Spectral signatures of photosynthesis. II. Coevolution with other stars and the atmosphere on extrasolar worlds

As photosynthesis on Earth produces the primary signatures of life that can be detected astronomically at the global scale, a strong focus of the search for extrasolar life will be photosynthesis, particularly photosynthesis that has evolved with a different parent star. We take previously simulated planetary atmospheric compositions for Earth-like planets around observed F2V and K2V, modeled M1V and M5V stars, and around the active M4.5V star AD Leo; our scenarios use Earth's atmospheric composition as well as very low O2 content in case anoxygenic photosynthesis dominates. With a line-by-line radiative transfer model, we calculate the incident spectral photon flux densities at the surface of the planet and under water. We identify bands of available photosynthetically relevant radiation and find that photosynthetic pigments on planets around F2V stars may peak in absorbance in the blue, K2V in the red-orange, and M stars in the near-infrared, in bands at 0.93-1.1 microm, 1.1-1.4 microm, 1.5-1.8 microm, and 1.8-2.5 microm. However, underwater organisms will be restricted to wavelengths shorter than 1.4 microm and more likely below 1.1 microm. M star planets without oxygenic photosynthesis will have photon fluxes above 1.6 microm curtailed by methane. Longer-wavelength, multi-photo-system series would reduce the quantum yield but could allow for oxygenic photosystems at longer wavelengths. A wavelength of 1.1 microm is a possible upper cutoff for electronic transitions versus only vibrational energy; however, this cutoff is not strict, since such energetics depend on molecular configuration. M star planets could be a half to a tenth as productive as Earth in the visible, but exceed Earth if useful photons extend to 1.1 microm for anoxygenic photosynthesis. Under water, organisms would still be able to survive ultraviolet flares from young M stars and acquire adequate light for growth.     

量子光谱成像技术及其在对地观测中的应用前景

综述了量子光谱成像技术的发展概况,简述了量子光谱成像原理的理论,详细介绍了纠缠双光子源的鬼成像,亚波长干涉以及热光的无透镜成像和热光的非定域双缝干涉实验及其原理。最后对量子光谱成像技术在未来的军用和民用对地观测的应用方面做出了展望。     

Microgravity and the organisms: results of the Spacelab mission D1.

During the Spacelab mission D1 different organisms were investigated at the unicellular and multicellular level respectively. Microgravity affects growth and development of the organisms in a different manner, some processes are enhanced, others are inhibited. On the other hand, there are a lot of parameters. e.g. circadian rhythm or cell and organ polarity, which seem to be exclusively under genetical control.     

基于地球椭球特性的红外地球敏感器测量值的修正算法

基于地球的椭球特性，讨论了对扫描式红外地球敏感器的测量值进行修正的问题。利用地球椭球的小扁率特性，给出了相应的一阶修正算法。与现有文献中的方法相比，给出的算法计算简单，具有较高的精度，仿真结果表明，对于中、低轨道而言该算法的精度优于0．01°     

Parametric study of the diversion of a near Earth object on an Earth intersecting trajectory

To date, NASA's “Near Earth Object Program” has discovered over 5500 comets and asteroids on trajectories that bring them within “the neighborhood” of Earth's orbit. Nearly 1000 of these objects are classified as “potentially hazardous,” passing within 0.05 astronomical units of Earth's orbit. Discovery rates of such threatening bodies increase each year. Given this multitude of threats, in addition to evidence that the planet has absorbed many impacts over its history, it is reasonable to assume that another object will strike the Earth at some point in the future. Consequently, researchers have studied and proposed several mitigation techniques for such an occurrence. This study seeks to determine how effectively the attachment of a tether and ballast mass would divert the trajectory of such threatening objects. Specifically, the study analyzes the effects over time of such a system on objects of varying orbital semimajor axis and eccentricity, using various tether lengths and ballast masses. It was determined that the technique is most effective for NEOs with high eccentricity and small semimajor axis, and that system performance increases as tether length and ballast mass increase.     

