Hematopoietic responses under protracted exposures to low daily dose gamma irradiation.

In attempting to evaluate the possible health consequences of chronic ionizing radiation exposure during extended space travel (e.g., Mars Mission), ground-based experimental studies of the clinical and pathological responses of canines under low daily doses of 60Co gamma irradiation (0.3-26.3 cGy d-1) have been examined. Specific reference was given to responses of the blood forming system. Results suggest that the daily dose rate of 7.5 cGy d-1 represents a threshold below which the hematopoietic system can retain either partial or full trilineal cell-producing capacity (erythropoiesis, myelopoiesis, and megakaryopoiesis) for extended periods of exposure (>1 yr). Trilineal capacity was fully retained for several years of exposure at the lowest dose-rate tested (0.3 cGy d-1) but was completely lost within several hundred days at the highest dose-rate (26.3 cGy d-1). Retention of hematopoietic capacity under chronic exposure has been demonstrated to be mediated by hematopoietic progenitors with acquired radioresistance and repair functions, altered cytogenetics, and cell-cycle characteristics. Radiological, biological, and temporal parameters responsible for these vital acquisitions by hematopoietic progenitors have been partially characterized. These parameters, along with threshold responses, are described and discussed in relation to potential health risks of the space traveler under chronic stress of low-dose irradiation.     

The position sensitive low energy detector on board the ZEBRA telescope

In order to improve the low energy capability (15 ÷ 150 KeV) of the balloon borne “ZEBRA” low energy gamma imaging telescope (150 KeV-20 MeV), a large area, high spectral resolution (5% at 60 KeV), low background detector has been designed and is now under development.It consists of two MultiWire Spectroscopic Proportional Counter (SPC), escape gated, that have a sensitive area of 6000 cm², and are placed above the large area array of sodiumiodide position sensitive elements.     

Convection and impurity distribution in crystal growth in low-gravity environments

Investigations conducted earlier by the authors have established that due to the steady-state field of body forces, convection is capable of giving rise to macroinhomogeneity in transverse impurity distribution in crystals. In the case of semiconductor materials the maximal value of this inhomogeneity is due to a weak convection in the melt, typical of low-gravity conditions. However, in addition to steady gravitational convection, other factors ignored previously, may also be employed in conducting experiments in low-g environments. The present paper discusses the results of theoretical studies of some factors influencing impurity distribution in the melt and the crystal.     

Conception of spacecraft centralized power supply

A reliable power supply for spacecraft is one of the central problems determining the future development of space technology. The traditional solution to this problem implies having an autonomous power plant on board each spacecraft. The most widely used are power plants with solar cells. However, there exists an alternative power supply concept of using a centralized power supply system (CPSS) and power transmission to the user satellites by laser or microwave beams. Use of a CPSS has a number of advantages. In particular, it allows the spacecraft to increase power supply level and service life as well as to decrease the spacecraft mass and cost. However, it sets new physical and technical problems associated with long distance power transmission and requires some changes in spacecraft structure and concepts. The feasibility study of CPSS development and use has to rely on existing or firmly forecastable technologies. An attempt of such an analysis has been done by a group of scientists at Moscow State Aviation Institute during 1994-1996. The very first results have already been published. This paper discusses new results obtained lately regarding a space based CPSS     

On the shape of rapidly rotating asteroids

By means of a statistical analysis of the rotational properties of asteroids, we define a class of large amplitude and short period objects (LASPA). A possible interpretation of their collisional evolution and present physical status, in terms of ellipsoidal figures of equilibrium, is proposed.     

Vertical distribution of SO2 in upper cloud layer of Venus and Origin of U.V.-absorption

It is shown that decline of spherical albedo of Venus toward the ultraviolet can be explained by the presence of two absorbing agents: a) SO₂, for which abundance is 10¹¹ cm^?3 at height 68 km and scale height is about 1 km; b) some unknown aerosol absorbent, possibly a 1% FeCl₃ admixture in a sulfuric acid concentrated solution. A mechanism of aerosol formation is proposed.     

Mass and heat exchange in liquids enclosed in containing walls at zero gravity

The dominant phenomena in miscible binary mixtures of melts are the four transport processes (thermal diffusion, heat transfer, concentration diffusion and diffusive heat transfer). In binary melts with no perfect solubility of the components in solid and liquid phase also internal Marangoni convections driven by interfacial forces seem to be possible.     

Advanced Electronic Integration Techniques Architecture

RCA has developed an implementation independent architecture to integrate electrical/electronic subsystems. The architecture described in this paper is easily upgradable and features deep integration, a high degree of modularity and common modules structured around standard interfaces. These features give the architecture a degree of flexibility and technology robustness seldom found in military applications. Although the requirements driving the architecture were developed from land combat vehicle applications, the architecture is equally applicable to any embedded system. This paper describes the architecture, its key attributes and benefits, and stresses the importance of standard interfaces.     

Sporadic emission of ultra high energy gamma rays from crab pulsar

In a further study of sporadic emission from pulsars we find evidence for short lived intense emission from the Crab pulsar.