美空军准备发射第二架X-37B

2010年12月8日,空军太空项目副部长理查德·麦金尼称,第二架X-37B将在2011年3月到4月之间由"宇宙神"5火箭发射。这次X-37B轨道试验飞行器(OTV-1)任务将"扩展运行包线",以试验横向飞行范围的回收特性,并在更极端的天气条件下尝试回收。OTV-1的着陆是自1988年苏联"暴     

解读美国X-37B空天轨道试验机

<正>2014年10月,美国X-37B轨道试验飞行器(Orbital Test Vehicle,OTV)成功完成了第3次轨道飞行任务。X-37B的3次飞行到底执行了什么神秘任务?存在种种猜测和不同观点。本文从"X-37B飞行试验怎么样,X-37B到底是什么,X-37B解决什么问题和X-37B军事前景如何"共四个方面对神秘的X-37B进行解读。X-37B飞行试验怎么样?首先,我们来回顾X-37B的3次飞行。据美国空军网站2010年4月23日报道,美国第四十五空间联队于北京     

太空新航线

X-37B在轨飞行超一年3月5日,执行神秘任务的美国空军X-37B无人航天飞机悄然地在地球轨道上度过了入轨一周年纪念日。据了解,第三次X-37B飞行任务有可能在今年晚些时候发射。目前在轨飞行的是由波音公司鬼怪工程部为空军建造的第二架X-37B,称为"轨道试验飞行器"(OTV)2,任务由空     

“猎鹰”9即将发射X-37B

<正>8月份,X-37B将由太空探索公司"猎鹰"9火箭再次发射升空。这将是该公司首次送X-37B上天,也可能是该公司迄今获得的最大一项国家安全发射任务。X-37B的前4次任务都由联合发射联盟公司采用"宇宙神"5火箭发射。负责管理X-37B项目的空军官员表示:能用多个平台来发射‘轨道试验飞行器'将确保稳建的发射能力。我们对通过这一新的伙伴关系来形成灵活和快速反应的发射选项感到激动,坚信太空探     

X-37B迈出艰难的第一步

<正>航天飞机成功飞行后,世界各国一直在推动新一代可重复使用天地往返系统(以下简称"可重复使用")的研究和探索。X-37B一飞冲天,国内外舆论的反响可谓一石激起千层浪。X-37B因其尺寸仅为航天飞机的四分之一,被不少媒体称为小航天飞机,又因其高度机密的军事背景,被更多媒体称为太空无人战机。其实2010年4月22日所发生的一幕,是在技术铺垫和研发积累的"可重复使用"的发展背景下,X-37B迈出的轨道试验艰难的第一步,是在战略转型和双管齐下的"军事化应用"的发展背景下,X-37B迈出的太空多任务平台雏形的第一步。     

猎鹰9发射X-37B

<正>9月7日,太空探索技术公司的猎鹰9-1.2型运载火箭在卡纳维拉尔角肯尼迪航天中心首次发射了美国空军的X-37B无人航天飞机。第一级火箭成功回收。这是X-37B第五次飞行。X-37B的前4次任务均由联合发射联盟公司采用宇宙神5火箭发射。2015年猎鹰9火箭通过空军军星发射任务竞标资质认证,本次发     

X-37B第4次飞行试验情况及其分析评论

<正>1概述2015年5月20日,美国宇宙神-5运载火箭第4次成功发射了X-37B轨道试验飞行器。此次任务中一同发射的10颗立方体卫星(CubeSat)也成功入轨。此前,美国空军已经公布了此次X-37B飞行任务将进行的两项试验。第一项试验是验证霍尔电推进     

X-37B将何去何从

X-37B的第二次飞行试验已经接近尾声。2010年4月22日美国空军的X-37B轨道试验飞行器一飞冲天,伴随着世人对太空军事化的深度忧虑,世界各国媒体的反响可谓一石激起千层浪。一方面是各国媒体过度解读和美国军方低调回应的反差,为这个不透明的项目增添了浓     

