Effects of 12 days exposure to simulated microgravity on central circulatory hemodynamics in the rhesus monkey

Central circulatory hemodynamic responses were measured before and during the initial 9 days of a 12-day 10 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) in 4 flight-sized juvenile rhesus monkeys who were surgically instrumented with a variety of intrathoracic catheters and blood flow sensors to assess the effects of simulated microgravity on central circulatory hemodynamics. Each subject underwent measurements of aortic and left ventricular pressures, and aortic flow before and during HDT as well as during a passive head-up postural test before and after HDT. Heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were measured, and dP/dt and left ventricular elastance was calculated from hemodynamic measurements. The postural test consisted of 5 min of supine baseline control followed by 5 minutes of 90 degrees upright tilt (HUT). Heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure showed no consistent alterations during HDT. Left ventricular elastance was reduced in all animals throughout HDT, indicating that cardiac compliance was increased. HDT did not consistently alter left ventricular +dP/dt, indicating no change in cardiac contractility. Heart rate during the post-HDT HUT postural test was elevated compared to pre-HDT while post-HDT cardiac output was decreased by 52% as a result of a 54% reduction in stroke volume throughout HUT. Results from this study using an instrumented rhesus monkey suggest that exposure to microgravity may increase ventricular compliance without alternating cardiac contractility. Our project supported the notion that an invasively-instrumented animal model should be viable for use in spaceflight cardiovascular experiments to assess potential changes in myocardial function and cardiac compliance.     

Electrophysiological, histochemical, and hormonal adaptation of rat muscle after prolonged hindlimb suspension

The perspective of long-duration flights for future exploration, imply more research in the field of human adaptation. Previous studies in rat muscles hindlimb suspension (HLS), indicated muscle atrophy and a change of fibre composition from slow-to-fast twitch types. However, the contractile responses to long-term unloading is still unclear. Fifteen adult Wistar rats were studied in 45 and 70 days of muscle unweighting and soleus (SOL) muscle as well as extensor digitorum longus (EDL) were prepared for electrophysiological recordings (single, twitch, tetanic contraction and fatigue) and histochemical stainings. The loss of muscle mass observed was greater in the soleus muscle. The analysis of electrophysiological properties of both EDL and SOL showed significant main effects of group, of number of unweighting days and fatigue properties. Single contraction for soleus muscle remained unchanged but there was statistically significant difference for tetanic contraction and fatigue. Fatigue index showed a decrease for the control rats, but increase for the HLS rats. According to the histochemical findings there was a shift from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism during HLS. The data suggested that muscles atrophied, but they presented an adaptation pattern, while their endurance in fatigue was decreased.     

室内火箭试车台的理论和试验评定

用于固体火箭发动机静态试车的一种新的室内试验设施最近在荷兰全国应用科学研究中心的Prins Maurits实验室建成。本文介绍了试车的概况,气体动力学特性,强度和减声特性,以及验证试验的结果。     

UAVSAR：NASA用于科技研究的新型机载SAR系统

NASA的喷气推动实验室目前正在建造可重构的极化L波段合成孔径雷达（SAR），它是专门设计用于为差分干涉测量荻取航空测绘重复航迹SAR数据的。差分干涉仪能够给出关键的变形测量，对于研究地震、火山和其他动态变化现象是很重要的。该系统采用精确的实时GPS和探测器控制飞行管理系统，能够以很高的精度按预设路径飞行。飞行控制系统的期望性能把飞行路径限制在直径为10m的通道内。按其设计，该雷达可在UAV（无人机）上工作，但最初会在NASA的“湾流Ⅲ”上进行验证。这部雷达是全极化的，距离向带宽为80GHz（2m距离分辨率），并支持16km的距离地面条带。天线沿航迹进行电控，以确保天线波束能够独立指向而不用考虑风向和风速。天线所支持的其他特征包括俯仰单脉冲和脉冲一脉冲间的操纵能力，这样可以实现一些新颖的工作模式。系统的额定工作高度为45000英尺（13800米）。该计划是作为NASA地球科学和技术办公室（ESTO）资助的设备孵化器项目（IIP）开始的。     

Bone and body mass changes during space flight

Long duration space flight has shown us that humans have significant bone loss and mineral changes because they are living in microgravity. Skylab and the longer Salyut and Mir missions, are providing us useful data and allowing us to explore the mechanism involved in skeletal turnover. Bone redistribution occurs throughout space flight with bone loss predominately in the weight bearing bones of posture and locomotion. The primary health hazards which may occur during space flight induced by skeletal changes include signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia, and the risk of kidney stones and metastatic calcification. After flight lengthy recovery of bone mass and the possible increase in the risk of bone fracture should be considered. Continued research studies are being directed toward determining the mechanisms by which bone is lost in space and developing more effective countermeasures by both the US (Schneider and McDonald, 1984 and Schneider, LeBlanc & Huntoon, 1993) and Russian (Grigoriev et. al., 1989) space programs.     