Three-dimensional confocal optical imagery of precambrian microscopic organisms

A major difficulty that has long hindered studies of organic-walled Precambrian microbes in petrographic thin sections is the accurate documentation of their three-dimensional morphology. To address this need, we here demonstrate the use of confocal laser scanning microscopy. This technique, both non-intrusive and non-destructive, can provide data by which to objectively characterize, in situ and at submicron-scale resolution, the cellular and organismal morphology of permineralized (petrified) microorganisms. Application of this technique can provide information in three dimensions about the morphology, taphonomy, and fidelity of preservation of such fossils at a spatial resolution unavailable by any other means.     

地球重力场标准探讨

在搜集与分析大量国外有关重力场技术、模型和标准的基础上,从标准化角度介绍重力场模型发展过程和主要模型,重点介绍ECSS、NASA、美军有关重力场模型的情况,提出国内航天器重力场模型标准的制定应考虑的重点.     

IGSO卫星地球敏感器受两极红外辐射波动影响分析

指出IGSO卫星轨道及姿态运动特点使得地敏探头会扫描经过两极区域,通过国外案例介绍说明分析工作的必要性。简要介绍摆动扫描式红外地球敏感器的复合视场及工作原理,重点分析地敏受两极地区红外辐射波动影响,说明地敏输出姿态角误差成因,建立基于STK软件的仿真工程,对地敏探头受扰情况进行仿真分析。提出解决地敏受两极红外辐射干扰问题的处理措施,利用仿真预报的受扰时段进行探头干扰保护,确保地敏输出姿态角正常。     

对地定向三轴稳定卫星的圆锥扫描地球敏感器的数学模型

本文介绍了对地定向三轴稳定卫星的圆锥扫描式地球敏感器的姿态测量原理、输出几何关系和数学模型，并以实际例子说明大角度姿态控制时必须注意敏感器输出的轴间耦合问题     

看遍天上人间

“地球是我们惟一的家园,保护资源环境,善待地球”,是每个地球人应尽的责任。2012年的地球日已过去,而环境与气候问题却日益成为人们关注的对象。在科技日新月异的今天,空间技术能否助力环境保护与灾害预警呢？答案是肯定的,因为国际空间站即将参加回馈我们地球家园的行动,SERVIR系统中的ISERV系统即将登上国际空间站,通过来自空间站的全球观测,给研究人员提供独特的视角来进行环境研究和灾难分析。     

国外低轨道卫星综述

由于地球低轨道更利于收集情报信息 ,大多被军事侦察卫星所占有。随着太空军事化趋势的日益增强 ,了解和认识当前的低轨道卫星较为必要。介绍了典型低轨道卫星的军事作用和运作机理 ,并给出了当前在轨低轨道卫星的技术参数。最后分析了其发展趋势     

Survival of rock-colonizing organisms after 1.5 years in outer space

Cryptoendolithic microbial communities and epilithic lichens have been considered as appropriate candidates for the scenario of lithopanspermia, which proposes a natural interplanetary exchange of organisms by means of rocks that have been impact ejected from their planet of origin. So far, the hardiness of these terrestrial organisms in the severe and hostile conditions of space has not been tested over extended periods of time. A first long-term (1.5 years) exposure experiment in space was performed with a variety of rock-colonizing eukaryotic organisms at the International Space Station on board the European EXPOSE-E facility. Organisms were selected that are especially adapted to cope with the environmental extremes of their natural habitats. It was found that some-but not all-of those most robust microbial communities from extremely hostile regions on Earth are also partially resistant to the even more hostile environment of outer space, including high vacuum, temperature fluctuation, the full spectrum of extraterrestrial solar electromagnetic radiation, and cosmic ionizing radiation. Although the reported experimental period of 1.5 years in space is not comparable with the time spans of thousands or millions of years believed to be required for lithopanspermia, our data provide first evidence of the differential hardiness of cryptoendolithic communities in space.     

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.     

