Searching for life on Mars: selection of molecular targets for ESA's aurora ExoMars mission

The European Space Agency's ExoMars mission will seek evidence of organic compounds of biological and non-biological origin at the martian surface. One of the instruments in the Pasteur payload may be a Life Marker Chip that utilizes an immunoassay approach to detect specific organic molecules or classes of molecules. Therefore, it is necessary to define and prioritize specific molecular targets for antibody development. Target compounds have been selected to represent meteoritic input, fossil organic matter, extant (living, recently dead) organic matter, and contamination. Once organic molecules are detected on Mars, further information is likely to derive from the detailed distribution of compounds rather than from single molecular identification. This will include concentration gradients beneath the surface and gradients from generic to specific compounds. The choice of biomarkers is informed by terrestrial biology but is wide ranging, and nonterrestrial biology may be evident from unexpected molecular distributions. One of the most important requirements is to sample where irradiation and oxidation are minimized, either by drilling or by using naturally excavated exposures. Analyzing regolith samples will allow for the search of both extant and fossil biomarkers, but sequential extraction would be required to optimize the analysis of each of these in turn.     

美国通信卫星平台

美国从本世纪6O年代初期就开始发展通信卫星事业了,那时“电星”（Telstar）、“辛康”（Syncom）和“晨鸟”（zanyBird）等卫星处于技术世界领先水平。一些参与了早期通信及其他卫星领域开发的公司在其后3O年中积累了丰富的经验,现在卫星已经是他们成熟的产品之一。但是卫星从来没有,将来也不可能会像汽车或波音747飞机那样造得那么多。卫星的数量相对太少了,每一颗卫星都是为了覆盖某一特定地区服务而专门制作的。也许情况会因引入低轨道卫星星座有所改变,但就目前为止,这类卫星并没有统一的标准,目前制造商们正致力于使其产品建…     

湿热对单向复合材料层合板Ⅱ型分层特性的影响

利用横向裂纹拉伸试验模型（Transverse Crack Tension-tension Test）,在3种湿热环境（室温、85℃和85℃/95%RH）条件下,对2种单向碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料（T300/QY8911和HTA/6376）层合板的Ⅱ型分层特性进行了试验研究。结果表明湿热环境导致复合材料层间断裂韧性降低,引起Ⅱ型应变能释放率门槛值显着下降,裂纹扩展速率大大提高,温度的影响较湿度更为明显。利用电镜（SEM）对试样分层表面进行了检测,湿度对断面特征无明显的影响。     

惯组中光纤陀螺温度漂移的二维插值建模研究

光纤陀螺对温度较为敏感,输出受温度及温度变化率影响严重,在实际工作中需要对温度漂移误差进行建模补偿。传统多项式拟合方法如最小二乘法,无法很好地满足精度要求。因此,首先对光纤陀螺工作原理与温度漂移误差产生原理进行分析,得出光纤陀螺温度漂移误差特性。利用传统多项式模型对不同温度下启动的光纤陀螺进行建模补偿,得到补偿后的精度并不理想。利用新的二维插值模型对上述试验重新进行建模补偿,结果表明二维插值模型明显优于多项式模型,光纤陀螺的零偏稳定性由补偿前的0.0153(°)/h提高到0.0051(°)/h,有利于工程上应用。     

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.     

A compliant polymorphing wing for small UAVs

This paper presents the development of a novel compliant polymorphing wing capable of chord and camber morphing for small UAVs. The morphing wing can achieve up to 10% chord extension and ±20° camber changes. The design, modeling, sizing, manufacturing and mechanical testing of the wing are detailed. The polymorphing wing consists of one continuous front spar fixed to the fuselage and a rear spar on each side of the wing. Each rear spar can translate in the chordwise direction(chord morphing) and rotate around itself(camber morphing). A flexible elastomeric latex sheet is used as the skin to cover the wing and maintain its aerodynamic shape whilst allowing morphing. The loads from the skin are transferred to the spars using the compliant cellular ribs that support the flexible skin and facilitate morphing. Pre-tensioning is applied to the skin to minimize wrinkling when subject to aerodynamic and actuation loads. A rack and pinion actuation system,powered by stepper motors, is used for morphing. Aero-structural design, analysis and sizing are conducted. Performance comparison between the polymorphing wing and the baseline wing(non-morphing) shows that chord morphing improves aerodynamic efficiency at low angles of attack while camber morphing improves efficiency at high angles of attack.