Meditations on the new space vision: the Moon as a stepping stone to Mars

The Vision for Space Exploration invokes activities on the Moon in preparation for exploration of Mars and also directs International Space Station (ISS) research toward the same goal. Lunar missions will emphasize development of capability and concomitant reduction of risk for future exploration of Mars. Earlier papers identified three critical issues related to the so-called NASA Mars Design Reference Mission (MDRM) to be addressed in the lunar context: (a) safety, health, and performance of the human crew; (b) various modalities of mission operations ranging surface activities to logistics, planning, and navigation; and (c) reliability and maintainability of systems in the planetary environment. In simple terms, lunar expeditions build a résumé that demonstrates the ability to design, construct, and operate an enterprise such as the MDRM with an expectation of mission success. We can evolve from Apollo-like missions to ones that resemble the complexity and duration of the MDRM. Investment in lunar resource utilization technologies falls naturally into the Vision. NASA must construct an exit strategy from the Moon in the third decade. With a mandate for continuing exploration, it cannot assume responsibility for long-term operation of lunar assets. Therefore, NASA must enter into a partnership with some other entity--governmental, international, or commercial--that can responsibly carry on lunar development past the exploration phase.     

Skylab experiment M-092: results of the first manned mission

Blood pressure at 30-sec intervals, heart rate, and percentage increase in leg volume continuously were recorded during a 25-min protocol in the M092 Inflight Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) experiment carried out in the first manned Skylab mission. These data were collected during six tests on each crewman over a 5-month preflight period. The protocol consisted of a 5-min resting control period, 1 min at -8, 1 min at -16, 3 min at -30, 5 min at -40, and 5 min at -50 mm Hg LBNP. A 5-min recovery period followed. Inflight tests were performed at approximately 3-day intervals through the 28-day mission. Individual variations in cardiovascular responses to LBNP during the preflight period continued to be demonstrated in the inflight tests. Measurements of the calf indicated that a large volume of fluid was shifted out of the legs early in the flight and that a slower decrease in leg volume, presumably due to loss of muscle tissue, continued throughout the flight. Resting heart rates tended to be low early in the flight and to increase slightly as the flight progressed. Resting blood pressure varied but usually was characterized by slightly elevated systolic blood pressure, lower diastolic pressure, and higher pulse pressures than during preflight examinations. During LBNP inflight a much greater increase in leg volume occurred than in preflight tests. Large increases occurred even at the smallest levels of negative pressure, suggesting that the veins of the legs were relatively empty at the beginning of the LBNP. The greater volume of blood pooled in the legs was associated with greater increases of heart rate and diastolic pressure and larger falls of systolic and pulse pressure than seen in preflight tests. The LBNP protocol represented a greater stress inflight, and on three occasions it was necessary to stop the test early because of impending syncopal reactions. LBNP responses inflight appeared to predict the degree of postflight orthostatic intolerance. Postflight responses to LBNP during the first 48 hours were characterized by marked elevations of heart rate and instability of blood pressure. In addition, systolic and diastolic pressures were typically elevated considerably both at rest and also during stress. The time required for cardiovascular responses to return to preflight levels was much slower than in the case of Apollo crewmen.     

新型的超宽带正交接收系统幅相误差实时的数域均衡方法

文中对超宽带正交解调接收系统的幅相误差进行了分析,针对文[1]均衡方案的缺点,然后在此基础上针对系统超宽带的特点提出一种新的自适应实时数域均衡法。同时,针对系统超宽带的特点对串行算法进行了修改,提出一种适合于FPGA高速实现的流水算法。并对这两种算法进行了仿真比较。     

一种模型独立自适应姿态跟踪滑模控制器

以一种能够自适应变化的伪转动惯量,基于Lyapunov稳定定理,推导出一种模型独立的航天器自适应姿态跟踪控制律。理论和数值仿真结果表明,与一般情况下需确知模型参数确定性部分的滑模姿态控制律相比,该控制律能够在不依赖于模型参数确定性部分的情况下良好地实现姿态跟踪,并对模型误差的不确定性和外干扰力矩具有一定的鲁棒性。     

