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.     

Increased BLSS closure using mineralized human waste in plant cultivation on a neutral substrate

The purpose of this work was to study the full-scale potential use of human mineralized waste (feces and urine) as a source of mineral elements for plant cultivation in a biological life support system (BLSS). Plants that are potential candidates for a photosynthesizing link were grown on a neutral solution containing human mineralized waste. Spring wheat Triticum aestivum L., peas Pisum sativum L. Ambrosia cultivar and leaf lettuce Lactuca sativa L., Vitaminny variety, were used. The plants were grown hydroponically on expanded clay aggregates in a vegetation chamber in constant environmental conditions. During plant growth, a determined amount of human mineralized waste was added daily to the nutrient solution. The nutrient solution remained unchanged throughout the vegetation period. Estimated plant requirements for macro-elements were based on a total biological productivity of 0.04 kg day⁻¹ m⁻². As the plant requirements for potassium exceeded the potassium content of human waste, a water extract of wheat straw containing the required amount of potassium was added to the nutrient solution. The Knop’s solution was used in the control experiments.     

Algorithmic support of a small-sized navigation system on the basis of the magnetoinertial course transmitter

The algorithmic support of a small-sized navigation system on the basis of the magnetoinertial course transmitter is considered; the support makes it possible to significantly reduce accumulating errors that are due to incomplete data on wind parameters and decrease requirements for random errors of initial data sensors.     

天基信息支援对导弹攻防作战的效用分析

分析了空天一体作战天基装备系统——军事卫星,对导弹攻防作战重要的信息支援效用。建立并阐述了天基军事卫星信息系统信息支援下导弹攻防作战过程模型和影响图模型,对模型进行了详细的分析讨论。     

引进装备备件可靠性及保障研究

介绍了备品备件的定义及分类,给出了引进装备的可靠性分析方法,基于装备的可靠性建立了装备备件的需求预测模型,用经济订货批量模型的原则设定了引进装备的订货方法,最后,介绍了装备备件保障软件。     

基于支持向量机的航空发动机滑油监控分析

提出了一种基于支持向量机的航空发动机滑油金属含量预测方法。详细分析了支持向量机用于时间序列预测的理论基础,并给出了运用支持向量回归进行多步预测的一般公式,提出了用最终预报误差(FPE)准则优化选取嵌入维数。与传统的AR预测模型相比,支持向量机由于采用了新型的结构风险最小化准则表现出优秀的推广能力。经过数值仿真得出自回归(AR)模型仅适合于短期预测;支持向量机预测推广能力强、具有较强的鲁棒性和容错性,对较长区间预测仍具有较好的效果。最后,将其应用于某型发动机滑油的铁金属含量预测,取得了较好的效果。      

大攻角气动力测量的尾支干扰实验研究

在 FD-09低速风洞中进行了大攻角下尾支对 YF16飞机模型静态气动特性和底部阻力测量的干扰效应的实验研究。实验结果表明:就尾支-支架系统对气动力测量的影响而言,尾支杆对俯仰力矩测量的干扰是主要的。     

基于灰色近似支持向量机的加速度计参数预测

温度、振动等环境载荷使得石英挠性加速度计参数产生漂移,直接影响了惯导系统的测量精度和性能,石英挠性加速度计参数变化趋势为非线性的,很难用常规的建模方法进行趋势预测。基于灰色理论适合进行小样本、贫信息不确定型系统建模以及近似支持向量机不需要求解二次规划就能求得非线性模型参数的优点,提出了基于灰色近似支持向量机进行石英挠性加速度计参数预测的方法。为了验证该方法的有效性,针对自然贮存的加速度计进行了固定周期的参数标定,结果表明灰色近似支持向量机具有很好的预测效果。     

一种大尺寸复合材料筒状支架成型技术北大核心CSCD

主要从模具设计、铺层工艺优化、成型压力保证等方面阐述了一种大尺寸厚壁异型复合材料筒状支架的热压罐成型技术。实践表明:采用分块组合模具阴模成型,合理设计铺层时纤维的断开方式,固化时采用梯度循环加压,控制加压点温度、最大施加压力,可以有效地保证该异型厚壁支架各位置加压到位,成型产品表面光滑无褶皱,内部无超出标准的分层、疏松等缺陷,同时尺寸精度、含胶量也满足指标要求。     

基于遗传算法的航空发动机机载模型支持向量机修正方法

航空发动机的实时模型与发动机的匹配精度直接影响着航空发动机故障诊断的精度.提出了基于自适应遗传算法的最小二乘支持向量回归机(AGA-LSSVR)方法对航空发动机机载实时模型进行修正,有效的提高了模型的匹配精度.分析了最小二乘支持向量机中的参数的选取对模型修正的影响,在参数的选取空间里采用自适应遗传算法搜索最优参数.最后,比较了Back propagation(BP)神经网络、支持向量回归机、AGA-LSSVR等方法在机载模型中的修正效果.结果表明:提出的AGA-LSSVR具有很好的修正精度,验证了修正模型的有效性.