Janus: An aircraft prototype of a low earth orbit split beam stereoscopic observing system

The principle of determination of wind fields by a tomographic method is described. The airborne stereoscopic radiometer JANUS has been built to assess the feasibility of such measurements. Results of preliminary flights over isolated cumulus compare favourably with direct measurements. New flights with improved auxiliary parameter determinations are ongoing.     

Identification of specific gravity sensitive signal transduction pathways in human A431 carcinoma cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates a well characterized signal transduction cascade in human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. The influence of gravity on EGF-induced EGF-receptor clustering and early gene expression as well as on actin polymerization and actin organization have been investigated. Different signalling pathways induced by the agents TPA, forskolin and A23187 that activate gene expression were tested for sensitivity to gravity. EGF-induced c-fos and c-jun expression were decreased in microgravity. However, constitutive beta-2 microglobulin expression remained unaltered. Under simulated weightlessness conditions EGF- and TPA-induced c-fos expression was decreased, while forskolin- and A23187-induced c-fos expression was independent of the gravity conditions. These results suggest that gravity affects specific signalling pathways. Preliminary results indicate the EGF-induced EGF-receptor clustering remained unaltered irrespective of the gravity conditions. Furthermore, the relative filamentous actin content of steady state A431 cells was enhanced under microgravity conditions and actin filament organization was altered. Under simulated weightlessness actin filament organization in steady state cells as well as in EGF-treated cells was altered as compared to the 1 G reference experiment. Interestingly the microtubule and keratin organization in untreated cells showed no difference with the normal gravity samples. This indicates that gravity may affect specific components of the signal transduction circuitry.     

WSO-UV project

During last three decades, astronomers have enjoyed continuous access to the 100–300 nm ultraviolet (UV) spectral range where the resonance transitions of the most abundant atoms and ions (at temperatures between 3000 and 300 000 K) reside. This UV range is not accessible from ground-based facilities. The successful International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observatory, the Russian ASTRON mission and successor instruments such as the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) mission or the COS and STIS spectrographs on-board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) prove the major impact of observations in the UV wavelength range in modern astronomy. Future access to space-based observatories is expected to be very limited. For the next decade, the post-HST era, the World Space Observatory – Ultraviolet (WSO–UV) will be the only 2-m class UV telescope with capabilities similar to the HST. WSO–UV will be equipped with instruments for imaging and spectroscopy and it will be a facility dedicated, full-time, to UV astronomy. In this article, we briefly outline the current status of the WSO–UV mission and the science management plan.     

Wave-Particle-Electric Field Synergetic Auroral Electron Acceleration

Space Science Reviews - We discuss afresh the problem of the auroral electron acceleration based on the controversy reports of Bryant, D. A. et al.: 1992, Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 37, and Borovsky, J.:...     

利用微气囊扰动进行流动控制的数值模拟研究

探讨一种可以用来模拟“三角翼上分布微气囊，从而控制流动获得滚转力矩”的数值方法。为微型飞机的气动设计提供一种工具。研究的内容包括：考虑微气囊的三角翼网格生成、流场NS方程计算、微气囊不同布局对流动的扰动等。     

Future of Space Astronomy: A global Road Map for the next decades

The use of space techniques continues to play a key role in the advance of astrophysics by providing access to the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio to high energy γ rays. The increasing size, complexity and cost of large space observatories places a growing emphasis on international collaboration. Furthermore, combining existing and future datasets from space and “ground based” observatories is an emerging mode of powerful and relatively inexpensive research to address problems that can only be tackled by the application of large multi-wavelength observations. While the present set of astronomical facilities is impressive and covers the entire electromagnetic spectrum, with complementary space and “ground based” telescopes, the situation in the next 10–20 years is of critical concern. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), to be launched not earlier than 2018, is the only approved future major space astronomy mission. Other major highly recommended space astronomy missions, such as the Wide-field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), the International X-ray Observatory (IXO), Large Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and the Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA), have yet to be approved for development.     

Some Comments on the Dynamics of Urban Structural Development

The suggestion is made that the aerospace industry examine the dynamics of urban structural development, that it identify the forces which act on the elements comprising the structure of the city, and that it describe the relationship between and the relative movements of those elements. By formulating such a general theory of urban structural development, urban political, social, and economic leadership may be given the means by which permanent remedies?including technological?may be devised and applied. This paper presents examples of such means and explains their application and effects.     

涡喷发动机可靠性增长试验方案的设计

根据对产品可靠性的最低可接收值与幂律模型的可行性增长管理公式、可行性增长管理策略，推导了涡喷发动机可靠性增长试验所需的台数公式，参照某些涡喷发动机的试验数据及上述公式，给出了某B－2型涡喷发动机的可靠性增长试验方案及其理想增长曲线。     

SSA: Where does Europe stand now?

With the growing need for monitoring and awareness of all the objects in space (including debris) now recognized, the types of effort required towards this end are discussed, with the emphasis on European activities. A number of European documents acknowledging the problem are cited and initiatives to promote space situational awareness (SSA) are examined. While there is currently no provision in the EU budget beyond 2013 for protecting ground and space assets from space environmental threats, an encouraging degree of bilateral cooperation between member states suggests that an SSA capability is emerging in Europe.