Effect of weightlessness on posture and movement control during a whole body reaching task

Here are reported preliminary results of the “Synergy” experiment performed aboard the Russian orbital station “MIR” in July 1993 (Altaïr Mission). The experiment was carried out before, during, and after the space flight of two astronauts (S1 and S2). The duration of the flight was 21 days for S1 and 6 month for S2. The subjects were tested during preflight, inflight and postflight. The astronaut subjects were fixed on the ground by the feet. They were asked to pick up a box in front of them on the ground. Two velocities of movement and two distances of the target to be reached were tested. The movement of several small markers placed on the body was recorded on video tape.

Results show that the shape of head and hand trajectories in the sagittal plane remains roughly the same during the flight in spite of the modification of mechanical constraints. Trajectory invariance does not result in joint angular displacement invariance. These data indicate that the planning of the movement takes place in terms of head and hand trajectories rather than joint rotations as it was previously suggested for simple arm reaching movement.     

Ensuring equal access to the benefits of space technologies for all countries

There is a concern in the developing world that industrialized countries have not done all they might under Article 1 of the Outer Space Treaty to make the benefits of space technology available to all countries; some are now seeking codification of rights and responsibilities in this sphere. This article discusses recent debate on the issues by COPUOS and its Legal Subcommittee on whether an additional legal framework is necessary to ensure a fairer distribution of benefits. G77 countries were strongly in favour of some form of technology and information transfer, while industrialized countries favoured the existing practice of developing international cooperative space projects. The author believes that a new set of principles will be formulated in the next few years and that organizations like Intelsat and Inmarsat can provide valuable models for ensuring access through cooperative programmes.     

Thermal resistance in satellite mounting plates due to conductive heat transfer

The thermal resistance due to conductive heat transfer between two heat generating boxes mounted symmetrically on a thin mounting plate, one side of which is subjected to a constant heat flux and the opposite side is convectively cooled, is considered. The other two sides are maintained at constant temperature. A numerical solution for the temperature field is obtained and the heat transfer between the boxes is found by integrating between the critical heat flow lines. Various nondimensional parameters are identified and their influence on the thermal resistance is studied.     

线性四元树表示图象的距离变换

二元数组表示的图象使用的距离概念运用于线性四元树表示。指出棋盘距离特别适合于线性四元树。定义线性四元树的棋盘距离变换为树中各个黑四分形中心到最近边界四分形黑一白边界的距离。这里提出的距离变换算法主要特点是(1)它是一种代数方法,(2)各个四分形只计算一次距离,和(3)距离信息非常快地传递到区域内部。该算法可以推广到线性八元树表示的三维客体。     

Orbital and relative motion of a tethered satellite system

A simplified model for the orbital and relative motion of a tethered satellite system is presented. The tether acts as a light elastic string with small structural damping but without bending stiffness. Its mass is taken into account in the calculation of the total kinetic and potential energies of the tethered system. This formulation allows the inclusion of the complete gravity gradient influence on the dynamics of the system. The resulting three-dimensional motion is separated in the centre of mass orbital motion on the one hand and the relative motion of the end-bodies on the other. No restrictions on length of the tether or on mass ratio of the end-masses are imposed. It is found that the frequencies and amplitudes of the longitudinal tether oscillations are realistic as long as the tether mass is less than that of the subsatellite.     

Aeroshell design techniques for aerocapture entry vehicles

A major goal of NASA's In-Space Propulsion Program is to shorten trip times for scientific planetary missions. To meet this challenge arrival speeds will increase, requiring significant braking for orbit insertion, and thus increased deceleration propellant mass that may exceed launch lift capabilities. A technology called aerocapture has been developed to expand the mission potential of exploratory probes destined for planets with suitable atmospheres. Aerocapture inserts a probe into planetary orbit via a single pass through the atmosphere using the probe's aeroshell drag to reduce velocity. The benefit of an aerocapture maneuver is a large reduction in propellant mass that may result in smaller, less costly missions and reduced mission cruise times. The methodology used to design rigid aerocapture aeroshells will be presented with an emphasis on a new systems tool under development. Current methods for fast, efficient evaluations of structural systems for exploratory vehicles to planets and moons within our solar system have been under development within NASA having limited success. Many systems tools that have been attempted applied structural mass estimation techniques based on historical data and curve fitting techniques that are difficult and cumbersome to apply to new vehicle concepts and missions. The resulting vehicle aeroshell mass may be incorrectly estimated or have high margins included to account for uncertainty. This new tool will reduce the guesswork previously found in conceptual aeroshell mass estimations.     

JY21航管一次监视雷达信号处理设计

一、系统概述JY21航管一次机场监视雷达是中国电子科技集团公司第三十八所按中国民航空中交通管制需求研制的新一代机场监视雷达,该雷达集飞机监视和气象探测于一体,具有独立的目标通道和气象通道,可以自动提取飞机点迹数据和6个等级气象反射率数据,信号处理作为航管雷达的关键     

雷达有源诱偏与反辐射导弹对抗仿真技术

简要分析反辐射对抗技术的发展应用情况,分析并提出了雷达有源诱偏与反辐射导弹对抗性能评估试验方法,最后介绍了一种抗反辐射导弹有源诱偏路馈半实物仿真系统研制与试验情况。     

一种改进的区域覆盖星座优化设计方法

为缩短区域覆盖星座优化设计的计算时间，对网格点仿真法进行了改进。在统计时间内，以解析法计算卫星覆盖时刻集，并采用遗传算法优化星座参数。仿真计算结果表明，本文改进方法的计算时间仅为优化前的百分之一。     

Advantages and disadvantages of prizes in a portfolio of financial incentives for space activities

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has proposed to use financial prizes to encourage innovation in space technology. Public debate about the use of prizes questions their effectiveness, the role of government compared with the private sector in administering prizes—for example, the Ansari X-Prize for human suborbital flight was privately funded and administered—and other issues that are likely to influence the success of this approach.