Microgravity and the organisms: results of the Spacelab mission D1.

During the Spacelab mission D1 different organisms were investigated at the unicellular and multicellular level respectively. Microgravity affects growth and development of the organisms in a different manner, some processes are enhanced, others are inhibited. On the other hand, there are a lot of parameters. e.g. circadian rhythm or cell and organ polarity, which seem to be exclusively under genetical control.     

Space Station atmospheric monitoring systems.

A technology assessment study on atmospheric monitoring systems was performed by Battelle Columbus Division for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John F. Kennedy Space Center under Contract No. NAS 10-11033. In this assessment, the objective was to identify, analyze, and recommend systems to sample and measure Space Station atmospheric contaminants and identify where additional research and technology advancements were required. To achieve this objective, it was necessary to define atmospheric monitoring requirements and to assess the state of the art and advanced technology and systems for technical and operational compatibility with monitoring goals. Three technical tasks were defined to support these needs: Definition of Monitoring Requirements, Assessment of Sampling and Analytical Technology, and Technology Screening and Recommendations. Based on the analysis, the principal candidates recommended for development at the Space Station's initial operational capability were: (1) long-path Fourier transform infrared for rapid detection of high-risk contamination incidences, and (2) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry utilizing mass selective detection (or ion-trap) technologies for detailed monitoring of extended crew exposure to low level (ppbv) contamination. The development of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/matrix isolation-Fourier transform infrared system was recommended as part of the long range program of upgrading Space Station trace-contaminant monitoring needs.     

Accessing NASA technology with the World Wide Web

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) began using the World Wide Web (WWW) in the summer of 1993, becoming the first NASA installation to provide a center-wide home page. This coincided with a reorganization of LaRC to provide a more concentrated focus on technology transfer to both aerospace and non-aerospace industry. Use of WWW and NCSA Mosaic not only provides automated information dissemination, but also allows for the implementation, evolution and integration of many technology transfer and technology awareness applications. This paper describes several of these innovative applications, including the on-line presentation of the entire Technology Opportunities Showcase (TOPS), an industrial partnering showcase that exists on the Web long after the actual 3-day event ended. The NASA Technical Report Server (NTRS) provides uniform access to many logically similar, yet physically distributed NASA report servers. WWW is also the foundation of the Langley Software Server (LSS), an experimental software distribution system which will distribute LaRC-developed software. In addition to the more formal technology distribution projects, WWW has been successful in connecting people with technologies and people with other people     

Upstream waves and particles

A brief analysis is made of the interrelation of the intensity of cosmic-ray particles, the column density of gas and the intensity of cosmic γ-rays. It is shown that, locally, γ-ray data enable the calibration of H₂ densities to be inferred from CO data and elsewhere the variation of cosmic-ray intensity with position to be assessed. Finally, the importance of cosmic-ray irradiated molecular clouds in simulating γ-ray ‘sources’ is reiterated.     

The strong stability of most natural motions

Problems of Hamiltonian Mechanics can generally be simplified by some Von Zeipel transformations which reduce the influence of short period parameters and lead to very slowly variable functions: the “quasi-integrals”; however these transformations are implicit and then difficult to use.An explicit construction of the quasi-integrals is presented here and is used to integrate the motion of an artificial satellite perturbed by the zonal harmonics of the Earth gravitational potential; the quasi-integrals are also used to obtain informations on the stability of natural satellites, i.e. lower bounds on the duration of escape or capture.     

