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.     

Control of Lunar and Martian dust--experimental insights from artificial and natural cyanobacterial and algal crusts in the desert of Inner Mongolia, China

Studies on the colonization of environmentally extreme ground surfaces were conducted in a Mars-like desert area of Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China, with microalgae and cyanobacteria. We collected and mass-cultured cyanobacterial strains from these regions and investigated their ability to form desert crusts artificially. These crusts had the capacity to resist sand wind erosion after just 15 days of growth. Similar to the surface of some Chinese deserts, the surface of Mars is characterized by a layer of fine dust, which will challenge future human exploration activities, particularly in confined spaces that will include greenhouses and habitats. We discuss the use of such crusts for the local control of desert sands in enclosed spaces on Mars. These experiments suggest innovative new directions in the applied use of microbe-mineral interactions to advance the human exploration and settlement of space.     

通过事后分析提高GPS的外测精度

通过事后分析可以提高GPS的外测精度。为了试验和鉴定目的,欲测量被试验体的时间空间位置信息(TSPI),现在已有不少方法。如果使用GPS,可考虑两种方案。一是在被试验体上装载GPS接收机,在运功体上测定TSPI,再通过遥测将数据送到地面。二是在运动体上装载一个GPS变频转发器,传送宽带GPS信息到地面。在地面站完成TSPI测量。本文指出,与装载接收机相比,装载GPS转发器的方案可以获得更高的测量精度。精度的提高来自两点:装载GPS接收机时仅处理来自4颗卫星的距离,得到运动体的位置。在某一位置上,所选用的4颗GPS卫星的GDOP值,可能是,也可能不是最佳。在转发方案中,运动体视场内所有信息都转送到地面进行处理。来自所有卫星的宽带数据都加以记录,以便作事后处理。作节后分析时,可按最佳GDOP选择最有利的卫星,或处理视场内所有卫星的数据,得到最高精度。记录宽带数据的能力还带来另外一些重要的事后处理好处。在飞行试验之前,只能估计试验体的飞行动态。飞行体上接收机跟踪滤波器参数依此作调整。如果飞行体运动异常(试验飞行中完全有可能这样),接收机就有可能对卫星失锁,所有的TSPI数据都会丢失。如果用GPS转发器,在地面站记录所有卫星的数据,在事后分析中重放该数据,可根据实际飞行动态,将滤波器最佳化,不会丢失TSPJ数据。此外,还可由数据处理来填补丢失的数据。     

一种廉价的天基数据中继方法

美国国防部低轨卫星试验任务越来越需要不间断通信,使我们对地球同步数据中继业务更为关注。与额外再建造空军卫星控制网远方地面站相比,这可能是一种更经济的办法,而且可避免某一试验任务独占很多控制网资源。一种能近期试验天基数据中继系统的低费用解决办法是利用现有的两颗国防通信卫星Ⅲ号卫星,两个现有的超高频(SHF)地面终端站,以及被试卫星上的一个天线能自主指向的标准化小型终端。本文就来介绍这一系统。     

EUVE卫星的GPS测轨

1992年夏,随着极紫外探测卫星(EUVE)一起发射了一台单频GPS接收机。EUVE卫星轨道低,并在星体上直接安装了二个天线,可用来研究误差源,以及未来卫星可达到的定轨精度。利用GDPSY—OASLSⅡ软件处理了几段GPS教据。从EUVE来的数据和从全球GPS接机网来的数据相结合,消除了SA的影响。研究了几种消除单频数据中电离层延时误差以及利用简化动力学法求解轨道的方法。通过内符合检验并与哥达德航天中心产生的GTDS轨道解作比对,鉴定了GPS测轨精度。利用GPS的测轨精密度和准确度在一米量级。     

Improvement of the extravehicular activity suit for the MIR orbiting station program

Since 1977, EVA suits of the semi-rigid type have been used to support sorties from Russian orbiting stations. Currently, within the MIR station program, the Orlan-DMA, the latest modification of the Orlan semi-rigid EVA suit is used by crewmembers. Quite some experience has been gained by Russia in operations of the Orlan type suits. It has proved the advantages of the EVA suit of a semi-rigid configuration, featuring donning/doffing through a hinged backpack door with a built-in life support system. Meanwhile there were some wishes and comments from the crewmembers addressed to the enclosure design and some LSS components. Currently a number of ways and methods are being developed to improve operational characteristics of the suit as well as to enhance its reliability and lifetime. The forthcoming EVAs to be performed by the STS-MIR crewmembers and future EVAs from the common airlock of the International Space Station Alpha make implementation of the planned improvements even more consistent. The paper analyzes the experience gained in the Orlan-DMA operation and discusses planned improvements in light of the forthcoming activities. In particular the Orlan enhancement program is aimed to make the donning/doffing easier, enhance enclosure mobility, improve the condensate removal unit, increase the CCC (Contamination Control Cartridge) operation time and simplify the onboard subsystem design concept.     

Dynamic change of ERPs related to selective attention to signals from left and right visual field during head-down tilt

To study further the effect of head-down tilt (HDT) on slow positive potential in the event-related potentials (ERPs), the temporal and spatial features of visual ERPs changes during 2 hour HDT (-10 degrees) were compared with that during HUT (+20 degrees) in 15 normal subjects. The stimuli were consisted of two color LED flashes appeared randomly in left or right visual field (LVF or RVF) with same probability. The subjects were asked to make switch response to target signals (T) differentially: switching to left for T in LVF and to right for T in RVF, ignoring non-target signals(N). Five sets of tests were made during HUT and HDT. ERPs were obtained from 9 locations on scalp. The mean value of the ERPs in the period from 0.32-0.55 s was taken as the amplitude of slow positive potential(P400). The main results were as follows. 1) The mean amplitude of P400 decreased during HDT which was more significant at the 2nd, 3rd and 5th set of tests; 2) spatially, the reduction of mean P400 amplitude during HDT was more significant for signals from RVF and was more significant at posterior and central brain regions than that on frontal locations. As that the positive potential probably reflects the active inhibition activity in the brain during attention process, these data provide further evidence showing that the higher brain function was affected by the simulated weightlessness and that this effect was not only transient but also with interesting spatial characteristics.     

Respiratory mechanics after 180 days space mission (EUROMIR'95)

The present study reports data on respiratory function of lung and chest wall following the 180 days long European - Russian EuroMir '95 space mission. Data reported refer to two subjects studied before the mission, on day 9 and 175 in flight and on days 1, 10, 12, 27 and 120 after return. In-flight vital capacity (VC) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) were similar to those in supine posture, namely approximately 5% and approximately 30% less than in sitting posture. On day 1 after return, VC was reduced by approximately 30% in both postures. This reflected a decrease in ERV (approximately 0.5 L) and in IC (inspiratory capacity, approximately 1.7 L) that could be attributed to a marked weakening of the respiratory muscles. Regain of normal preflight values barely occurred 120 days after return. Post-flight pressure-volume curves of the lung, chest wall and total respiratory system are equal to preflight ones. The pressure-volume curve of the lung in supine posture is displaced to the right relative to sitting posture and shows a lower compliance. As far as the lung in-flight condition resembles that occurring in supine posture, this implies a lower compliance, a greater amount of blood in the pulmonary microvascular bed, a more homogeneous lung perfusion and therefore a greater microvascular filtration rate towards lung interstitium.