Sounding rocket experiment of bare electrodynamic tether system

An overview of a sounding rocket, S-520-25th, project on space tether technology experiment is presented. The project is prepared by an international research group consisting of Japanese, European, American, and Australian researchers. The sounding rocket will be assembled by the ISAS/JAXA and will be launched in the summer of 2009. The sounding rocket mission includes two engineering experiments and two scientific experiments. These experiments consist of the deployment of bare electrodynamic tape tether in space, a quick ignition test of hollow cathode system in space, the demonstration of bare electrodynamic tether system in space, and the test of the OML (orbital-motion-limit) current collection theory.     

A study of land transformation processes after the atomic bombing damage in Hiroshima

We first analyzed aerial, satellite and surface photographs of Hiroshima taken in 1939, 1945, 1947, 1972, 1980 and 1982, in time sequence. It is rather difficult to recognize traces of damage caused by the atomic bombing from surface level with the few exceptions such as the Atomic Bomb Memorial Dome. However, the ground surface pattern of central Hiroshima analyzed by LANDSAT MSS data shows similarities to damage caused by the atomic bombing and the distribution of residual radioactivities.     

Optical Calibration of Geostationary Satellite Tracking Systems

A precise calibration method for range and angle observation has been developed for eliminating the systematic error of tracking systems, thus improving the accuracy of orbit determination for geostationary satellites. The principle of calibration is based on an orbit determination employing a point of optical angle observation in addition to radio tracking observation, in which we estimate observation bias parameters simultaneously with orbital elements, including the effects of geodetic mismodelings. As shown by an actual calibration experiment in our ground station, orbit determinations is sufficiently accurate that the error of predicting satellite range falls within a few meters at four days after the day of orbit determination.     

Ground probing radar system

Two types of battery-powered, compact, ground probing radar (GPR) systems have been developed. The systems have CRT displays mounted on antenna units and are used to locate such underground objects as gas pipes, water pipes, and transmission cables. The performance of the systems and results of field tests are reported. The GPR detected 59 of 64 underground gas pipes; a 200-mm-diameter pipe is clearly detected at a depth of 2.3 m     

A challenge to the highest balloon altitude

Development of a balloon to fly at higher altitudes is one of the most attractive challenges for scientific balloon technologies. After reaching the highest balloon altitude of 53.0 km using the 3.4 μm film in 2002, a thinner balloon film with a thickness of 2.8 μm was developed. A 5000 m³ balloon made with this film was launched successfully in 2004. However, three 60,000 m³ balloons with the same film launched in 2005, 2006, and 2007, failed during ascent. The mechanical properties of the 2.8 μm film were investigated intensively to look for degradation of the ultimate strength and its elongation as compared to the other thicker balloon films. The requirement of the balloon film was also studied using an empirical and a physical model assuming an axis-symmetrical balloon shape and the static pressure. It was found that the film was strong enough. A stress due to the dynamic pressure by the wind shear is considered as the possible reason for the unsuccessful flights. A 80,000 m³ balloon with cap films covering 9 m from the balloon top will be launch in 2011 to test the appropriateness of this reinforcement.     

Telescience testbed for biomedical experiments in space morphological and physiological experiments of rat musculoskeletal system.

As the second telescience testbed experiment we were examined sophisticated processes of biomedical experiment, such as an implantation of a transmitter into the hamster's abdominal cavity, non-stressful blood sampling, large amount of blood collection, muscle extirpation and biopsy from the hamsters on February 6-8, 1990. To make clear the differences between successful results obtained by an experienced hand and by a non-experienced one, three operators were selected for three successive experimental days; an engineer who had never experienced any biological experiment, a non-biology student, who experienced on biological experiments, and a veterinary surgeon. Surgical procedures need much experiences on maneuvering and understanding of theory to shorten the elapse time. Especially for a non-experienced hand, graphic instructions were much helpful to understand and to maneuver the procedures. Continuous recordings of ECG from a operator and PIs were of an advantage to grasp an extent of the mental strain, which was compared with their reports requested after end of each experimental day. The mental strain was not related to degrees of scientific achievement, but showed faithfully difficulty of each experimental procedure. Training effects on PIs in successive experimental days were found in their instructions for the operator to let understand the procedures.     

High gain airborne antenna for satellite communications

The performance of an airborne phased-array antenna, which was developed and evaluated onboard a commercial aircraft using the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V), is reported. The system requirements and the antenna configuration that satisfies them are described. The radiation pattern, gain and axial ratio, noise temperature and ratio of gain to noise temperature, and environmental characteristics are presented. The results obtained by the flight experiments demonstrate that the performance of the antenna is the same as that on the ground, so that the antenna is suitable for installation in an aircraft for satellite communications     

抽头电感滤波器辅助PWM DC-DC功率变换器实现软开关功能

推荐了一种使用新型高频变压器连接的全桥软开关移相脉宽调制（PWM）控制的DC-DC功率变换器。可以把此种功率变换器用作小型光伏电池与燃料电池发电系统的功率调节器以及汽车交流电源的隔离式升压DC-DC功率变换器。在低压大电流电源中，全桥电路是最具吸引力的拓扑，因为可以使用低压高性能金属氧化半导体场效应晶体管（MOSFET），并且能实现DC-DC功率变换器的高效率。为了能在大负载波动范围内实现软开关运行，新近在全桥移相PWMdc-dc变换器的输出级采用了包含续流二极管的抽头电感滤波器。在本文推荐的电路中，无需使用附加谐振电路和辅助功率变换器件就能有效降低循环电流。采用设置为1kW 100kHz的实验模板（使用功率MOSFET）对本文推荐的软开关dc-dc功率变换器的实际效率进行了实验室级别的试验。大工作比和负载变化范围内得到的实际效率为94～97％。     

Executive function on the 16-day of bed rest in young healthy men

Microgravity due to prolonged bed rest may cause changes in cerebral circulation, which is related to brain function. We evaluate the effect of simulated microgravity due to a 6° head-down tilt bed rest experiment on executive function among 12 healthy young men. Four kinds of psychoneurological tests—the table tapping test, the trail making test, the pointing test and losing at rock–paper–scissors—were performed on the baseline and on day 16 of the experiment. There was no significant difference in the results between the baseline and day 16 on all tests, which indicated that executive function was not impaired by the 16-day 6° head-down tilting bed rest. However, we cannot conclude that microgravity did not affect executive function because of the possible contribution of the following factors: (1) the timing of tests, (2) the learning effect, or (3) changes in psychophysiology that were too small to affect higher brain function.