A sulfur-based survival strategy for putative phototrophic life in the venusian atmosphere

Several observations indicate that the cloud deck of the venusian atmosphere may provide a plausible refuge for microbial life. Having originated in a hot proto-ocean or been brought in by meteorites from Earth (or Mars), early life on Venus could have adapted to a dry, acidic atmospheric niche as the warming planet lost its oceans. The greatest obstacle for the survival of any organism in this niche may be high doses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Here we make the argument that such an organism may utilize sulfur allotropes present in the venusian atmosphere, particularly S(8), as a UV sunscreen, as an energy-converting pigment, or as a means for converting UV light to lower frequencies that can be used for photosynthesis. Thus, life could exist today in the clouds of Venus.     

Production of neutrons from interactions of GCR-like particles

In order to help assess the risk to astronauts due to the long-term exposure to the natural radiation environment in space, an understanding of how the primary radiation field is changed when passing through shielding and tissue materials must be obtained. One important aspect of the change in the primary radiation field after passing through shielding materials is the production of secondary particles from the breakup of the primary. Neutrons are an important component of the secondary particle field due to their relatively high biological weighting factors, and due to their relative abundance, especially behind thick shielding scenarios. Because of the complexity of the problem, the estimation of the risk from exposure to the secondary neutron field must be handled using calculational techniques. However, those calculations will need an extensive set of neutron cross section and thicktarget neutron yield data in order to make an accurate assessment of the risk. In this paper we briefly survey the existing neutron-production data sets that are applicable to the space radiation transport problem, and we point out how neutron production from protons is different than neutron production from heavy ions. We also make comparisons of one the heavy-ion data sets with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) calculations.     

ESA's Biopan 1--"Vitamin" experiment preliminary results

The purpose of “Vitamin” experiment is to study the efficiency of protective substances on three biological acellular systems aqueous solutions exposed to cosmic radiation in space. The first system “LDL”is a low density lipoprotein. The second is “E2-TeBG complexe” in which estradiol (E2) is bound to its plasmatic carrier protein, testosterone-estradiol binding globulin (TeBG). The third is “pBR 322”, a plasmid. “Vitamin” experiment was accomodated in the Biopan which had been mounted on the outer surface of a Foton retrievable satellite. The experiment was exposed to space environment during 15 days. A stable temperature of about 20 °C was maintained throughout the flight. “Vitamin” experiment preliminary results are presented and discussed.     

低空防空系统的发展

普通脉冲雷达由于存在地物杂波干扰不能探测到低空飞行的飞机,多普勒雷达由此应运而生.雷锡恩公司首次研制了连续波多普勒雷达,并将之应用于“麻雀”和“霍克”导弹中.以后人们又研制了脉冲多普勒雷达,它兼有脉冲雷达和连续波雷达的特性.介绍雷锡恩公司研制连续波雷达中的关键技术,叙述防空问题的特殊观点.详细论述低空防空武器制导系统的基本技术问题(主要有指令、噪声和尖叫声等)和解决这些问题的主要途径.最后介绍低空防空导弹技术和雷达技术的进展以及现状.     

费用-效果分析在空间运输决策支持系统中的应用

低成本空间运输对保证正常扩大利用空间以及维持所需的地面/空间基地后勤支援是非常重要的.介绍了如何建立空间运输决策支持系统.重点介绍如何在该系统中采用费用-效果分析技术和分析程序.其目的是要提供一种计算机化的决策支持系统,使用户能按费用、进度和技术参数等来组成和评审空间运输系统结构.这种系统和用户有很强的交互作用性,能允许用户针对相同的和在变化中的判据来评审/比较多种空间运输系统方案.     

MX第一级

1980年在 Montery 召开的 JANNAF 会议上,介绍了 MX 第一级原始方案论证及制订的研制方案。这篇新资料评论了最初的两次静态试验所取得的结果。     

雷达的韧性、适应性和容量,以及反馈控制的重要性

雷达的作用是向其他系统提供信息,这是不会改变的.现在雷达采用了各种技术,这使雷达比以往任何时候都更经常地采用反馈控制方法来获得韧性、适应性和容量.使雷达对已取得的数据起反应,使反馈控制技术的全部效益发挥出来,只有这样才能设计出更为有价值的雷达来.     

航天飞机纤维缠绕壳体的抗压强度研究:第一部分—试验

航天飞机起飞的瞬间,其主发动机的点火给予固体火箭助推发动机的纤维缠绕壳体一个很大的弯矩,使复合材料壳体的尾部受到了很大的压缩载荷。由于连接的需要,复合壳体尾部具有很复杂的设计,涉及到嵌入的布带和螺旋层减薄问题。为了研究发射瞬间加载状态下的纤维缠绕壳体性能,开始了试验和分析的综合研究。本文将叙述试验计划的研究结果,包括几台全尺寸和300多台缩比壳体的试验。该计划从短期研制工作开始,其目的是要确定适合的缩比试验样品,以便测定材料的抗压强度。一旦缩比样品确定之后,就开始实施更全面的试验计划来确定缠绕壳体的工艺和设计参数变化对强度的影响。为了验证分析预测的有效性,在模拟发射瞬间的弯曲状态中进行了全尺寸壳体试验。在所有的试验中特别注意观察壳体破坏的顺序,即载荷从螺旋层薄弱部位传递到坚固布带终止部位的复杂过程。     

再入制导和弹道跟踪误差分析

新一代可重复使用运载器对再入制导提出了更高地要求。目前的空间运输系统证明基于阻力加速度的制导方法是行之有效的。其基本概念是跟踪基准阻力加速度包线，在飞行过程中可根据需要更新这个包线。跟踪适当的阻力加速度包线保证了飞行器可以飞行准确的距离达到目标，同时满足弹道约束。在横向上，我们可采用类似于美国航天飞机的倾斜反转逻辑或航向角跟踪技术。本文推导出了基于反馈线性化的控制算法，并将其应用于可重复使用运载器纵向和横向的制导。最后，我们分析了阻力加速度跟踪的误差。