含硝酸酯增塑剂的固体推进剂的脆化研究

本文介绍硝酸酯增塑的聚醚聚氨酯推进剂在低温贮存中,解决失去应变能力(脆化)问题的研究结果。这种高度增塑的推进剂在低温下短期贮存,几乎完全失去了应变能力。研究这种脆化的原因表明,交联密度以及粘合剂配方是起作用的因素。湿度曾被考虑是因素之一,但实验证明并非如此。实验表明增塑剂结晶是脆变的主要原因但不一定与增塑剂的凝固点有关。重新测定某些增塑剂的凝固点是研究工作的一部份。放入增塑剂晶体增加了推进剂脆变速度。单独采用丁三醇三硝酸酯(BTTN)或是混合增塑剂可以解决这个问题。采用混合增塑剂可以得到最好的低温性能。     

高分辨力机载毫米波FM-CW SAR的研发

紧凑的FM—CW（调频-连续波）雷达技术和高分辨力SAR（合成孔径雷达）处理技术的结合将为体积小、重量轻且性价比高的成像雷达的发展铺平道路。然而，在空中观察地球表面这一领域中，将SAR用于FM—CW雷达是比较新颖的。通信传输和雷达国际研究中心（IRCTR）启动了一项关于FM—CW SAR的可行性研究。在该研究项目框架中，开发并测试了一种完全运转的机载FM—CW SAR验证系统。文中综述了地面测试的情况。此外，2004年6月在柏林附近的Strausberg机场进行了一次非常成功的空中试验。本文将介绍这些机载试验的初步结果。     

A Canadian high-energy neutron spectrometry system for measurements in space

Bubble Technology Industries Inc. (BTI), with the support of the Canadian Space Agency, has finished the construction of the Canadian High-Energy Neutron Spectrometry System (CHENSS). This spectrometer is intended to measure the high energy neutron spectrum (approximately 1-100 MeV) encountered in spacecraft in low earth orbit. CHENSS is designed to fly aboard a US space shuttle and its scientific results should facilitate the prediction of neutron dose to astronauts in space from readings of different types of radiation dosimeters that are being used in various missions.     

ELITE-S2: the multifactorial movement analysis facility for the International Space Station

Experimental observations of adaptation processes of the motor control system to altered gravity conditions can provide useful elements to the investigations on the mechanisms underlying motor control of human subject. The microgravity environment obtained on orbital flights represents a unique experimental condition for the monitoring of motor adaptation. The research in motor control exploits the changes caused by microgravity on the overall sensorimotor process, due to the impairment of the sensory systems whose function depends upon the presence of the gravity vector. Motor control in microgravity has been investigated during parabolic flights and short-term space missions, in particular for analysis of movement-posture co-ordination when equilibrium is no longer a constraint. Analysis of long-term adaptation would also be very interesting, calling for long-term body motion observations during the process of complete motor adaptation to the weightlessness environment. ELITE-S2 is an innovative facility for quantitative human movement analysis in weightless conditions onboard the International Space Station (ISS). ELITE-S2 is being developed by the Italian Space Agency, ASI is to be delivering the flight models to NASA to be included in an expressed rack in US Lab Module in February 2004. First mission is currently planned for summer 2004 (increment 10 ULF 2 ISS).     

Sleep in space

Manned space flights have shown it is possible to sleep in microgravity. However, some sleep disturbances have been reported which influence performance of the crew and safety of space flight. This paper reviews the main studies of in-flight sleep in animal and man. Most disturbances are related to phase lags due to operational requirements. Factors which can disturb in-flight sleep are analysed: environmental factors. Some of them are secondary to space flight ergonomics. Conversely, effects of microgravity on light-dark alternance are less known and lead to interesting problems of fundamental research, psychological factors, especially during long duration flights.