火箭喷管的二维两相流

本文介绍了编制一组解轴对称喷管气体/粒子流动方程组的计算机程序的进展情况。已经编写了两个程序,是用来解喷管喉部跨声速区的方程组的。第一个程序把两相流体看成是一种具有修正等熵指数和修正分子量的重理想气体,并解跨声速等熵流动方程组,得到的初始流场形状作为第二个程序的输入。第二个程序包含有气体/粒子混合物非平衡效应。这两个程序为进行超声速计算提供准确的初始线数据,这些数据将用作第三个程序的输入。第三个程序是解喷管超声速区两相流动方程组的,不久即将写成。     

机载雷达的多个分辨率信号处理技术

合成孔径雷达（SAR）利用通过时间积累和自身的运动所获得的很高空间分辨率，可以降低某一给定分辨单元中的背景杂波功率，从而探测出非运动目标。而地面动目标显示（GMTI）雷达为了探测则采用低得多的分辨处理，利用的是实际孔径与动目标和杂波之间的空．时响应的相对差别。因此，SAR和GMTI代表了两种不同的时间处理分辨尺度，它们对探测固定（在SAR情况下）或者外围杂波中的（在GMTI情况下）目标来说是最佳的，并已经单独验证过，能够很好地工作。基于机载雷达数据处理的这种多个分辨率说明，就有可能研究出一种探测技术，该技术将着手优化信号处理分辨尺度（比如时间积累的长度）来与所关注目标的动态情况相匹配。本文研究怎样利用长相参处理时间间隔（CPI）的信号处理技术来改善GMTI雷达的探测性能。     

用于小型探测器类航天器的廉价地面系统

为了支持ＮＡＳＡ的小型探测器（ＳＭＥＸ）工程，哥达德航天中心的专用载荷部已开发研制了一个用于航天器总装和测试以及在轨运行的廉价地面数据系统。因为系统设计方案的灵活多变和低费用，也可用于哥达德中心的非ＳＭＥＸ卫星。本文介绍该系统以及开发过程中采用的设计原则，讨论在ＮＡＳＡ目前所见到的航天器操作发展趋势下该系统如何用于低费用操作。     

利用区间广义卡尔曼滤波器跟踪来袭弹道式导弹

用雷达跟踪来袭弹道式导弹,由于其运动模型、测量噪声的不确定性,成为需要研究的重要问题。经典广义卡尔曼滤波器(EKF)不再适用于这种不确定的问题,因此,引入一种新的区间广义卡尔曼德波(EIKF)方法来跟踪导弹系统。计算机仿真结果表明本EIKF算法对于这种不确定的、非线性弹道式导弹的测量问题是有效的。     

Survey on the Magnetic Structure of the Neutral Sheets in Earth's Magnetotail

Based on the multipoint magnetic observations of Cluster from 2001 to 2004, the magnetic field structure in magnetotail Neutral Sheet （NS） is statistically surveyed. The results are as follows. In NS, a cubic function is selected to reveal the relation between y （GSM） and positional parameter z. The relation between y and magnetic field values indicates that the magnetic field is weak at midnight region and strengthens gradually at the duskside and dawnside. The relation between y and curvature radius is expressed by a quadratic function. And R_c of flattened CS is less than that of the normal CS. B_y determines the orientation of MFLs' configuration. The polar angle of the curvature vector is affected by the NS configuration. In addition, the correlation between the polar angle of the curvature vector and z is higher. The polar angle of the normal of the osculating plane is uncertain in the center area. The relation between the azimuthal angles of the curvature vector （the normal of the osculating plane） and y is negatively correlated. An empirical model applied to yz plane of the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field lines in the NS are developed, and it is represented as a function of the positional parameter y. Finally, the current density is also statistically surveyed.      