Imaging of the outer planets and satellites

Imaging is the most widely applicable single means of exploring the outer planets and their satellites and also complements other planet-oriented instruments. Imaging generally is more effectively carried out from a three-axis stabilized spacecraft than from a spinning one.Both specific experimental and broader exploratory goals must be recognized. Photography of Jupiter from terrestrial telescopes has revealed features which were neither predictable or predicted. Close-up imaging from fly-bys and orbiters affords the opportunity for discovery of atmospheric phenomena on the outer planets forever beyond the reach of terrestrial laboratories and intuition. On the other hand, a large number of specific applications of close-up imaging to study the giant planets are suggested by experience in photography from Earth and Mars orbit, and by ground-based telescopic studies of Jupiter and Saturn. Photographic observations of horizontal and vertical cloud structure at both global and finer scale, and motions and other time changes, will be essential for the study of atmospheric circulation. Size and composition of cloud particles also is a credible objective of fly-by and orbiter missions carrying both imaging and photo-polarimeter experiments.The satellites of the outer planets actually constitute three distinct classes: lunar-sized objects, asteroidal-sized objects, and particulate rings. Imaging promises to be the primary observational tool for each category with results that could impact scientific thinking in the late 70's and 80's as significantly as has close-up photography of Mars and the Moon in the last 10 yr.Finally, it should be recognized that photography occupies a unique role in the interaction between science and the popular mind. This popular, educational aspect of imaging constitutes a unique aspect of 20th Century culture. Imaging therefore is not only a primary basis for scientific discovery in the exploration of the outer planets, but an important human endeavor of enduring significance.Contribution No. 2163 of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109.This is one of the publications by the Science Advisory Group.     

French research program on the physiological problems caused by weightlessness. Use of the primate model

The need to acquire a better knowledge of the main biological problems induced by microgravity implies--in addition to human experimentation--the use of animal models, and primates seem to be particularly well adapted to this type of research. The major areas of investigation to be considered are the phospho-calcium metabolism and the metabolism of supporting tissues, the hydroelectrolytic metabolism, the cardiovascular function, awakeness, sleep-awakeness cycles, the physiology of equilibrium and the pathophysiology of space sickness. Considering this program, the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de Medecine Aerospatiale, under the sponsorship of the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, developed both a program of research on restrained primates for the French-U.S. space cooperation (Spacelab program) and for the French-Soviet space cooperation (Bio-cosmos program), and simulation of the effects of microgravity by head-down bedrest. Its major characteristics are discussed in the study.     

Italy's contribution, from a medical standpoint, to the space safety of payload scientists, and perspectives for the future

In Italy, the selection of the Italian payload scientists has been performed according to the Spacelab Program of ESA. Twenty-four subjects underwent a screening performed by the Health Service of Italian Air Force. They were requested to pass an exercise test on treadmill and another ten-minute test on centrifuge, subject to the effect of +3 Gz. The authors briefly describe the results of the test. Noteworthy is the determination of Central Flicker Fusion Frequency. This parameter makes it possible to assess the endurance level of the subject, much earlier than other techniques (e.g. EKG). The importance of an accurate preliminary screening is emphasized as well as of successive training periods. Future studies will be undertaken to compare evoked cortical potentials with behaviour parameters of space safety, with a view to setting up a subtle tool of evaluation for both future candidates and payload scientists.     

Spectroscopy of laboratory plasmas

Work under the heading of Laboratory Plasma Spectroscopy may be conveniently separated into three classes depending on the extent to which the interaction of the emitting atoms with their plasma environment is central to the investigation. Zero order, the longest established use of laboratory plasmas in connection with astrophysics, concerns the use of hot plasmas for the excitation, measurement, and identification of the spectra of highly-stripped ions. In such work the properties of the plasma itself are usually of secondary importance. In first-order, plasma spectroscopy is used to determine fundamental atomic data concerned with the interaction of an atom with a single particle, usually either a photon or an electron, i.e.: the determination of oscillator strengths and collision cross-sections. Finally, higher-order processes in which the plasma nature of the surrounding medium is most relevant concern the study of line-shapes, and related topics such as the excitation of satellite spectral features by plasma oscillations. Developments in plasma diagnostic techniques in the last five years have greatly extended the scope of the second and third categories and have yielded much astrophysically important information from laboratory studies. Recent advances in these areas are reviewed.     

Activity Planning for the Space Station

This paper presents an overview of the identification and selection process of experiments and payloads for manned space flight missions, emphasizing the scope and magnitude of the problem of doing activity planning and the need for a methodology to assure timely flight and appropriate spacecraft design. Conclusions and results derived from the past several years are presented together with an analysis of the current procedure for defining activity for the space station.