on the seafloor. Hydrothermal fluids in these systems are highly enriched in H(2) and CH(4) as a result of alteration of ultramafic rocks (serpentinization) in the subsurface. Based on the availability of chemical energy sources, inferences are made about the likely metabolic diversity, relative abundance, and spatial distribution of microorganisms within ultramafic-hosted systems. Metabolic reactions involving H(2) and CH(4), particularly hydrogen oxidation, methanotrophy, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis, represent the predominant sources of chemical energy during fluid mixing. Owing to chemical gradients that develop from fluid mixing, aerobic metabolisms are likely to predominate in low-temperature environments (<20-30 degrees C), while anaerobes will dominate higher-temperature environments. Overall, aerobic metabolic reactions can supply up to approximately 7 kJ of energy per kilogram of hydrothermal fluid, while anaerobic metabolic reactions can supply about 1 kJ, which is sufficient to support a maximum of approximately 120 mg (dry weight) of primary biomass production by aerobic organisms and approximately 20-30 mg biomass by anaerobes. The results indicate that ultramafic-hosted systems are capable of supplying about twice as much chemical energy as analogous deep-sea hydrothermal systems hosted in basaltic rocks.     

空间动能武器系统仿真研究

在介绍空间动能武器系统的基础上 ,对整个系统建立了数学模型 ,进行了仿真 ,并且得到了符合实际、满足要求的仿真结果 ,最后提及了更高层次的仿真方法。达到了对整个系统的运行和性能进行仿真模拟的目的 ,为这一方向的仿真试验工作提供了一个实用可行的方法     

含二硝基偶氮氧化呋咱推进剂的能量特性研究

二硝基偶氮氧化呋咱 ( DNAF)是一种新型高能氧化剂。采用最小自由能方法研究了 DNAF的能量特性 ,结果显示 :DNAF单元推进剂比冲 2 692 .72 N· s· kg- 1 ,比黑索今高 75.8N· s· kg- 1 ,比六硝基六氮杂异伍兹烷高 1 9.5N· s· kg- 1 ;HTPB/DNAF/Al组成推进剂的比冲可达 2 81 0 N·s·kg- 1 ;DNAF分别与 GAP和 HTPB组成的无烟推进剂的比冲分别高达 2 763N· s·kg- 1和 2 72 5N·s·kg- 1。并绘制了等性能三角图和三维立体图 ,可形象直观地看出这类推进剂的比冲、燃烧温度与配方组分之间的关系     

磁悬浮姿控/储能飞轮能量转换控制系统设计与实验研究

针对磁悬浮姿控/储能飞轮(ACESFW)的能量释放问题,采用直流降压斩波原理,设计了一种能量转换控制器,提出对降压斩波器输出进行软件功率因数校正的转换控制方法,将高速ACESFW存储的动能,转变为稳定直流电能输出。仿真和地面试验结果表明,所设计的能量转换器转换效率高,电压输出稳定,高频纹波小,可以满足星上设备的供电要求。     

基于能量最优解析解的飞轮磁卸载方法

为改善传统卫星飞轮磁卸载,提出了一种基于能量最优解析解的磁卸载法。根据在轨卫星所处地磁场强度的变化规律,将卫星磁力矩器产生的磁矩作傅里叶级数展开,按卫星飞行一圈所需卸载的角动量由最优控制理论求出三轴磁矩的解析解。证明了该卸载法的稳定性,估算了干扰力矩及其作用,讨论了轨道倾角的影响,并给出了小倾角时的修正飞轮卸载控制律。理论分析和仿真结果表明,该飞轮卸载法简单且节能,效果明显优于传统的磁卸载法。     

一种压电振动能量收集无线测温系统的研究

随着物联网技术的快速发展,各类传感器终端得到广泛的应用。物联网应用场景对传感器网络的使用寿命要求较长,同时大多数应场景节点往往分布广泛,且某些情况下传感器一经安放难以再触及,更换电池费时费力,在很多场合下也无法完成,此外无线传感器节点的很多实际应用场合无法使用电池或者限制电池的体积不能过大。因此,从周围环境中采集能量的能源装置无疑是一个很有前景的电池替代方案。本文提出了一种悬臂梁式压电振动能量收集电路装置,用于给无源无线温度传感器模块提供电源,经实验验证该系统供电有效。随着物联网技术的迅速发展,对无源测温传感器需求越来越大,压电能量收集技术作为有效解决传感器网络终端的能量供给途径之一,应用前景广阔。     

基于局部能量比的空中红外弱小目标检测方法

提出了图像局部能量比的概念,并针对空中目标图像特点,给出了一种基于局部能量比的红外弱小目标检测方法。该方法基于单帧图像即可实现红外点目标检测,算法简单,耗时较短,可以实时检测;图像局部能量比对图像噪声不敏感,故该检测方法对图像信噪比要求较低,具有强抗干扰性,便于工程实现。文中给出了检测算法的具体实现过程,并用真实空中红外弱小目标图像进行了检测试验。试验结果表明该方法对空中红外弱小单目标和多目标均具有令人满意的检测效果。     

基于无线传感网络的能量有效路由算法的研究

针对无线传感网络节点不能够更换电池的一次性供电问题,延长整个无线传感网络的生命周期,本文提出了基于无线传感网络的能量有效路由算法,即基于部分能量水平的能量有效路由算法。它是将最小能量有效路由算法和能量均衡的路由算法有机的结合在一起,既能够延长网络的生命周期,又能够保证每个网络节点正常运行,对延长无线传感网络生存时间提供了很大的作用。