中巴地球资源卫星成就与发展

中巴地球资源卫星（CBERS）研制始于1988年,至今已走过了20年的辉煌历程,先后成功发射了CBERS-01、02和02B三颗卫星。卫星在轨运行稳定,前两颗均超期服役,获取了大量的观测数据,并成为世界上具有一定影响的卫星系列。文章简要回顾了中巴地球资源卫星的研制历程以及在卫星平台、有效载荷、技术和工程管理等方面所取得的成就和进步,并对后续发展提出展望。     

Single-Axis Solar Orientation of a Satellite of the Earth

The possibility of using the mode of single-axis solar orientation is considered for a satellite placed into a nearly circular orbit with an altitude of 900 km and bearing a solar sail. The satellite (together with the sail) has an axisymmetric structure, its symmetry axis being the principal central axis of the maximum moment of inertia. The center of the sail pressure lies on this axis and is displaced with respect to the satellite's center of mass. The symmetry axis of the satellite is set to the Sun so that its center of mass would be located between the Sun and the pressure center and would rotate around this axis with an angular velocity of a few degrees per second. The satellite's axis of symmetry makes a slow precession under the action of the gravitational moment and the moment of light pressure forces. Though the maximum magnitudes of these moments are comparable, the moment of the light pressure forces dominates and controls the precession in such a way that the symmetry axis orientation to the Sun remains unchanged.     

某空间光谱成像仪热管理初析

某空间光谱成像仪光谱范围覆盖可见光、中短波红外、长波红外等多个谱段,配置多台视频处理器和脉冲管制冷机,在狭小空间内形成了复杂的内热源分布。由于上述内热源总热耗高达数百瓦,而制冷机更有低于10℃的控温要求,导致成像仪散热面面积需求很大,同时也造成成像仪功耗资源紧张。文章基于热管理理念,对成像仪内热源进行热设计,使排散废热和控温所用能量最大程度减小,在控制散热面面积的同时节省主动控温功耗,较为圆满地解决了成像仪内热源热设计难题。     

A method of controlling asteroid collision with the Earth

The planet Earth has endured unwelcome “visitations” of space rocks many times. NASA and agencies of other nations have proposed concepts on how asteroids, in possible collision with planet Earth, can be diverted. These methods range from impulsive techniques using explosives, conventional and nuclear, to the slow nudging action of a spacecraft with powerful thrust. A methods not described elsewhere in any research, as far as the author knows, is presented in this paper. The methods of electrostatics will be employed to show how the new deflection concept can be developed to avoid asteroid collision with Earth.     

Potential climatic impact of organic haze on early Earth

We have explored the direct and indirect radiative effects on climate of organic particles likely to have been present on early Earth by measuring their hygroscopicity and cloud nucleating ability. The early Earth analog aerosol particles were generated via ultraviolet photolysis of an early Earth analog gas mixture, which was designed to mimic possible atmospheric conditions before the rise of oxygen. An analog aerosol for the present-day atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan was tested for comparison. We exposed the early Earth aerosol to a range of relative humidities (RHs). Water uptake onto the aerosol was observed to occur over the entire RH range tested (RH=80-87%). To translate our measurements of hygroscopicity over a specific range of RHs into their water uptake ability at any RH < 100% and into their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) at RH > 100%, we relied on the hygroscopicity parameter κ, developed by Petters and Kreidenweis. We retrieved κ=0.22?±0.12 for the early Earth aerosol, which indicates that the humidified aerosol (RH < 100 %) could have contributed to a larger antigreenhouse effect on the early Earth atmosphere than previously modeled with dry aerosol. Such effects would have been of significance in regions where the humidity was larger than 50%, because such high humidities are needed for significant amounts of water to be on the aerosol. Additionally, Earth organic aerosol particles could have activated into CCN at reasonable-and even low-water-vapor supersaturations (RH > 100%). In regions where the haze was dominant, it is expected that low particle concentrations, once activated into cloud droplets, would have created short-lived, optically thin clouds. Such clouds, if predominant on early Earth, would have had a lower albedo than clouds today, thereby warming the planet relative to current-day clouds.     

Planetary quarantine in the solar system. Survival rates of some terrestrial organisms under simulated space conditions by proton irradiation

We have been studying the survival rates of some species of terrestrial unicellular and multicellular organism (viruses, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, algae, etc.) under simulated interstellar conditions, in connection with planetary quarantine. The interstellar environment in the solar system has been simulated by low temperature, high vacuum (77 K, 4 x 10(-8) torr), and proton irradiation from a Van de Graaff generator. After exposure to a barrage of protons corresponding to about 250 years of irradiation in solar space, tobacco mosaic virus, Bacillus subtilis spores, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus flavus, Aspergillus niger spores, and Clostridium mangenoti spores showed survival rates of 82, 45, 74, 13, 28, and 25%, respectively.