磁暴期间环电流离子中性原子成像的模拟与观测比较研究

采用已经建立的环电流离子解析模型,结合Chamberlain地冕中性层模型,研究了2004年11月一次大磁暴期间的环电流区域中性原子(ENA)图像.结果表明,模拟的ENA图像与TC-2卫星搭载的中性原子成像仪(NUAUD)的观测图像在方位角或地方时分布、高度或纬度分布和能谱分布方面存在一定的差异.如果依据磁暴发展的不同阶段来选择环电流离子模型的方位角不对称因子和通量最大方向的方位角,增大地冕中性层在低高度区域的密度或者考虑氢(H)以外的其他中性成分,改进注入边界处的离子能谱分布函数,且考虑不同种类环电流离子的比例随磁暴发展可能发生的变化,该模型有望产生更符合观测的模拟ENA图像.     

Analysis of a spacecraft life support system for a Mars mission

This report summarizes a trade study conducted as part of the Fall 2002 semester Spacecraft Life Support System Design course (ASEN 5116) in the Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department at the University of Colorado. It presents an analysis of current life support system technologies and a preliminary design of an integrated system for supporting humans during transit to and on the surface of the planet Mars. This effort was based on the NASA Design Reference Mission (DRM) for the human exploration of Mars [NASA Design Reference Mission (DRM) for Mars, Addendum 3.0, from the world wide web: http://exploration.jsc.nasa.gov/marsref/contents.html.]. The integrated design was broken into four subsystems: Water Management, Atmosphere Management, Waste Processing, and Food Supply. The process started with the derivation of top-level requirements from the DRM. Additional system and subsystem level assumptions were added where clarification was needed. Candidate technologies were identified and characterized based on performance factors. Trade studies were then conducted for each subsystem. The resulting technologies were integrated into an overall design solution using mass flow relationships. The system level trade study yielded two different configurations--one for the transit to Mars and another for the surface habitat, which included in situ resource utilization. Equivalent System Mass analyses were used to compare each design against an open-loop (non-regenerable) baseline system.     

Conversations with Sally Ride. Interview by Linda Voss

Sally Ride discusses her career after leaving the astronaut corps, particularly her company, Imaginary Lines, which encourages middle school-aged girls to pursue careers in science and mathematics.     

Physical simulation for low-energy astrobiology environmental scenarios

Speculations about the extent of life of independent origin and the potential for sustaining Earth-based life in subsurface environments on both Europa and Mars are of current and relevant interest. Theoretical modeling based on chemical energetics has demonstrated potential options for viable biochemical metabolism (metabolic pathways) in these types of environments. Also, similar environments on Earth show microbial activity. However, actual physical simulation testing of specific environments is required to confidently determine the interplay of various physical and chemical parameters on the viability of relevant metabolic pathways. This testing is required to determine the potential to sustain life in these environments on a specific scenario by scenario basis. This study examines the justification, design, and fabrication of, as well as the culture selection and screening for, a psychrophilic/halophilic/anaerobic digester. This digester is specifically designed to conform to physical testing needs of research relating to potential extent physical environments on Europa and other planetary bodies in the Solar System. The study is a long-term effort and is currently in an early phase, with only screening-level data at this time. Full study results will likely take an additional 2 years. However, researchers in electromagnetic biosignature and in situ instrument development should be aware of the study at this time, as they are invited to participate in planning for future applications of the digester facility.     

Biogenesis and early life on Earth and Europa: favored by an alkaline ocean?

Recent discoveries about Europa--the probable existence of a sizeable ocean below its ice crust; the detection of hydrated sodium carbonates, among other salts; and the calculation of a net loss of sodium from the subsurface--suggest the existence of an alkaline ocean. Alkaline oceans (nicknamed "soda oceans" in analogy to terrestrial soda lakes) have been hypothesized also for early Earth and Mars on the basis of mass balance considerations involving total amounts of acids available for weathering and the composition of the early crust. Such an environment could be favorable to biogenesis since it may have provided for very low Ca2+ concentrations mandatory for the biochemical function of proteins. A rapid loss of CO2 from Europa's atmosphere may have led to freezing oceans. Alkaline brine bubbles embedded in ice in freezing and impact-thawing oceans could have provided a suitable environment for protocell formation and the large number of trials needed for biogenesis. Understanding these processes could be central to assessing the probability of life on Europa.     

Lessons learned from the Space Flyer Unit (SFU) mission

The Space Flyer Unit (SFU) system and mission chronology are briefly introduced. Lessons learned from the SFU mission are categorized as programmatic and engineering lessons. In the programmatic category are dealt with both international and domestic collaborations. As for the engineering lessons safety design, orbital operation, in-flight anomaly, and post flight analyses are the major topics reviewed.     

The face inversion effect in microgravity: is gravity used as a spatial reference for complex object recognition?

Complex objects are better recognized under a specific orientation. When presented upside down, a face, even very familiar, is recognized with greater difficulty than when presented upright ("Inversion effect"). Up to now it was not possible to decide whether the direction provided by gravity or the one provided by the retina and the body constitutes the spatial reference involved in this "Inversion effect". Three cosmonautes learned photographed faces on the ground and had to recognize them both on ground and on flight. Other photographed faces were learned in flight and where presented for recognition on flight. Results show that the Inversion effect is still present on flight for faces that have been learned on ground as well as for those learned on flight. Persistence of the inversion effect in 0-G shows that gravity is not involved as a spatial reference in recognition of faces. Learning and recognition performances of faces learned in flight were significantly lower than performances for faces learned on ground. A possible role of gravity in configural processing, but not in the Inversion effect, is suggested.     

MSK和OKQPSK体制的实验评价

实验室的试验测量指出,当通道具有同比特率带宽近于相等的带宽和典型的有关相位延迟特性时,MSK 与 OKQPSK 调制方式有近乎相等误差率性能.为了在比较不同调制方式的性能时消除硬件质量不同引起的差异,设计与制造了高质量 MSK 与 OKQPSK 发射机和通用模型接收机。因此,调制方式的选择应主要考虑复杂性、对设备组合的敏感度和差分编码合适性,而不是误差率。     

高码率可编程帧同步器

印度的第一颗遥感卫星在1988年3月17日从苏联航天站发射到904km的极地太阳同步轨道。从卫星发送的数据高码速率如下:在S波段是5.2Mbps,x波段是10.4Mbps,载荷数据格式是常用的8328字格式。在数据处理系统的各研制阶段,为测试数据已研制了一种独特的可编程通用帧同步器和分路部件。它可以工作到50Mbps,处理的帧码组长度达128位,每帧长度为2e~(20)位码。此设备可在前面板设置允许误码和码位滑动。本文描述了专为IRS飞行器研制的高码率帧同步器的设计和工作过程。简介指标,系统结构同步方法,码位滑动及测试情况,表明该同步器已获得广泛应用。本设备将大大改善系统的工作性能。     

用小卫星进行遥感

本文介绍遥感领域中采用小卫星的某些设计问题。着重论述可以提高当前小卫星技术水平的几个领域。规划的目标是,用成本低廉,方法可靠的新型遥感器来获取遥感数据,从而完成21世纪的主要航天任务。