The carbonate-silicate cycle and CO2/climate feedbacks on tidally locked terrestrial planets

Atmospheric gaseous constituents play an important role in determining the surface temperatures and habitability of a planet. Using a global climate model and a parameterization of the carbonate-silicate cycle, we explored the effect of the location of the substellar point on the atmospheric CO(2) concentration and temperatures of a tidally locked terrestrial planet, using the present Earth continental distribution as an example. We found that the substellar point's location relative to the continents is an important factor in determining weathering and the equilibrium atmospheric CO(2) level. Placing the substellar point over the Atlantic Ocean results in an atmospheric CO(2) concentration of 7 ppmv and a global mean surface air temperature of 247 K, making ～30% of the planet's surface habitable, whereas placing it over the Pacific Ocean results in a CO(2) concentration of 60,311 ppmv and a global temperature of 282 K, making ～55% of the surface habitable.     

在特定条件下的激波风洞中的压力测量

1.引言激波风洞实质上是由与轴线垂直安装的气密膜片分两部分的刚性圆筒组成,膜片两边各加以不同的压力。当膜片被爆破时,由于激波传入低压部分(被驱动段)稀疏波传入高压部分(驱动段),而使压力渐趋相等。如果管子有恒定的截面。激波强度不随距离而衰减。在激波后面的一定区域内,压力和质点速度也不变。正是由于激波风洞能提供可控制的激波和气流,使它在很多的研究工作中,成为很宝贵     

超音速轴向式压缩机问题

在现代的气体涡轮中,特别是大功率的涡轮,为了压缩大气中的空气多半采用轴向式压缩机。随着压缩比的增加,压缩机所需要的级数也就增多,并达致到7与20之间。当由压缩亚音速气流转变到压缩超音速气流时,由於减少了压缩机的级数,增大了装置的功率,就为运输式气体涡轮开辟了新的前途。     

一种预测驾驶员操纵行为的建模方法

在飞机设计中,应用驾驶员数学模型预测飞机飞行品质是避免人机系统出现不良耦合的重要途径之一.驾驶员神经网络模型是利用飞行模拟实验数据建立的驾驶员模型.基于该模型,针对纵向单通道俯仰跟踪任务,详细讨论了具有不同增益、不同短周期振荡频率飞机构型的驾驶员操纵行为变化规律.研究结果表明:对于特性相似的飞机构型,其驾驶员操纵特性也相似.因此,提出了一种利用相似构型的驾驶员操纵行为特性建立驾驶员预测模型的方法.通过对预测模型进行精度评价,可以证明采用本方法能够获得比较满意的驾驶员操纵行为特性预测结果.     

先进焊接技术在航空航天领域中的应用

先进飞机的研制与生产对焊接技术的发展具有强大的推动作用,在解决航空制造技术关键问题时,焊接的优势越来越明显,如减轻结构重量、提高结构性能等,焊接技术已由原来的辅助制造工艺演变成为飞机制造中的关键技术;另一方面,焊接技术自身的发展和完善,也为新型先进飞机的结构设计和制造提供了技术保证。     

行星际磁场与磁尾磁通量绳形成的关系

收集了Cluster卫星在2001-2005年间观测到的磁尾磁通量绳事件,并对磁通量绳(magnetic flux rope)形成及其内部磁场结构与行星际磁场(IMF)的关系作了统计研究.考虑磁通量绳被观测到时行星际磁场的条件,在所有73个磁通量绳事件中,行星际磁场By分量占有主导地位的事件有80%,且78%的事件具有与行星际磁场By分量相同方向的核心场.行星际磁场通过在磁层顶与地球磁场相互作用改变南北等离子体片内磁场相对方向,形成有利于磁通量绳形成的磁场位形,并且行星际磁场By分量的方向对磁通量绳内部核心场的方向具有决定性影响.从统计结果来看,磁通量绳的形成并不会依赖于行星际磁场Bz分量的方向.     

DAME: planetary-prototype drilling automation

We describe results from the Drilling Automation for Mars Exploration (DAME) project, including those of the summer 2006 tests from an Arctic analog site. The drill hardware is a hardened, evolved version of the Advanced Deep Drill by Honeybee Robotics. DAME has developed diagnostic and executive software for hands-off surface operations of the evolved version of this drill. The DAME drill automation tested from 2004 through 2006 included adaptively controlled drilling operations and the downhole diagnosis of drilling faults. It also included dynamic recovery capabilities when unexpected failures or drilling conditions were discovered. DAME has developed and tested drill automation software and hardware under stressful operating conditions during its Arctic field testing campaigns at a Mars analog site.     

A facility for long-term Mars simulation experiments: the Mars Environmental Simulation Chamber (MESCH)

We describe the design, construction, and pilot operation of a Mars simulation facility comprised of a cryogenic environmental chamber, an atmospheric gas analyzer, and a xenon/mercury discharge source for UV generation. The Mars Environmental Simulation Chamber (MESCH) consists of a double-walled cylindrical chamber. The double wall provides a cooling mantle through which liquid N(2) can be circulated. A load-lock system that consists of a small pressure-exchange chamber, which can be evacuated, allows for the exchange of samples without changing the chamber environment. Fitted within the MESCH is a carousel, which holds up to 10 steel sample tubes. Rotation of the carousel is controlled by an external motor. Each sample in the carousel can be placed at any desired position. Environmental data, such as temperature, pressure, and UV exposure time, are computer logged and used in automated feedback mechanisms, enabling a wide variety of experiments that include time series. Tests of the simulation facility have successfully demonstrated its ability to produce temperature cycles and maintain low temperature (down to -140 degrees C), low atmospheric pressure (5-10 mbar), and a gas composition like that of Mars during long-term experiments.     

Mitigation of the impact of terrestrial contamination on organic measurements from the Mars Science Laboratory

The objective of the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which is planned to follow the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Phoenix lander to the surface of Mars, is to explore and assess quantitatively a site on Mars as a potential habitat for present or past life. Specific goals include an assessment of the past or present biological potential of the target environment and a characterization of its geology and geochemistry. Included in the 10 investigations of the MSL rover is the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, which is designed to obtain trace organic measurements, measure water and other volatiles, and measure several light isotopes with experiment sequences designed for both atmospheric and solid-phase samples. SAM integrates a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and a tunable laser spectrometer supported by sample manipulation tools both within and external to the suite. The sub-part-per-billion sensitivity of the suite for trace species, particularly organic molecules, along with a mobile platform that will contain many kilograms of organic materials, presents a considerable challenge due to the potential for terrestrial contamination to mask the signal of martian organics. We describe the effort presently underway to understand and mitigate, wherever possible within the resource constraints of the mission, terrestrial contamination in MSL and SAM measurements.