多道扫描探针系统在电弧风洞中的应用

介绍了一种用于诊断电弧风洞等离子体参数的多道扫描探针系统，使用该系统研究了ＦＤ０４风洞空流场的等离子体特性，利用ＣＴＷ理论分析了探针数据，实时给出了流场攻密度的空间分布。实验表明，空流场的电子温度分布基本是均匀的；电子密度分布与流场结构紧密相关，电子密度变化在３倍之内，随着流场结值的不同２，电子密度也随之变化。     

基于FPGA实现的SAR成像中的方位预滤波

针对SAR成像中的方位预滤波,讨论两种方位预滤波的算法。经比较,“拉格朗日乘子法”滤波器更适合应用到SAR成像中,因为该方法在保证相位特性的同时使成像带宽内信号能量最大、非成像带宽内的信号能量尽可能小,最大限度地保证了成像质量。最后还给出方位预滤波基于FPGA的硬件实现及实测数据成像结果。     

轴对称降落伞稳定下降阶段的流场特性

文章根据降落伞的特点,通过3点假设(伞衣的薄膜假设、降落伞的轴对称假设和流场的定常 假设),将三维复杂流动问题,转化成二维轴对称问题,以节约计算时间。然后,建立轴对称降落伞的流体力 学计算模型,利用数值模拟手段,求解RNG(Renormalization Group)k-epsilon湍流模型下的N—S方程组,获 得与有关单位试验相吻合的计算结果。分析发现带顶孔的轴对称降落伞绕流和亚临界状态下带中心孔的 圆球绕流,在尾流区拓扑结构上几乎完全一致。结果表明建立的轴对称降落伞模型,能够揭示降落伞流场 的本质特性,为进一步研究降落伞流场的流动机理和流固耦合问题打下基础。     

Identification and status of design improvements to the NASA Shuttle EMU for International Space Station application

To meet the significant increase in EVA demand to support assembly and operations of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA and industry have improved the current Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), or "space suit", configuration to meet the unique and specific requirements of an orbital-based system. The current Shuttle EMU was designed to be maintained and serviced on the ground between frequent Shuttle flights. ISS will require the EMUs to meet increased EVAs out of the Shuttle Orbiter and to remain on orbit for up to 180 days without need for regular return to Earth for scheduled maintenance or refurbishment. Ongoing Shuttle EMU improvements have increased reliability, operational life and performance while minimizing ground and on-orbit maintenance cost and expendable inventory. Modifications to both the anthropomorphic mobility elements of the Space Suit Assembly (SSA) as well as to the Primary Life Support System (PLSS) are identified and discussed. This paper also addresses the status of on-going Shuttle EMU improvements and summarizes the approach for increasing interoperability of the U.S. and Russian space suits to be utilized aboard the ISS.     

The Brazilian scientific microsatellite SACI-1

The National Space Research Institute (INPE) is developing the first Brazilian Scientific Microsatellite (SACI-1) based on the vanguard technology and on the experience acquired through projects developed by Brazilian Space Program. The SACI-1 is a 750km polar orbit satellite. The spacecraft will combine spin stabilization with geomagnetic control and has a total mass of 60 kg. The overall dimensions are 640×470×470 mm. The SACI-1 satellite shall be launched together with CBERS (China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite). Its platform is being designed for multiple mission applications. The Brazilian Academy of Sciences has selected four scientific payloads that characterize the mission. The scientific experiments are: ORCAS (Solar and Anomalous Cosmic Rays Observation in the Magnetosphere), PLASMEX (Study of Plasma Bubbles), FOTSAT (Airglow Photometer), and MAGNEX (Geomagnetic Experiment).     

Characteristics and formation of amino acids and hydroxy acids of the Murchison meteorite.

Eight characteristics of the unique suite of amino acids and hydroxy acids found in the Murchison meteorite can be recognized on the basis of detailed molecular and isotopic analyses. The marked structural correspondence between the alpha-amino acids and alpha-hydroxy acids and the high deuterium/hydrogen ratio argue persuasively for their formation by aqueous phase Strecker reactions in the meteorite parent body from presolar, i.e., interstellar, aldehydes, ketones, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide. The characteristics of the meteoritic suite of amino acids and hydroxy acids are briefly enumerated and discussed with regard to their consonance with this interstellar-parent body formation hypothesis. The hypothesis has interesting implications for the organic composition of both the primitive parent body and the presolar nebula.