A viable microbial community in a subglacial volcanic crater lake, Iceland

We describe a viable microbial community in a subglacial lake within the Grímsv?tn volcanic caldera, Iceland. We used a hot water drill to penetrate the 300-m ice shelf and retrieved lake water and volcanic tephra sediments. We also acquired samples of borehole water before and after penetration to the lake, overlying glacial ice and snow, and water from a nearby subaerial geothermal lake for comparative analyses. Lake water is at the freezing point and fresh (total dissolved solids = 260 mg L(-1)). Detectable numbers of cells were found in samples of the lake water column and tephra sediments: 2 x 10(4) ml(-1) and 4 x 10(7) g(-1), respectively. Plate counts document abundant cold-adapted cultivable organisms in the lake water, but not in the borehole (before penetration) or glacial ice. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from genomic DNA extracted from Grímsv?tn samples indicates that the lake community is distinct from the assemblages of organisms in borehole water (before penetration) and the overlying ice and snow. Sequencing of selected DGGE bands revealed that many sequences are highly similar to known psychrophilic organisms or cloned DNA from other cold environments. Significant uptake of 14C-labeled bicarbonate occurred in dark, low-temperature incubations of lake water samples, indicating the presence of autotrophs. Acetylene reduction assays under similar incubation conditions showed no significant nitrogen fixation potential by lake water samples. This may be a consequence of the inhibition of diazotrophy by nitrogen in the lake.     

Evaluation of theories of complex movement planning in different levels of gravity

Due to high redundancy of degrees of freedom in the human body, we can perform any movement, from the simplest to the most complex, in many different ways. Several studies are still trying to identify the motor strategies that master this redundancy and generate the movements whose characteristics are highly stereotyped. The aim of this work is to build a simulator that is able to evaluate different motor planning hypotheses. The most interesting applications of this tool occur in studies of the motor strategy in microgravity conditions. The comparison between simulated movements and kinematics data recorded both on Earth, and during a 5-month mission on board the Mir station shows that for a complex whole-body movement (such as trunk bending) a single planning criterion cannot explain all movement aspects. However, the simulator allows an understanding of the motor planning adaptation of astronauts. In space, the lack of equilibrium constraint (which on Earth brings about the center of mass control) leads to a new motor strategy that minimizes dynamic interactions with the floor.     

高温圆箔热流计

已经发展了一种工作温度高达1950°F的新型的圆箔热流计。它的最重要的特点是在高温时,保持了高的灵敏度,而一般传统的康铜箔·铜热流计,在高温时灵敏度将下降30％以上。此外,由于使用了低导热率的圆箔,较高的热电功率输出,改进了时间常数,使其灵敏度获得了成倍的增长。热流计组件的全焊接结构,使它能适应在任何一种金属材料中工作。这些特点,除了高温灵敏度以外,也可以从其他一些标准热电偶如镍铬箔·康铜中获得。文中列出了标准热电偶材料的一些性能数据,并与新型的圆箔热流计在不同温度时的灵敏度作了对比。     

Space medicine comes down to Earth

Over the years innovative technologies developed for space flight have found their way into a variety of useful terrestrial applications. Significant examples can be found in the area of space medicine, which has greatly influenced human health care delivery on Earth. This report discusses several US applications of space medicine to terrestrial health needs and services, stressing the importance of a ‘space applications mentality’ as a valuable national asset.     

IEC六年来的全数字化GPS接收机

本文介绍了州际电子公司(IEC)六年来在GPS信号全数字化基带相关处理方面取得的进展。最初,这种技术随着离散型数字式中规模集成电路而发展起来的。此后,在半定制门阵技术和最近的专用集成电路(ASIC)方面取得了进展,小型、低功耗全数字式GPS接收机得到高度发展。本文介绍了几代全数字化GPS接收机的设计方案。回顾了全数字GPS接收机技术,包括该技术出现以来所取得的进展。本文还介绍了12抽头并行数字式相关器的实施方案,最新研制的接收机中就用这种相关器完成快速捕获和跟踪。还介绍了数控振荡器和伪码产生器门阵。还设计了一种能在1ms以内快速初始化的P码产生器门阵,这样不需要旋动编码装置即可方便快速地多路复用。     

军用靶场在航天运输系统任务中的实际应用

军用靶场历来服务于武器和武器系统性能的鉴定以及改进其设计。可那些已经卷入飞行和大气层外活动的靶场也已经具备了保障正在进行的航天和导弹计划的实际能力。本文阐述了军用靶场保障航天运输系统的能力和一些具体的保障工作。主要着重于C波段雷达跟踪和数据流程,而不是较为熟悉的靶场保障问题。     

基于运动的GPS测姿解整周模糊的新算法

利用ＧＰＳ载波相位技术可进行近厘米精度定位。本文介绍一种基于运动的解整周模糊的算法，适用于可见ＧＰＳ卫星较少的场合。     

有关近赤道卫星圆轨道初始节点位置的一些有价值的分析结果

本文利用基于李氏变换的摄动理论,求得了近赤道卫星圆轨道倾角和升交点赤径的二阶长周期解。这种解包含了地球扁率与月—日摄动的平均效应。然后给出了对任务分析有用的三种算法。第一种算法求得了导致倾角减小至零的初始节点位置,以及达到零倾角所对应的时间;第二种算法确定了在给定的时间间隔内,使轨道倾角保持在规定值范围内的初始节点所在区域;第三种算法确定了在不采用任何机动控制的情况下,使卫星保持在规定倾角容差之内的时间最长的初始节点位置,并求出与之对应的最长时间。对于24小时近赤道卫星圆轨道,本文给出了第一和第三种算法的结果,并以简单的闭合形式给出。     

用电视信号测得的距离进行通信卫星的轨道确定

确定通信卫星轨道时,人们通常是采用由一个或多个地面站测得的距离和角度跟踪数据。最近提出了一种由电视同步信号得到精确距离数据的方法,1982年11月份已用于天狼星联合试验。以这种方法获得的测距数据能令人满意地用于卫星轨道确定过程。