Survival of spores of the UV-resistant Bacillus subtilis strain MW01 after exposure to low-earth orbit and simulated martian conditions: data from the space experiment ADAPT on EXPOSE-E

In the space experiment "Molecular adaptation strategies of microorganisms to different space and planetary UV climate conditions" (ADAPT), bacterial endospores of the highly UV-resistant Bacillus subtilis strain MW01 were exposed to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and simulated martian surface conditions for 559 days on board the European Space Agency's exposure facility EXPOSE-E, mounted outside the International Space Station. The survival of B. subtilis MW01 spores from both assays (LEO and simulated martian conditions) was determined by a colony-formation assay after retrieval. It was clearly shown that solar extraterrestrial UV radiation (λ≥110?nm) as well as the martian UV spectrum (λ≥200?nm) was the most deleterious factor applied; in some samples only a few spore survivors were recovered from B. subtilis MW01 spores exposed in monolayers. However, if shielded from solar irradiation, about 8% of MW01 spores survived in LEO conditions, and 100% survived in simulated martian conditions, compared to the laboratory controls. The results demonstrate the effect of shielding against the high inactivation potential of extraterrestrial solar UV radiation, which limits the chances of survival of even the highly UV-resistant strain of B. subtilis MW01 in the harsh environments of outer space and the martian surface.     

Thyroid cell growth: sphingomyelin metabolism as non-invasive marker for cell damage acquired during spaceflight

Prolonged spaceflights are known to elicit changes in human cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems, whose functions are regulated by the thyroid gland. It is known that sphingomyelin metabolism is involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death) of thyroid cells induced by UVC radiation, but at present no data exists with regard to this phenomenon, which occurs during space missions. The aim of this study was to analyze, for the first time, the effect of spaceflight on the enzymes of sphingomyelin metabolism, sphingomyelinase, and sphingomyelin synthase, and to determine whether the ratio between the two enzymes might be used as a possible marker for thyroid activity during space missions. Both quiescent thyroid cells and thyroid cells stimulated to proliferate with thyrotropin (TSH) were cultured during the Eneide and Esperia missions on the International Space Station. The results show that during space missions the cells treated with TSH grew only 1.5?±?0.65-fold and, thus, behave similarly to quiescent cells, while on the ground the same cells, maintained in experimental conditions that reproduced those of the flight, grew 7.71?±?0.67-fold. Comparison of the sphingomyelinase/sphingomyelin-synthase ratio and the levels of Bax, STAT3, and RNA polymerase II in proliferating, quiescent, pro-apoptotic, or apoptotic cells demonstrated that thyroid cells during space missions were induced into a pro-apoptotic state. Given its specificity and the small amount of cells needed for analysis, we propose the use of the sphingomyelinase/sphingomyelin-synthase ratio as a marker of functional status of thyroid cells during space missions. Further studies could lead to its use in real time during prolonged spaceflights.     

Astrobiologically interesting stars within 10 parsecs of the sun

The existence of life based on carbon chemistry and water oceans relies upon planetary properties, chiefly climate stability, and stellar properties, such as mass, age, metallicity, and galactic orbits. The latter can be well constrained with present knowledge. We present a detailed, up-to-date compilation of the atmospheric parameters, chemical composition, multiplicity, and degree of chromospheric activity for the astrobiologically interesting solar-type stars within 10 parsecs of the Sun. We determined their state of evolution, masses, ages, and space velocities, and produced an optimized list of candidates that merit serious scientific consideration by the future space-based interferometry probes aimed at directly detecting Earthsized extrasolar planets and seeking spectroscopic infrared biomarkers as evidence of photosynthetic life. The initially selected stars number 33 solar-type within the total population (excluding some incompleteness for late M-dwarfs) of 182 stars closer than 10 parsecs. A comprehensive and detailed data compilation for these objects is still lacking; a considerable amount of recent data has so far gone unexplored in this context. We present 13 objects as the nearest "biostars," after eliminating multiple stars, young, chromospherically active, hard x-ray- emitting stars, and low metallicity objects. Three of these "biostars"-- Zeta Tucanae, Beta Canum Venaticorum, and 61 Virginis -- closely reproduce most of the solar properties and are considered as premier targets. We show that approximately 7% of the nearby stars are optimally interesting targets for exobiology.     

