Psychosocial effects of adjustment in Antarctica: lessons for long-duration spaceflight

This paper examines the utility of remote, isolated Antarctic research stations as analogs for long-duration spaceflights from the perspective of psychosocial processes of adaptation and adjustment. Certain features of the physical and man-made environments found in Antarctica are similar to those that will be encountered in outer space. In both settings, men and women are likely to experience a number of physiological and psychological changes in response to the extreme environmental conditions and the prolonged isolation and confinement. Biomedical research in Antarctica provides an opportunity to study the causes of these changes and to develop strategies for reducing the risks to health and well-being before they pose a serious threat to crew safety and mission success. A number of lessons for long-duration spaceflight are examined, including screening and selection of personnel; training programs designed to facilitate individual adjustment and group adaptation and minimize group conflict; identification of optimal leadership characteristics for small, isolated groups; an understanding of social dynamics and group "microcultures" necessary for the organization and management of small but heterogeneous groups; organization of work activities; facility design; and support infrastructure.     

Removing orbital debris with lasers

Orbital debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are now sufficiently dense that the use of LEO space is threatened by runaway collision cascading. A problem predicted more than thirty years ago, the threat from debris larger than about 1 cm demands serious attention. A promising proposed solution uses a high power pulsed laser system on the Earth to make plasma jets on the objects, slowing them slightly, and causing them to re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere. In this paper, we reassess this approach in light of recent advances in low-cost, light-weight modular design for large mirrors, calculations of laser-induced orbit changes and in design of repetitive, multi-kilojoules lasers, that build on inertial fusion research. These advances now suggest that laser orbital debris removal (LODR) is the most cost-effective way to mitigate the debris problem. No other solutions have been proposed that address the whole problem of large and small debris. A LODR system will have multiple uses beyond debris removal. International cooperation will be essential for building and operating such a system.     

捷联式天线平台的稳定性研究

将Rudin提出的红外成像捷联稳定模型用于天线平台的稳定,并应用不变性原理,采取匹配滤波方法,提高了稳定平台的解耦精度.具体仿真结果表明:在0.5 Hz~1.0 Hz频段解耦精度提高了35 dB.同时,在考虑传感器测量噪声的情况下,对天线平台的稳定误差进行了仿真分析,结果显示,传感器测量噪声对稳定误差有较大的影响,但通过滤波稳定误差可减小50%左右.      

Analysis of Performance Degradation in CdS Solar Cells

The effect of changes in five physically meaningful parameters on the I-V (current-voltage) curve of a CdS solar cell is calculated. Comparisons between the calculated data and performance data obtained from degraded solar cells are made. The parameter that changed to cause the degradation in each cell becomes apparent.     

Relationship between the fluxes of relativistic electrons at geosynchronous orbit and the level of ULF activity on the Earth’s surface and in the solar wind during the 23rd solar activity cycle

We present the results of a cross-correlation analysis made on the basis of Spearman’s rank correlation method. The quantities to correlate are daily values of the fluence of energetic electrons at a geosynchronous orbit, intensities of ground and interplanetary ultra-low-frequency (ULF) oscillations in the Pc5 range, and parameters of the solar wind. The period under analysis is the 23rd cycle of solar activity, 1996–2006. Daily (from 6 h to 18 h of LT) magnetic data at two diametrically opposite observatories of the Intermagnet network are taken as ground-based measurements. The fluxes of electrons with energies higher than 2 MeV were measured by the geosynchronous GOES satellites. The data of magnetometers and plasma instruments installed on ACE and WIND spacecraft were used for analysis of the solar wind parameters and of the oscillations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Some results elucidating the role played by interplanetary ULF waves in the processes of generation of magneospheric oscillations and acceleration of energetic electrons are obtained. Among them are (i) high and stable correlation of ground ULF oscillations with waves in the solar wind; (ii) closer link of mean daily amplitudes of both interplanetary and ground oscillations with ‘tomorrow’ values of the solar wind velocity than with current values; and (iii) correlation of the intensity of ULF waves in the solar wind, normalized to the IMF magnitude, with fluxes of relativistic electrons in the magnetosphere.     

Water and Volatiles in the Outer Solar System

Space Science Reviews - Space exploration and ground-based observations have provided outstanding evidence of the diversity and the complexity of the outer solar system. This work presents our...     

低速高湍流度90°弯管流动数值模拟

分析了曲率对弯曲管道流动的影响 ,给出了曲率修正的双层 k-ε湍流模型 ,并数值模拟了非均匀来流低速高湍流度 90°弯管内流动。文中比较了曲率修正双层 k- ε湍流模型的计算结果与实验结果 ,以及双层 k- ε湍流模型和逆压力梯度修正双层 k- ε湍流模型的计算结果。通过比较 ,发现经过曲率修正后的双层 k- ε湍流模型更好地模拟了非均匀来流低速高湍流度 90°弯管内流动。同时比较了壁面参数的插值方法 ,发现在弯曲管道流动模拟中对壁面参数进行一阶插值比零阶插值能更好地模拟真实流场     

Energetic Particles Investigation (EPI)

The Energetic Particles Investigation (EPI) instrument operates during the pre-entry phase of the Galileo Probe. The major science objective is to study the energetic particle population in the innermost regions of the Jovian magnetosphere — within 4 radii of the cloud tops — and into the upper atmosphere. To achieve these objectives the EPI instrument will make omnidirectional measurements of four different particle species — electrons, protons, alpha-particles, and heavy ions (Z > 2). Intensity profiles with a spatial resolution of about 0.02 Jupiter radii will be recorded. Three different energy range channels are allocated to both electrons and protons to provide a rough estimate of the spectral index of the energy spectra. In addition to the omnidirectional measurements, sectored data will be obtained for certain energy range electrons, protons, and alpha-particles to determine directional anisotropies and particle pitch angle distributions. The detector assembly is a two-element telescope using totally depleted, circular silicon surfacebarrier detectors surrounded by a cylindrical tungsten shielding with a wall thickness of 4.86 g cm^-2. The telescope axis is oriented normal to the spherical surface of the Probe's rear heat shield which is needed for heat protection of the scientific payload during the Probe's entry into the Jovian atmosphere. The material thickness of the heat shield determines the lower energy threshold of the particle species investigated during the Probe's pre-entry phase. The EPI instrument is combined with the Lightning and Radio Emission Detector (LRD) such that the EPI sensor is connected to the LRD/EPI electronic box. In this way, both instruments together only have one interface of the Probe's power, command, and data unit.     

偏置动量系统中的挠性天线指向控制研究

从工程实践角度,探讨了在目前广泛采用的偏置动量轮三轴姿态稳定卫星上,进行大尺寸（３～５ｍ）和高指向精度（０．０５°）的挠性天性指向控制问题。在建立具有挠性天线的星体动力学模型,以及在借鉴和改进有关抑制挠性天线振动研究的基础上,设计了三轴稳定卫星平台上的挠性天线指向控制系统的方案。最后,根据数值仿真结果,给出了影响挠性天线指向精度的主要因素。