航天指控中心的发展

本文介绍航天飞机的航天指控中心的功能和历史,阐述了通信和数据处理设施,重点则在显示系统的变迁。作为航天指控中心改造的一部分,将用新技术成果取代现有的显示系统。这种更新改造将构成一套高性能局网(LAN),向各工程工作站发送实时和历史数据,在工作站上处理和显示。这种结构的好处是:软件开发环境更灵活,更加模块化,因而有利于今后的改造更新。探讨了建议的新结构以及这一改造的工程和计划管理问题,重点在各局网的任务。     

在辐射高温测量法中高准确度的温度值和不确定度的计算

光学高温计测量的温度 T 是一个含有τ(λ)和 V(λ)参数的积分方程的解,其中参数τ(λ)为光学元件的光谱透过率,参数 V(λ)为检测元件的相对光谱灵敏度。τ(λ)和 V(λ)在不同波长下测量的值为τ(λ_i)±△τ(λ_i) i=1、2、3、…NV(λ_k)±△V(λ_k) k=1、2、3、…M 式中△τ(λ_i)和△V(λ_k)分别为τ(λ_i)和V(λ_k)的测量不确定度。为了计算高温计每个测量值所对应的温度值,本文提出一种积分方程的数值解法,从而可以避免引入某些不必要的近似。假定不同波长下实验误差在统计学上互不相关,则可推导出一个由光谱测量中随机不确定度造成的温度不确定度的计算方程。作为估算测量数据的质量和数值解法不确定度的一种辅助方法,还建立了τ(λ)和 V(λ)的通用而现实的数学解析式,直到求出积分方程的精确代数解。     

一种低功率易校准的温度传感器

本文描述一种具有内部参考的改进的线性集成电路温度传感器,其主要的性能是:易校准(只有一个步骤),在宽温度范围内(-4.6mv/℃;-50℃到+125℃)具有高灵敏度,低输出阻抗(40Q),低功耗(200μw)。此器件中的扩散电阻以通用线性集成电路的工艺过程制造。文中还讨论了这种传感器在热电偶冷接点补偿中的应用。     

用于SAR、GMTI和海上监视的X波段宽带试验机载雷达

加拿大渥太华的防务研究和发展部门已完成了一种新型多模X波段宽带试验机载雷达（XWEAR）第一阶段的研制工作，这是对合成孔径雷达（SAR）成像、逆合成孔径雷达（ISAR）、地面动目标显示（GMTI）雷达和海上监视雷达的支持研究，特别集中在对小型目标的探测和远距离的面上目标监视。特别关注的领域有：静止和运动目标的SAR成像技术、海上和陆地动目标的时间一频率分析、用于GMTI的空时自适应处理、对海面电磁后向散射特性的研究、自动目标识别和特征提取的特征产生、以及宽带系统对付电子干扰的抗干扰性分析。第一阶段是以SAR和海上监视模式的飞行试验结束的。第二阶段将进行大范围监视GMTI（WASGMTI）和综合SAR-GMTI模式的飞行试验。简述了试验雷达并介绍了它的数据采集能力。区别特征包括X波段的运行、SAR和海上监视的单通道运行以及WAS-GMTI和综合SAR-GMTI的双通道运行。该新型雷达将现有的数字扫描转换器的用途扩大为控制器，已有的商用元件有：发射机、A／D转换器和计算机电路板。定时电路、波形产生器、单通道和双通道的接收机可以按用户需要定制。     

Communicating bioastronautics research to students, families and the nation

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is supporting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) education mission through a comprehensive Education and Public Outreach Program (EPOP) that communicates the excitement and significance of space biology to schools, families, and lay audiences. The EPOP is comprised of eight academic institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Rice University, and the University of Washington. This paper describes the programs and products created by the EPOP to promote space life science education in schools and among the general public. To date, these activities have reached thousands of teachers and students around the US and have been rated very highly.     

Cell-to-cell interactions in changed gravity: ground-based and flight experiments

Cell-to-cell interactions play an important role in all physiological processes and are mediated by humoral and mechanical factors. Mechanosensitive cells (e.g., osteocytes, chondrocytes, and fibroblasts) can be studied ex vivo to understand the effects of an altered gravity environment. In particular, cultured endothelial cells (EC) are very sensitive to a broad spectrum of mechanical and biochemical stimuli. Earlier, we demonstrated that clinorotation leads to cytoskeletal remodeling in cultured ECs. Long-term gravity vector changes also modulate the expression of surface adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, E-selectin, VCAM-1) on cultured ECs. To study the interactions of geterological cells, we cocultured endothelial monolayers and human lymphocytes, immune cells and myeloleucemic (K-560) cells. It was found that, although clinorotation did not alter the basal adhesion level of non-activated immune cells on endothelial monolayers, the adhesion of PMA-activated lymphocytes was increased. During flight experiments onboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station, we measured the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells incubated with labeled target cells. It was found that immune cells in microgravity retained their ability to contact, recognize, and destroy oncogenic cells in vitro. Together, our data concerning the effects of simulated and real microgravity suggest that, despite changes in the cytoskeleton, cell motility, and expression of adhesion molecules, cell-cell interactions are not compromised, thus preserving the critical physiological functions of immune and endothelial cells.     