X-37B在轨飞行超一年

3月5日，执行神秘任务的美国空军X-37B无人航天飞机悄然地在地球轨道上度过了入轨一周年纪念日。据了解，第三次X-37B飞行任务有可能在今年晚些时候发射。目前在轨飞行的是由波音公司鬼怪工程部为空军建造的第二架X-37B，称为“轨道试验飞行器”（OTV）2，任务由空军快速能力办公室管理。它是2011年3月5日由宇宙神5运载火箭从卡纳维拉尔角空军站发射的。     

美国军用空间飞机发展概述

2010年4月22日,美国在卡纳维拉尔角用宇宙神-5火箭发射了X-37B空间飞机的试验飞行器——轨道试验飞行器-1(OTV-1)。X-37B是有翼无人空间飞机,由美国空军快速能力办公室(RCO)管理,其任务是加强美国国防部特种作战支援和武器系统的研制与部署,增强全球的快速打击能力。     

2005年全球反恐特警队赛记

2005年3月30日到4月2日为期4天，在美国拉斯维加斯举行的全球特警挑战赛（Original World SWAT Challenge,OWSC）中，总计有18支队伍参赛。[编者按]     

Indirect search for Dark Matter with H.E.S.S.

Observations of the Galactic center region with the H.E.S.S. telescopes have established the existence of a steady, extended source of gamma-ray emission coinciding with the position of the super massive black hole Sgr A^*. This is a remarkable finding given the expected presence of dense self-annihilating Dark Matter in the Galactic center region. The self-annihilation process is giving rise to gamma-ray production through hadronization including the production of neutral pions which decay into gamma-rays but also through (loop-suppressed) annihilation into final states of almost mono-energetic photons. We study the observed gamma-ray signal (spectrum and shape) from the Galactic center in the context of Dark Matter annihilation and indicate the prospects for further indirect Dark Matter searches with H.E.S.S.     

The Comet Halley flyby I.R. sounder “I.K.S.”

An infrared sounder is being developed in France to observe in 1986 Comet Halley from the Soviet “VEGA” flyby probes. The instrument, called “I.K.S.”, has three measuring channels. Two of these channels will provide the spectrum of the comet emission in the spectral intervals 2.5–5.0 μ and 6–12 μ, at a constant resolution λ/Δλ = 50.The third channel analyzes the comet I.R. image at a spatial frequency of about 1 arc minute^?1; two I.R. colours are used in this channel: 7–10 μ and 10–14 μ. From the results expected, it is hoped that (1) most primary simple molecules emitted by the nucleus will be identified; (2) the chemical composition and perhaps crystalline structure of the dust grains and ices released by the comet will be derived; and (3) the diameter of the nucleus and its brightness temperatures will be measured.     

Mechanisms underlying cellular radiosensitivity and R.B.E.: introductory remarks.

A general outline of the symposium titled "Mechanisms underlying cellular radiosensitivity and R.B.E." will be given in the introduction. The essential topics of molecular radiation biology are described with respect to the damage, repair and mutagenesis caused by high-LET irradiation to cellular DNA. The importance of clustered DNA lesions (locally multiply damaged sites) formed in vivo is discussed. This symposium is devoted to the mechanisms of the biological effects of radiation with high LET, especially with regard to the effects of heavy ions and neutrons which may cause possible risks in space flight, (e.g. carcinogenesis and mutagenesis). Detailed understanding of these risks, however, demands knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biological effects of high-LET radiations. Thus, it was the organizers' idea to hold a symposium dealing with primary physical and chemical events caused in cellular deoxyribonucleoproteins by densely-ionizing radiations and to relate them to track structures and energy transfer processes. The mechanisms of DNA damage were regarded from different points of view including those considering DNA repair and mutagenesis. Problems associated with cell survival and radiation protection were discussed as well. Our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of high-LET radiation actions, however, is limited compared to what we know about low-LET radiation effects (e.g. from gamma-rays or X-rays). To emphasize this statement, I would like to summarize briefly the open questions in molecular radiation biology, what we know already about low-LET effects and what is lacking describing the effect of high-LET radiation.     

The C.E.B.A.S.-Minimodule: behaviour of an artificial aquatic ecological system during spaceflight.