Cosmic radiation exposure of biological test systems during the EXPOSE-E mission

In the frame of the EXPOSE-E mission on the Columbus external payload facility EuTEF on board the International Space Station, passive thermoluminescence dosimeters were applied to measure the radiation exposure of biological samples. The detectors were located either as stacks next to biological specimens to determine the depth dose distribution or beneath the sample carriers to determine the dose levels for maximum shielding. The maximum mission dose measured in the upper layer of the depth dose part of the experiment amounted to 238±10 mGy, which relates to an average dose rate of 408±16 μGy/d. In these stacks of about 8?mm height, the dose decreased by 5-12% with depth. The maximum dose measured beneath the sample carriers was 215±16 mGy, which amounts to an average dose rate of 368±27 μGy/d. These values are close to those assessed for the interior of the Columbus module and demonstrate the high shielding of the biological experiments within the EXPOSE-E facility. Besides the shielding by the EXPOSE-E hardware itself, additional shielding was experienced by the external structures adjacent to EXPOSE-E, such as EuTEF and Columbus. This led to a dose gradient over the entire exposure area, from 215±16 mGy for the lowest to 121±6 mGy for maximum shielding. Hence, the doses perceived by the biological samples inside EXPOSE-E varied by 70% (from lowest to highest dose). As a consequence of the high shielding, the biological samples were predominantly exposed to galactic cosmic heavy ions, while electrons and a significant fraction of protons of the radiation belts and solar wind did not reach the samples.     

Time profile of cosmic radiation exposure during the EXPOSE-E mission: the R3DE instrument

The aim of this paper is to present the time profile of cosmic radiation exposure obtained by the Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter during the EXPOSE-E mission in the European Technology Exposure Facility on the International Space Station's Columbus module. Another aim is to make the obtained results available to other EXPOSE-E teams for use in their data analysis. Radiation Risk Radiometer-Dosimeter is a low-mass and small-dimension automatic device that measures solar radiation in four channels and cosmic ionizing radiation as well. The main results of the present study include the following: (1) three different radiation sources were detected and quantified-galactic cosmic rays (GCR), energetic protons from the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region of the inner radiation belt, and energetic electrons from the outer radiation belt (ORB); (2) the highest daily averaged absorbed dose rate of 426 μGy d(-1) came from SAA protons; (3) GCR delivered a much smaller daily absorbed dose rate of 91.1 μGy d(-1), and the ORB source delivered only 8.6 μGy d(-1). The analysis of the UV and temperature data is a subject of another article (Schuster et al., 2012 ).     

An astrophysical view of Earth-based metabolic biosignature gases

Microbial life on Earth uses a wide range of chemical and energetic resources from diverse habitats. An outcome of this microbial diversity is an extensive and varied list of metabolic byproducts. We review key points of Earth-based microbial metabolism that are useful to the astrophysical search for biosignature gases on exoplanets, including a list of primary and secondary metabolism gas byproducts. Beyond the canonical, unique-to-life biosignature gases on Earth (O(2), O(3), and N(2)O), the list of metabolic byproducts includes gases that might be associated with biosignature gases in appropriate exoplanetary environments. This review aims to serve as a starting point for future astrophysical biosignature gas research.     

Spatially resolved genomic, stable isotopic, and lipid analyses of a modern freshwater microbialite from cuatro ciénegas, Mexico

Abstract Microbialites are biologically mediated carbonate deposits found in diverse environments worldwide. To explore the organisms and processes involved in microbialite formation, this study integrated genomic, lipid, and both organic and inorganic stable isotopic analyses to examine five discrete depth horizons spanning the surface 25?mm of a modern freshwater microbialite from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Distinct bacterial communities and geochemical signatures were observed in each microbialite layer. Photoautotrophic organisms accounted for approximately 65% of the sequences in the surface community and produced biomass with distinctive lipid biomarker and isotopic (δ(13)C) signatures. This photoautotrophic biomass was efficiently degraded in the deeper layers by heterotrophic organisms, primarily sulfate-reducing proteobacteria. Two spatially distinct zones of carbonate precipitation were observed within the microbialite, with the first zone corresponding to the phototroph-dominated portion of the microbialite and the second zone associated with the presence of sulfate-reducing heterotrophs. The coupling of photoautotrophic production, heterotrophic decomposition, and remineralization of organic matter led to the incorporation of a characteristic biogenic signature into the inorganic CaCO(3) matrix. Overall, spatially resolved multidisciplinary analyses of the microbialite enabled correlations to be made between the distribution of specific organisms, precipitation of carbonate, and preservation of unique lipid and isotopic geochemical signatures. These findings are critical for understanding the formation of modern microbialites and have implications for the interpretation of ancient microbialite records. Key Words: Microbial ecology-Microbe-mineral interactions-Microbial mats-Stromatolites-Genomics. Astrobiology 12, 685-698.