Integration of lessons from recent research for “Earth to Mars” life support systems

Development of reliable and robust strategies for long-term life support for planetary exploration must be built from real-time experimentation to verify and improve system components. Also critical is incorporating a range of viable options to handle potential short-term life system imbalances. This paper revisits some of the conceptual framework for a Mars base prototype which has been developed by the authors along with others previously advanced (“Mars on Earth^®”) in the light of three years of experimentation in the Laboratory Biosphere, further investigation of system alternatives and the advent of other innovative engineering and agri-ecosystem approaches. Several experiments with candidate space agriculture crops have demonstrated the higher productivity possible with elevated light levels and improved environmental controls. For example, crops of sweet potatoes exceeded original Mars base prototype projections by an average of 46% (53% for best crop) ultradwarf (Apogee) wheat by 9% (23% for best crop), pinto bean by 13% (31% for best crop). These production levels, although they may be increased with further optimization of lighting regimes, environmental parameters, crop density etc. offer evidence that a soil-based system can be as productive as the hydroponic systems which have dominated space life support scenarios and research. But soil also offers distinct advantages: the capability to be created on the Moon or Mars using in situ space resources, reduces long-term reliance on consumables and imported resources, and more readily recycling and incorporating crew and crop waste products. In addition, a living soil contains a complex microbial ecosystem which helps prevent the buildup of trace gases or compounds, and thus assist with air and water purification. The atmospheric dynamics of these crops were studied in the Laboratory Biosphere adding to the database necessary for managing the mixed stands of crops essential for supplying a nutritionally adequate diet in space. This paper explores some of the challenges of small bioregenerative life support: air-sealing and facility architecture/design, balance of short-term variations of carbon dioxide and oxygen through staggered plantings, options for additional atmospheric buffers and sinks, lighting/energy efficiency engineering, crop and waste product recycling approaches, and human factor considerations in the design and operation of a Mars base. An “Earth to Mars” project, forging the ability to live sustainably in space (as on Earth) requires continued research and testing of these components and integrated subsystems; and developing a step-by-step learning process.     

Administrative reform of Japanese Space Policy Structures in 2012

In Japan, there are several government ministries and agencies with important roles in the development and use of space. In 2012, Japan restructured its administrative organs related to the development and use of space through legal amendments to the original acts that established these organs. Although this was an important administrative reform that took four years of planning and discussion to accomplish, this restructuring has not been communicated well outside of Japan. This study provides the first comprehensive overview of the recent legal changes in Japanese space policy. In contrast to some reports, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) still has primary responsibility for the finances and personnel of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This continues to be true even after the Cabinet Office begins its new role as the focal point for formulating Japanese space policy. It remains to be seen how the policy direction of the Cabinet Office will interact with the operational, financial, and personnel responsibilities of MEXT. I argue that knowledge of the roles of MEXT and the Cabinet Office in space policy, and the tension between the two organizations, is key to understanding Japan's future space policy decision-making process. By tracing the history of Japanese space policy since 2001, I also suggest that if bureaucrats had thought more deeply before making major reforms to space policy and its administration, there would have been less confusion over the development of national space policy this past decade. This paper concludes by identifying some key elements to monitor in the coming years of Japan's space policy.     

Storage life of silicone rubber sealing ring used in solid rocket motor

It is urgent to carry out detailed research on storage performance of rubber sealing ring to get the criterion for its storage life. This paper acquires material ageing regularity by theoretical analysis and experimental confirmation. On this condition, failure mode and failure criterion of typical sealing structure is studied, and the failure mechanism is found. Thus by analyzing the stress distribution, the relationship between ageing state and sealing condition is established. Rationalization proposal is put forward and storage life of sealing ring is evaluated. The research mentionedabove has special reference to the design of sealing structures and can provide reference for prolonging their service life.     