The C.E.B.A.S.-Minimodule, a closed aquatic ecosystem integrated into a middeck locker and consisting of a Zoological (animal tanks), a Botanical (plant bioreactor), a Microbial (bacteria filter) and an Electronic Component (data acquisition/control system) was flown on the STS-89 spaceshuttle mission in January 1998 for 9 days. Preflight the plant bioreactor was loaded with 53 g of Ceratophyllum demersum (coontail) and the animal tanks with 4 adult pregnant females of the fish, Xiphophorus helleri (sword-tails), 200 juveniles of the same species less than 1 week of age, 38 large and 30 juvenile Biomphalaria glabrata water snails. The filter compartment was filled with 200 g of lava grain inoculated with laboratory strains of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. A ground reference was undertaken with the same biological setup with a delay of 4 d. After an adaptation period of 5 d the system was closed and integrated into the spaceshuttle one day before launch. Video recordings of the animals were automatically taken for 10 minutes in 2-hour periods; the tapes were changed daily by the astronauts. The chemical and physical data for the aquatic system were within the expected range and were closely comparable in comparison to the ground reference. After 9 d under space conditions, the plant biomass increased to 117 g. The plants were all found in very good condition. All 4 adult female fish were retrieved in a good physiological condition. The juvenile fishes had a survival rate of about 33%. Almost 97% of the snails had survived and produced more than 250 neonates and 40 spawning packs. All samples were distributed according to a defined schedule and satisfied all scientific needs of the involved 12 principal investigators. This was the first successful spaceflight of an artificial aquatic ecosystem containing vertebrates, invertebrates, higher plants and microorganisms self-sustained by its inhabitants only. C.E.B.A.S. in a modified form and biological setup is a promising candidate for the early space station utilization as a first midterm experiment.     

The "C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE": a self-sustaining closed aquatic ecosystem for spaceflight experimentation.

The C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE is the miniaturized space flight version of the Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.). It fits into a large middeck locker tray and is scheduled to be flown in the STS 85 and in the NEUROLAB missions. Its volume is about 9 liters and it consists of two animal tanks, a plant cultivator, and a bacteria filter in a monolithic design. An external sensor unit is connected to a data acquisition/control unit. The system integrates its own biological life support. The CO2 exhaled by the consumers (fishes, snails, microorganisms) is assimilated by water plants (Ceratophyllum demersum) which provide them with oxygen. The products of biomass degradation and excretion (mainly ammonia ions) are converted by bacteria into nitrite and nitrate. The latter is taken up by the plants as a nitrogen source together with other ions like phosphate. The plants convert light energy into chemical energy and their illumination is regulated via the oxygen concentration in the water by the control unit. In ground laboratory tests the system exhibited biological stability up to three month. The buffer capacity of the biological filter system is high enough to eliminate the degradation products of about one half of the dead animal biomass as shown in a "crash test". A test series using the laboratory model of the flight hardware demonstrated the biological stability and technical reliability with mission-identical loading and test duration. A comprehensive biological research program is established for the C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE in which five German and three U.S.-American universities as well as the Russian Academy of Sciences are involved.     

C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE: test results of an artificial (man-made) aquatic ecosystem.

The original Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) is a long-term multi-generation research facility for experiments with aquatic animals and plants in a space station the development of which is surrounded by a large international scientific program. In addition, a miniaturized laboratory prototype, the C.E.B.A.S. MINI MODULE, with a total volume of about 10-12 liters for a Spacelab middeck locker was developed and a first version was tested successfully for two weeks with a population of fishes (Xiphophorus helleri) in the animal tank and a Ceratophyllum spec. in the illuminated higher plant growth chamber. The water recycling system consisted of a bacteria filter and a mechanical filter and the silastic tubing gas exchanger was separated by valves for the utilization in emergency cases only. Data were collected with the acquisition module of the original C.E.B.A.S. process control system. In addition, an optimized version was tested for 7 weeks with fishes and plants and thereafter with fish and with plants only for 2 and 1 weeks, resp.. The paper presents the relevant water parameters (e.g., pH, pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation, flow rate, ion concentrations) during the test period as well as morphological and physiological data of the enclosed animals and plants. On the basis of the given results the possible role of the C.E.B.A.S. system as a scientific tool in artificial ecosystem research and for the development of a combined animal-plant intensive aquaculture system and its utilization in bioregenerative life support is discussed.     