Lick Observatory Optical SETI: targeted search and new directions

Lick Observatory's Optical SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) program has been in regular operation for 4.5 years. We have observed 4,605 stars of spectral types F-M within 200 light-years of Earth. Occasionally, we have appended objects of special interest, such as stars with known planetary systems. We have observed 14 candidate signals ("triple coincidences"), all but one of which are explained by transient local difficulties. Additional observations of the remaining candidate have failed to confirm arriving pulse events. We now plan to proceed in a more economical manner by operating in an unattended drift scan mode. Between operational and equipment modifications, efficiency will more than double.     

CASH 2021: commercial access and space habitation

Issues about commercialization of space have been a growing concern in the past decade for the space community. This paper focuses on the work from a team of 51 students attending the Summer Session Program of the International Space University in Bremen, Germany. CASH 2021 (Commercial Access and Space Habitation) documents a plan that identifies commercial opportunities for space utilization that will extend human presence in space, and will chart the way forward for the next 20 years. The group selected four commercial sectors that show the most promise for the future: tourism, entertainment, space system service, assembly and debris removal, and research and development/production. The content of this document presents the results of their research. Historical activities in each of the commercial sectors are reviewed along with the current market situation. To provide a coherent background for future commercialization possibilities a scenario has been developed. This scenario includes a postulated upon ideal future and includes social, political and economic factors that may affect the space industry over the timeline of the study. The study also presents a roadmap, within the limited optimistic scenario developed, for the successful commercialization of space leading to future human presence in space. A broad range of commercially viable opportunities, not only within the current limits of the International Space Station, but also among the many new developments that are expected by 2021 are discussed.     

Application of hyperspectral infrared analysis of hydrothermal alteration on Earth and Mars

An integrated analysis of both airborne and field short-wave infrared hyperspectral measurements was used in conjunction with conventional field mapping techniques to map hydrothermal alteration in the central portion of the Mount Painter Inlier in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The airborne hyperspectral data show the spatial distribution of spectrally distinct minerals occurring as primary minerals and as weathering and alteration products. Field spectral measurements, taken with a portable infrared mineral analyzer spectrometer and supported by thin-section analyses, were used to verify the mineral maps and enhance the level of information obtainable from the airborne data. Hydrothermal alteration zones were identified and mapped separately from the background weathering signals. A main zone of alteration, coinciding with the Paralana Fault zone, was recognized, and found to contain kaolinite, muscovite, biotite, and K-feldspar. A small spectral variation associated with a ring-like feature around Mount Painter was tentatively determined to be halloysite and interpreted to represent a separate hydrothermal fluid and fluid source, and probably a separate system. The older parts of the alteration system are tentatively dated as Permo-Carboniferous. The remote sensing of alteration at Mount Painter confirms that hyperspectral imaging techniques can produce accurate mineralogical maps with significant details that can be used to identify and map hydrothermal activity. Application of hyperspectral surveys such as that conducted at Mount Painter would be likely to provide similar detail about putative hydrothermal deposits on Mars.     

Hydrogen in rocks: an energy source for deep microbial communities

To survive in deep subsurface environments, lithotrophic microbial communities require a sustainable energy source such as hydrogen. Though H2 can be produced when water reacts with fresh mineral surfaces and oxidizes ferrous iron, this reaction is unreliable since it depends upon the exposure of fresh rock surfaces via the episodic opening of cracks and fissures. A more reliable and potentially more voluminous H2 source exists in nominally anhydrous minerals of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Our experimental results indicate that H2 molecules can be derived from small amounts of H2O dissolved in minerals in the form of hydroxyl, OH- or O3Si-OH, whenever such minerals crystallized in an H2O-laden environment. Two types of experiments were conducted. Single crystal fracture experiments indicated that hydroxyl pairs undergo an in situ redox conversion to H2 molecules plus peroxy links, O3Si/OO\SiO3. While the peroxy links become part of the mineral structure, the H2 molecules diffused out of the freshly fractured mineral surfaces. If such a mechanism occurred in natural settings, the entire rock column would become a volume source of H2. Crushing experiments to facilitate the outdiffusion of H2 were conducted with common crustal igneous rocks such as granite, andesite, and labradorite. At least 70 nmol of H2/g diffused out of coarsely crushed andesite, equivalent at standard pressure and temperature to 5,000 cm3 of H2/m3 of rock. In the water-saturated, biologically relevant upper portion of the rock column, the diffusion of H2 out of the minerals will be buffered by H2 saturation of the intergranular water film.