多种失效模式相关的机构运动可靠度计算方法

机构运动中必然存在多种相关失效模式,多为影响机构运动的各类随机变量函数.为了在机构运动可靠性分析中有效考虑多种相关失效模式的影响,建立了考虑多种失效模式相关条件下的机构运动可靠度计算模型,并实现了对多种失效模式相关条件下的机构运动可靠度计算模型的求解,为考虑多种相关失效模式下的机构运动可靠性分析提供了一种有效途径.以6408滚动轴承为例,进行100 000抽样计算,考虑失效模式相关条件下运动可靠度为95.998 9%.该方法精度较高,具有一定的理论意义和应用价值.     

攻角传感器的热失效分析与设计方案改进

根据压差归零式攻角传感器的工作原理、结构及工作条件，结合实际经验，分析了该传感器的主要失效因素，并重点分析了热失效问题；探讨了飞行中传感器探头加热器与环境之间的热交换情况。     

期望状态序列导向的深空探测器规划修复方法

Aiming at the challenges caused by the persistence, concurrency and energy consumption of probe actions, a plan repair method of deep space probe based on the expected state sequence is proposed. In this method, the expected state sequence is formed of the expected effect of the unfinished action and the expected precondition of the unexecuted action in the pre designed plan, according to the execution status of the action. The expected state sequence is an ordered set of states with mixed logic and energy, providing subgoals for plan repair and also transforming the plan repair problem into the state transition path searching problem. During the search, the plan repair strategy with energy supply priority is proposed, which separates the logic repair from energy repair to reduce the difficulty of solving the problem. And this method enables the probe to recover from plan failure autonomously. Finally, the effectiveness and rationality of the proposed method are verified through simulation by taking the Mars Orbiter as an example.     

考虑两种失效竞争的多状态冷贮备系统可靠性模型

针对装备系统中多状态工作部件存在退化失效与突发失效竞争的情况，以冷贮备系统为研究对象，假设系统内3个维修台可分别提供预防性维修与两种不同类型的修复性维修，采用随机检测策略，系统性能水平在一定范围内退化时进行预防性维修，部件完全退化失效时进行退化失效修复性维修，而突发失效时进行突发失效修复性维修；利用PH （Phase-type）分布描述模型中各类随机时间变量，外部冲击的到达则采用PH更新过程描述，建立了考虑退化失效与突发失效的多状态冷贮备系统可靠性模型。最后通过算例验证了模型的适用性，演示了预防性维修阈值以及三类维修速率对系统可靠性的影响。     

三维五向编织复合材料的冲击压缩特性及破坏机制

利用分离式霍普金森压杆(split Hopkinson pressure bar,SHPB)实验系统和高速摄像技术对三维五向碳/环氧编织复合材料的动态压缩特性进行研究。通过对编织角为22.3°的试样分别进行沿纵向和横向方向的冲击压缩实验,得到材料在200~1200 s^-1应变率范围内的应力应变曲线,并结合高速摄像记录的动态压缩过程,对不同应变率下材料在高速变形下的渐进破坏规律进行分析。同时,综合试样的宏观破坏特征和微观断口形貌特征,进一步分析材料的破坏模式及破坏机理。结果表明:随着应变率的增加,材料在纵向和横向均具有一定的应变率强化效应,在横向方向的应变率强化效应更为显著;不同加载方向下材料的渐进破坏过程、应力应变曲线特征以及破坏方式均具有明显差异,且随着应变率的增加而发生改变。     

求解具有多层试验数据成败型单元混联系统可靠性近似限的信息论方法

研究了求解具有多层成败型试验数据时,系统可靠性置信下限近似解的信息论方法,给出了各层试验数据综合的方法和步骤,推导了各层数据信息论方法折合及综合的计算公式。根据单元试验信息提供的信息量与系统折合试验应提供的信息量相等的原则,将多层试验数据逐级折合为系统的等效成败型数据,导出了等效成败型数据信息论方法折合的基本公式;结合可靠性工程的基本原理,根据单个成败型单元可靠性评定的经典精确置信限方法,给出了系统可靠性置信下限的近似解。并以实例形式说明了该方法的具体应用。     

用最小割集有效系数法确定航炮系统故障的诊断程序

本文提出用最小割集有效系数法确定航炮系统故障的诊断程序,以改进底事件有效系数法没有充分考虑底事件对系统故障发生的影响的缺点。