Mineral and nitrogen balance study: results of metabolic observations on Skylab II 28-day orbital mission

Prediction that the various stresses of flight, particularly weightlessness, would bring about significant derangements in the metabolism of the musculoskeletal system has been based on various observations of long-term immobilized or inactive bed rest. The only attempt at controlled measurement of metabolic changes in space prior to Skylab, a study during the 14-day Gemini VII flight, revealed rather modest losses of important elements. The three astronauts of Skylab II consumed a planned day-by-day, quite constant, dietary intake of major metabolic elements in mixed foods and beverages and provided virtually complete collections of excreta for 31 days preflight, during the 28 days inflight, and for 17 days postflight. Analyses showed that, in varying degree among the crewmen, urinary calcium increased gradually during flight in a pattern similar to that observed in bed-rest studies: the mean plateau peak of urinary calcium excretion in the latter part of flight was double preflight levels. Fecal calcium excretion did not change significantly, but calcium balance, owing to the urinary calcium rise, became either negative or less positive than in preflight measurement. Increased excretion and negative balance of nitrogen and phosphorus indicated appreciable loss of muscle tissue in all three crewmen. Significant losses also occurred inflight in potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Based on the similarity in pattern and degree between these observations and those in bed rest of the losses in calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, musculoskeletal integrity would not be threatened in space flights of up to at least 3 months. However, if similar changes occur, indicative of continuing losses of these elements, in the planned Skylab flights for considerably more than 28 days, concern for capable musculoskeletal function should be serious for flights of very many months' duration, and greater research attention will need to be given to development of protective counter-measures.     

Choroidal responses in microgravity. (SLS-1, SLS-2 and hindlimb-suspension experiments)

Fluid and electrolyte shifts occuring during human spaceflight have been reported and investigated at the level of blood, cardio-vascular and renal responses. Very few data were available concerning the cerebral fluid and electrolyte adaptation to microgravity, even in animal models. It is the reason why we developed several studies focused on the effects of spaceflight (SLS-1 and SLS-2 programs, carried on NASA STS 40 and 56 missions, which were 9- and 14-day flights, respectively), on structural and functional features of choroid plexuses, organs which secrete 70–90 % of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and which are involved in brain homeostasis. Rats flown aboard space shuttles were sacrificed either in space (SLS-2 experiment, on flight day 13) or 4–8 hours after landing (SLS-1 and SLS-2 experiments). Quantitative autoradiography performed by microdensitometry and image analysis, showed that lateral and third ventricle choroid plexuses from rats flown for SLS-1 experiment demonstrated an increased number (about x 2) of binding sites to natriuretic peptides (which are known to be involved in mechanisms regulating CSF production). Using electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry, we studied the cellular response of choroid plexuses, which produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in brain lateral, third and fourth ventricles. We demonstrated that spaceflight (SLS-2 experiment, inflight samples) induces changes in the choroidal cell structure (apical microvilli, kinocilia organization, vesicle accumulation) and protein distribution or expression (carbonic anhydrase II, water channels,…). These observations suggested a loss of choroidal cell polarity and a decrease in CSF secretion. Hindlimb-suspended rats displayed similar choroidal changes. All together, these results support the hypothesis of a modified CSF production in rats during long-term (9, 13 or 14 days) adaptations to microgravity.     

基于粒子滤波的被动多基站跟踪算法

针对被动多基站跟踪的实际应用，提出了基于粒子滤波的被动多基站跟踪方法。该方法首先利用两个基站的观测数据融合目标位置，并用第三个基站的观测数据对目标位置进行检验，消除了错误融合位置；然后，推导了被动多基站粒子滤波模型，并根据被动多基站跟踪的特点，提出了顺序重抽样方法，有效地解决了被动多基站跟踪中的高度非线性、非高斯的影响；最后，给出了算法的性能仿真比较。仿真结果表明提出的方法性能明显优于其他跟踪方法（如PMHT、IMM-PDA）。     

