嵌金属丝推进剂的燃烧过程

为了解嵌金属丝推进剂的燃速沿金属丝的变化,并求出控制这类推进剂燃速的因素,对嵌银丝双基推进剂作了研究。沿金属丝的燃速主要取决于金属丝种类、尺寸和推进剂组分。用具有各种燃烧特性的双基推进剂,测量了沿银丝的燃速,并研究了光焰区、暗区和沸腾区的影响。利用微型热电偶测量了推进剂中靠近银丝部分的温度分布。根据试验结果,明确了沿银丝的燃速控制因素是沸腾区的温度梯度和暗区的温度。位于燃面上方的光焰区既不影响推进剂的燃速,也不影响沿银丝的燃速。     

以智能传感器为基础的光纤陀螺系统

市场对陀螺系统的需求是样机成本低和交付时间短。多数用户愿意购买现有设备，或者等待现有设备的短期改进型，原因是系列模块系统设计在新系统的研制中有着较低成本和较短反馈时间的优势。     

欧洲通信卫星平台

长期以来，欧洲的卫星制造商无论从规模还是经验上都难以与美国的卫星制造商竞争。但目前他们也是竞争日趋激烈的卫星市场中不容忽视的组成部分。近年来欧洲卫星公司的合并，特别是法国宇航公司与德国宇航（DASA）公司合并后的制造能力，使国际卫星市场的竞争将更加激烈。到1996年底为止，只有两位欧洲对手值得美国卫星制造商注意：他们分别是马特拉·马可尼公司；法国宇航公司和DASA公司联合组成的欧洲卫星工业公司（Euro－peanSatelliteIndustries，ESI）。另一家欧洲公司意大利的阿莱尼亚（Alenia）公司虽然也制造卫星，但无论从哪…     

航天指控中心的发展

本文介绍航天飞机的航天指控中心的功能和历史,阐述了通信和数据处理设施,重点则在显示系统的变迁。作为航天指控中心改造的一部分,将用新技术成果取代现有的显示系统。这种更新改造将构成一套高性能局网(LAN),向各工程工作站发送实时和历史数据,在工作站上处理和显示。这种结构的好处是:软件开发环境更灵活,更加模块化,因而有利于今后的改造更新。探讨了建议的新结构以及这一改造的工程和计划管理问题,重点在各局网的任务。     

一种低功率易校准的温度传感器

本文描述一种具有内部参考的改进的线性集成电路温度传感器,其主要的性能是:易校准(只有一个步骤),在宽温度范围内(-4.6mv/℃;-50℃到+125℃)具有高灵敏度,低输出阻抗(40Q),低功耗(200μw)。此器件中的扩散电阻以通用线性集成电路的工艺过程制造。文中还讨论了这种传感器在热电偶冷接点补偿中的应用。     

Travel, Sex, and Food: What's Speciation Got to Do with It?

Abstract We discuss the potential interactions among travel (dispersal and gene flow), bacterial "sex" (mainly as horizontal gene transfer), and food (metabolic plasticity and responses to nutrient availability) in shaping microbial communities. With regard to our work at a unique desert oasis, the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin in Coahuila, Mexico, we propose that diversification and low phosphorus availability, in combination with mechanisms for nutrient recycling and community cohesion, result in enhanced speciation through reproductive as well as geographic isolation. We also discuss these mechanisms in the broader sense of ecology and evolution. Of special relevance to astrobiology and central to evolutionary biology, we ask why there are so many species on Earth and provide a working hypothesis and a conceptual framework within which to consider the question. Key Words: Microbial ecology-Microbial mats-Evolution-Horizontal gene transfer-Metabolism. Astrobiology 12, 634-640.     

Comparative Metagenomics of Two Microbial Mats at Cuatro Ciénegas Basin II: Community Structure and Composition in Oligotrophic Environments

Abstract Microbial mats are self-sustained, functionally complex ecosystems that make good models for the understanding of past and present microbial ecosystems as well as putative extraterrestrial ecosystems. Ecological theory suggests that the composition of these communities might be affected by nutrient availability and disturbance frequency. We characterized two microbial mats from two contrasting environments in the oligotrophic Cuatro Ciénegas Basin: a permanent green pool and a red desiccation pond. We analyzed their taxonomic structure and composition by means of 16S rRNA clone libraries and metagenomics and inferred their metabolic role by the analysis of functional traits in the most abundant organisms. Both mats showed a high diversity with metabolically diverse members and strongly differed in structure and composition. The green mat had a higher species richness and evenness than the red mat, which was dominated by a lineage of Pseudomonas. Autotrophs were abundant in the green mat, and heterotrophs were abundant in the red mat. When comparing with other mats and stromatolites, we found that taxonomic composition was not shared at species level but at order level, which suggests environmental filtering for phylogenetically conserved functional traits with random selection of particular organisms. The highest diversity and composition similarity was observed among systems from stable environments, which suggests that disturbance regimes might affect diversity more strongly than nutrient availability, since oligotrophy does not appear to prevent the establishment of complex and diverse microbial mat communities. These results are discussed in light of the search for extraterrestrial life. Key Words: Cuatro Ciénegas-Metagenomics-Microbial mats-Oligotrophic-Phosphorus limitation-Stromatolites. Astrobiology 12, 659-673.     

Training astronauts using three-dimensional visualisations of the International Space Station

Recent advances in personal computer technology have led to the development of relatively low-cost software to generate high-resolution three-dimensional images. The capability both to rotate and zoom in on these images superposed on appropriate background images enables high-quality movies to be created. These developments have been used to produce realistic simulations of the International Space Station on CD-ROM. This product is described and its potentialities demonstrated. With successive launches, the ISS is gradually built up, and visualised over a rotating Earth against the star background. It is anticipated that this product's capability will be useful when training astronauts to carry out EVAs around the ISS. Simulations inside the ISS are also very realistic. These should prove invaluable when familiarising the ISS crew with their future workplace and home. Operating procedures can be taught and perfected. "What if" scenario models can be explored and this facility should be useful when training the crew to deal with emergency situations which might arise. This CD-ROM product will also be used to make the general public more aware of, and hence enthusiastic about, the International Space Station programme.