Aquatic modules for bioregenerative life support systems: developmental aspects based on the space flight results of the C.E.B.A.S. MIN-MODULE.

The Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (C.E.B.A.S.) is an artificial aquatic ecosystem which contains teleost fishes, water snails, ammonia oxidizing bacteria and edible non-gravitropic water plants. It serves as a model for aquatic food production modules which are not seriously affected by microgravity and other space conditions. Its space flight version, the so-called C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE was already successfully tested in the STS-89 and STS-90 (NEUROLAB) missions. It will be flown a third time in space with the STS-107 mission in January 2003. All results obtained so far in space indicate that the basic concept of the system is more than suitable to drive forward its development. The C.E.B.A.S. MINI-MODULE is located within a middeck locker with limited space for additional components. These technical limitations allow only some modifications which lead to a maximum experiment time span of 120 days which is not long enough for scientifically essential multi-generation-experiments. The first necessary step is the development of "harvesting devices" for the different organisms. In the limited space of the plant bioreactor a high biomass production leads to self-shadowing effects which results in an uncontrolled degradation and increased oxygen consumption by microorganisms which will endanger the fishes and snails. It was shown already that the latter reproduce excellently in space and that the reproductive functions of the fish species are not affected. Although the parent-offspring-cannibalism of the ovoviviparous fish species (Xiphophorus helleri) serves as a regulating factor in population dynamics an uncontrolled snail reproduction will also induce an increased oxygen consumption per se and a high ammonia concentration in the water. If harvesting locks can be handled by astronauts in, e. g., 4-week intervals their construction is not very difficult and basic technical solutions are already developed. The second problem is the feeding of the animals. Although C.E.B.A.S.-based aquaculture modules are designed to be closed food loop systems (edible herbivorous fish species and edible water plants) which are already verified on Earth this will not be possible in space without devices in which the animals are fed from a food storage. This has to be done at least once daily which would waste too much crew time when done by astronauts. So, the development of a reliable automated food dispenser has highest priority. Also in this case basic technical solutions are already elaborated. The paper gives a comprehensive overview of the proposed further C.E.B.A.S.-based development of longer-term duration aquatic food production modules.     

V.L.A. observations of flare build-up in coronal loops

Very Large Array (V.L.A.) measurements at 20 cm wavelength map emission from coronal loops with second-of-arc angular resolution at time intervals as short as 3.3 seconds. The total intensity of the 20 cm emission describes the evolution and structure of the hot plasma that is detected by satellite X-ray observations of coronal loops. The circular polarization of the 20 cm emission describes the evolution, strength and structure of the coronal magnetic field. Preburst heating and magnetic changes that precede burst emission on time scales of between 1 and 30 minutes are discussed. Simultaneous 20 cm and soft X-ray observations indicate an electron temperature $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\textcolor{red}{}\text{2.5 × 10}{}^7\text{K}$ and electron density $\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\textcolor{red}{}\text{10}{}^{10}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}$ during preburst heating in a coronal loop that was also associated with twisting of the entire loop in space. We also discuss the successive triggering of bursts from adjacent coronal loops; highly polarized emission from the legs of loops with large intensity changes over a 32 MHz change in observing frequency; and apparent motions of hot plasma within coronal loops at velocities V > 2,000 kilometerspersecond.     

美国的战斧巡航导弹

3月19日,美英法三国开始对利比亚实行军事打击。在当天进行的空袭行动中,部署在地中海的美军和英军军舰与潜艇就向利比亚首都的黎波里郊区和东部城市米苏拉塔等地发射了110多枚战斧巡航导弹,袭击了20多处防空设施和民事目标。在随后的几天里,每天又都发射了一批这种导弹。截止到4月1日,美军共发射了221枚、英军共发射了7枚战斧巡航导弹。那么,战斧巡航导弹究竞