曲线合成孔径雷达最佳孔径研究

基于曲线合成孔径雷达原理与空间几何关系，讨论了曲线合成孔径雷达信号模型与成像方法，推导出目标的一维信号模型、二维信号模型，并将其扩展到了三维信号模型。考虑到不同的曲线孔径形状将对方位分辨率和高度分辨率有不同影响，详细研究了各种不同形状的曲线孔径，分析和对比了各种形状的孔径，给出了各自的优缺点和适用条件。结论是上下、左右对称的孔径形状较不对称的效果更优，L型孔径将导致很高的旁瓣。仿真实验可以对真实飞行航迹起指导作用。     

氨电弧喷射推力器实验和数值研究

为了证实氨电弧喷射推力器良好的工作性能，对其进行了系统的实验和数值研究。在实验研究中建立了高真空实验系统、先进的小推力测量系统和恒定电流控制系统，在数值研究中采用二阶精度无波动、无自由参数的耗散差分格式(NND格式)数值求解耦合电磁源项的扩展N-S方程组。通过实验获得了不同结构尺寸的推力器不同工作条件下的工作性能，通过数值模拟给出了推力器的流场结构，预计了其推力、比冲和推进效率。研究结果表明，氨电弧喷射推力器工作性能良好，能够担负一定的空间应用任务。     

Java Web开发的环境配置

Java Web开发让许多Web开发爱好者望而止步,其主要原因不只是Java语言的困扰,很大程度上是因为环境配置的麻烦打消了他们的激情。本文较详细地阐明了在Tomcat 5.5.*版本上开发JAVA WEB应用所涉及的前后台环境配置,其中包括主要技术有Tomcat服务器端配置,JAVA WEB开发工具的环境配置,MYSQL后台的搭建等。     

Tether Satellite System Collision Study

A study was performed to determine the probability of collision with resident space objects and untrackable debris for the tether component of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) after it broke away from the Space Shuttle orbiter (mission STS-75) in February 1996. Both an analytical and a numerical approach were used in this study, and the results obtained with these two methods were found to be in good agreement. These results show that the deployed tether is expected to have been impacted by several particles 0.1mm or larger in size. The probability of collision with objects 10cm in size or larger was on the order of 10^–3 per month. Since the severed tether reentered within one month after deployment, the collision hazard to other objects while in orbit was small. The analytical methods used in this study are useful for tether collision evaluations in general.     

International cooperation in assuring continuity of environmental satellite data

In the 25 years since the launch of the first weather satellite, meteorological observations from space have become an essential part of weather forecasting and global environmental monitoring. Beginning in the 1970s, constrained national budgets and the need for a coordinated approach to global satellite observing have caused satellite operators to pursue international cooperation to assure the continuity and compatibility of these systems. This article reviews current bilateral and multilateral cooperation and technical coordination in environmental satellite activities. It also explores the potential for alternative institutional arrangements for maintaining the continuity of environmental satellite data in the decades to come.     

Shuttle avionics verification and integration testing

The Space Shuttle Orbiter employs a fly-by-wire control system of 200 major avionic hardware devices interfacing with five flight computers through a complex data bus system. Responses to man-in-the-loop commands are dependent on the flight software. Early program development testing of the computer and avionic hardware has been accomplished at Rockwell International's Shuttle Avionics Development Laboratory (ADL). Hardware development has led to complete multi-string system testing and flight software evaluations. This paper provides an overview of the ADL. Its role and test capabilities in support of Shuttle development are defined. The nature of computer driven test programs for the Orbiter displays, the Digital Autopilot, and flight software development describe the test bed provided by the ADL.     

Real time localization of gamma ray bursts with INTEGRAL

The INTEGRAL satellite has been successfully launched in October 2002 and has recently started its operational phase. The INTEGRAL burst alert system (IBAS) will distribute in real time the coordinates of the gamma ray bursts (GRBs) detected with INTEGRAL. After a brief introduction on the INTEGRAL instruments, we describe the main IBAS characteristics and report on the initial results. During the initial performance and verification phase of the INTEGRAL mission, which lasted about two months, two GRBs have been localized with accuracy of 2–4 arcmin. These observations have allowed us to validate the IBAS software, which is now expected to provide quick (few seconds delay) and precise (few arcmin) localization for 10–15 GRBs per year.