相控阵雷达的过去、现在和将来

概括介绍了地面、舰船、航空和空间用无源与有源偶极子和单片微波集成电路(MMIC)相控阵雷达的近期发展和未来趋势。内容涉及：DD(X)舰船雷达系列、THAAD(以前的CBR)、欧洲的COBRA、以色列的BMD雷达天线、荷兰的舰船APAR、美国的F-22、JSF和F-18机载雷达、欧洲的AMSAR、瑞士的AESA、日本的FSX和以色列的费尔康(Phalcon)、铱星(66颗在轨卫星中有198个天线)和全球星MMIC空间载有源阵列系统(最后两个系统用于通信，但是所用技术与雷达系统的相同，实际上，IRIDIUM收／发组件技术是从空间雷达技术中来的)、Thales公司(以前的Thomson-GSF)的4英寸94GHzMMIC晶片导引头天线、数字波束形成、铁电行-列扫描、通信与雷达用光电扫描、MMICC波段至Ku波段先进孔径共享项目(ASAP)和AMRFS天线系统(通信、雷达、电子干扰(ECM)和ESM共用)以及连续切向分支(CTS)压控介质(VVD)天线。     

遥测系统中的旋转头磁记录器

旋转头磁记录器的数据存贮容量比纵向磁记录器的大得多,且具备一系列优点。文中简介19mm 旋转头磁记录器。它能满足数据存贮容量的要求,又能在恶劣的环境中工作。文中讨论其接口。主要的数据 I/O 接口是8位宽的单通串行口,此外,还有2个附加口,分别提供高速率的串行码和16位宽字。当多数据源被记录/重放时,为了和记录器连接,必须设置接口/多路调制器/解调器。文中介绍了三个配置实例,并简介各方案的特点。结果表明,旋转头磁记录器和多路调制器/解调器结合起来,为遥测系统提供了更大的存贮容量。     

From the Solar Wind to the Magnetospheric Substorm

This paper gives a brief outline of the progression from the first substorm model developed in Ref.[4] and[8] based on Kennel's ideas[3], to the present views about the mechanism by which solar wind kinetic energy is converted to electromagnetic energy at the Bow Shock and by which this energy is transferred to the magnetosphere in the form of current; about the transformation of the energy of this current to gas kinetic energy of convecting plasma tubes, and, finally, the back transformation of gas kinetic energy to electromagnetic energy in secondary magnetospheric MHD generators. The questions of the formation of the magnetospheric convection system, the nature of substorm break-up, and of the matching of currents in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system are discussed.      

Science Missions Using CubeSats

As the role of missions and experiments carried out in outer space becomes more and more essential in our understanding of many earthly problems, such as resource management, environmental problems, and disaster management, as well as space science questions, thanks to their lower cost and faster development process CubeSats can benefit humanity and therefore, young scientists and engineers have been motivated to research and develop new CubeSat missions. Not very long after their inception, CubeSats have evolved to become accepted platforms for scientific and commercial applications. The last couple of years showed that they are a feasible tool for conducting scientific experiments, not only in the Earth orbit but also in the interplanetary space. For many countries, a CubeSat mission could prompt the community and young teams around the world to build the national capacity to launch and operate national space missions. This paper presents an overview of the key scientific and engineering gateways opened up to the younger scientific community by the advent and adaptation of new technology into CubeSat missions. The role of cooperation and the opportunities for capacity-building and education are also explored. Thus, the present article also aims to provide useful recommendations to scientists, early-career researchers, engineers, students, and anyone who intends to explore the potential and opportunities offered by CubeSats and CubeSats-based missions.      

未来的小型机动式GPS靶场测量设备

技术的迅速发展将有可能研制出一种小型的靶场跟踪和遥测系统。这种系统将装在拖车上,能够跟踪3个飞行器并显示其空间位置及遥测数据。     

电离层对GPS相对大地测量的影响

本文分析了对 GPS 相对大地测量有重要影响的电离层误差特性。电离层误差、星历预报误差和对流层延迟误差是影响 GPS 测地精度的三个主要误差源。借助高精度数字式 GPS 接收机(如 T14100GPS 导航接收机),星历估计和预报技术在日益改善。现在正在研究精确的对流层延迟修正技术,例如使用便携式水汽辐射计测量大气中水汽含量对 GPS 信号延迟的影响。为了获得相应的 GPS 测地精度还必须重视电离层误差的修正。本文讨论了三维基线精度,它随电离层条件、电离层修正精度、基线间隔、定向和事后处理方法而变化,给出了使用 T14100GPS 导航接收机和德克萨斯仪器公司 Geomark 事后处理软件包的实际测量结果。     

利用TDRS数据进行启动定轨

哥达德航天中心已研制出一种星载定轨系统的模型机,用于星上导航的研究与开发。该系统有两种形式,一种用于实验室研究,另一种用于地面验征,以便深入研究以微处理机为基础的自动定轨系统的可行性和实用性。本文描述了每个系统的数学模型和软件结构,并给出了计算精度和实时处理性能方面的实验室鉴定结果。