Astrobiological considerations for the selection of the geological filters on the ExoMars PanCam instrument

The Panoramic Camera (PanCam) instrument will provide visible-near IR multispectral imaging of the ExoMars rover's surroundings to identify regions of interest within the nearby terrain. This multispectral capability is dependant upon the 12 preselected "geological" filters that are integrated into two wide-angle cameras. First devised by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder team to detect iron oxides, this baseline filter set has remained largely unchanged for subsequent missions (Mars Exploration Rovers, Beagle 2, Phoenix) despite the advancing knowledge of the mineralogical diversity on Mars. Therefore, the geological filters for the ExoMars PanCam will be redesigned to accommodate the astrobiology focus of ExoMars, where hydrated mineral terrains (evidence of past liquid water) will be priority targets. Here, we conduct an initial investigation into new filter wavelengths for the ExoMars PanCam and present results from tests performed on Mars analog rocks. Two new filter sets were devised: one with filters spaced every 50?nm ("F1-12") and another that utilizes a novel filter selection method based upon hydrated mineral reflectance spectra ("F2-12"). These new filter sets, along with the Beagle 2 filter set (currently the baseline for the ExoMars PanCam), were tested on their ability to identify hydrated minerals and biosignatures present in Mars analog rocks. The filter sets, with varying degrees of ability, detected the spectral features of minerals jarosite, opaline silica, alunite, nontronite, and siderite present in these rock samples. None of the filter sets, however, were able to detect fossilized biomat structures and small (<2?mm) mineralogical heterogeneities present in silica sinters. Both new filter sets outperformed the Beagle 2 filters, with F2-12 detecting the most spectral features produced by hydrated minerals and providing the best discrimination between samples. Future work involving more extensive testing on Mars analog samples that exhibit a wider range of mineralogies would be the next step in carefully evaluating the new filter sets.     

苏联导弹的原点

1944年,苏联成功地得到了德国的超级秘密武器——V-2导弹的个别组件。根据曾遭受到V-2密集射击的英国人所提供的资料,以及苏联专家得出的初步结论说明,德国人已成功研制出了举世无双的武器。如果说苏联为齐射火力系统（“卡秋莎”）而研制的优秀固体火箭弹M-13ДД的射程为11．8千米,则德国V-2导弹的飞行距离已超过其25倍,约300千米。     

Survey on the Magnetic Structure of the Neutral Sheets in Earth's Magnetotail

Based on the multipoint magnetic observations of Cluster from 2001 to 2004, the magnetic field structure in magnetotail Neutral Sheet （NS） is statistically surveyed. The results are as follows. In NS, a cubic function is selected to reveal the relation between y （GSM） and positional parameter z. The relation between y and magnetic field values indicates that the magnetic field is weak at midnight region and strengthens gradually at the duskside and dawnside. The relation between y and curvature radius is expressed by a quadratic function. And R_c of flattened CS is less than that of the normal CS. B_y determines the orientation of MFLs' configuration. The polar angle of the curvature vector is affected by the NS configuration. In addition, the correlation between the polar angle of the curvature vector and z is higher. The polar angle of the normal of the osculating plane is uncertain in the center area. The relation between the azimuthal angles of the curvature vector （the normal of the osculating plane） and y is negatively correlated. An empirical model applied to yz plane of the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field lines in the NS are developed, and it is represented as a function of the positional parameter y. Finally, the current density is also statistically surveyed.      

Microgravity and space processes

The implications of the STS-107 tragedy on weightlessness research in the NASA program are reviewed.     

Rock surfaces as life indicators: new ways to demonstrate life and traces of former life

Life and its former traces can only be detected from space when they are abundant and exposed to the planetary atmosphere at the moment of investigation by orbiters. Exposed rock surfaces present a multifractal labyrinth of niches for microbial life. Based upon our studies of highly stress-resistant microcolonial fungi of stone monument and desert rock surfaces, we propose that microbial biofilms that develop and become preserved on rock surfaces can be identified remotely by the following characteristics: (1) the existence of spectroscopically identifiable compounds that display unique adsorption, diffraction, and reflection patterns characteristic of biogenerated organic compounds (e.g., chlorophylls, carotenes, melanins, and possibly mycosporines), (2) demonstrably biogenic geomorphological features (e.g., biopitting, biochipping, and bioexfoliation), and (3) biominerals produced in association with biofilms that occupy rock surfaces (e.g., oxalates, forsterite, and special types of carbonates, sulfides, and silicates). Such traces or biosignatures of former life could provide macroscopically visible morphotypes and chemically identifiable products uniquely indicative of life.     

固体火箭的优化设计

本文阐述了固体火箭初步设计的数值优化方法。该优化从整体观点出发将内弹道和外弹道同时考虑。所需工时的显著减少能够大大地缩短设计过程,用这种方法更容易进行灵活的设计。     

双基火箭推进剂的物理老化

在-40℃～+60℃温度范围内研究了老化对三种双基推进剂力学性能的影响。在60℃左右,主要是化学现象改变了硝化棉的性质。在-40～+20℃主要是类似于无定形聚合物的物理老化观象。把推进剂简单加热到60℃,物理老化的影响就大部分消除。从60℃骤冷,18小时内,双基推进剂在20℃的硬度等温地增加约30％。推进剂老化速率会因机械加载显著地增加。双基推进剂物理老化现象的深入研究可能导出一种使推进剂力学性能复原的方法。     

同步卫星多侧音三点测距系统

阐述了同步卫星多侧音三点测距系统的主要技术指标、功能、工作模式以及关键技术和进步点。测距机是继美国、日本和欧洲之后能够完成测量３个不同站址到卫星斜距的又一大型专用设备，是提供地球经纬数据的重要来源。