Did life exist on Mars? Search for organic and inorganic signatures, one of the goals for “SAM” (sample analysis at Mars)

Observation of Mars shows signs of a past Earth-like climate, and, in that case, there is no objection to the possible development of life, in the underground or at the surface, as in the terrestrial primitive biosphere. Sample analysis at Mars (SAM) is an experiment which may be proposed for atmospheric, ground and underground in situ measurements. One of its goals is to bring direct or indirect information on the possibility for life to have developed on Mars, and to detect traces of past or present biological activity. With this aim, it focuses on the detection of organic molecules: volatile organics are extracted from the sample by simple heating, whereas refractory molecules are made analyzable (i.e. volatile), using derivatization technique or fragmentation by pyrolysis. Gaseous mixtures thus obtained are analyzed by gas chromatography associated to mass spectrometry. Beyond organics, carbonates and other salts are associated to the dense and moist atmosphere necessary to the development of life, and might have formed and accumulated in some places on Mars. They represent another target for SAM. Heating of the samples allows the analysis of structural gases of these minerals (CO₂ from carbonates, etc.), enabling to identify them. We also show, in this paper, that it may be possible to discriminate between abiotic minerals, and minerals (shells, etc.) created by living organisms.     

A space radiation shielding model of the Martian radiation environment experiment (MARIE)

The 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft was launched towards Mars on April 7, 2001. Onboard the spacecraft is the Martian radiation environment experiment (MARIE), which is designed to measure the background radiation environment due to galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar protons in the 20–500 MeV/n energy range. We present an approach for developing a space radiation-shielding model of the spacecraft that includes the MARIE instrument in the current mapping phase orientation. A discussion is presented describing the development and methodology used to construct the shielding model. For a given GCR model environment, using the current MARIE shielding model and the high-energy particle transport codes, dose rate values are compared with MARIE measurements during the early mapping phase in Mars orbit. The results show good agreement between the model calculations and the MARIE measurements as presented for the March 2002 dataset.     

我国深空探测任务电源系统发展需求

针对我国后续月球极区探测、小天体探测、火星探测、木星系探测深空探测重点任务,在梳理分析每个探测任务约束的基础上,提出电源系统的具体需求;对上述4个方向的深空探测任务的电源系统需求进行归纳总结,提出我国后续深空探测任务的电源系统主要发展建议,具体包括宽温度和光强适应性、抗辐照的太阳电池阵,轻小型智能化的电源控制装置,高功率密度的电源系统MPPT拓扑;最后对同位素温差发电技术进行了发展展望,为后续深空探测电源系统研究和设计提供参考。     

Longitudinal distribution of thermospheric densities and ionization rates in the upper atmosphere of Mars at mid-latitude using MGS ACC data

The Accelerometer Experiment (ACC) onboard Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) measured 1600 density profiles in the upper atmosphere of Mars during aerobraking. These measurements reveal large-scale and small-scale structure in the thermosphere of Mars. Here, the measurements of mass density for 115 orbits (#P0670–P0789) from November 1 to 30, 1998, under spring equinox and medium solar activity conditions (average F_10.7 ∼ 137) during phase 2 of the aerobraking in the thermosphere of Mars at different altitudes and longitudes are presented for northern mid-latitude (17–42°N) in the dayside atmosphere using ACC onboard MGS. From these mass densities, the neutral densities of different gases are derived from their mixing ratios. Using these neutral densities, the longitudinal distribution of photoionization rates and photoelectron impact ionization rates are calculated at wavelength range 1–102.57 nm due to EUV and soft X-ray radiation under photochemical controlled region using Analytical Yield Spectrum approach (AYS). These conditions are appropriate for MGS Phase 2 aerobraking period from which the accelerometer data is used. Under the photochemical equilibrium condition, the electron density near the peak varies as the square root of the total peak ionization rate. Using this fact, an attempt is being made to estimate the mean primary and secondary peak electron density by averaging the longitudinal variations of total peak ionization rates in the northern mid-latitude (17–42°N) ionosphere of Mars, as there is no radio science measurement at this latitude region by MGS.     

月面巡视探测器太阳帆板热电耦合仿真计算

文章建立了月面巡视探测器太阳帆板热电耦合计算模型,制定了太阳帆板的对日定向方案和输出电能分配方案。通过数值模拟获得了月面白昼期间太阳帆板的温度及电能输出,分析了太阳帆板背面包覆隔热材料前后及帆板是否对日定向的计算结果。计算表明:当帆板不对日定向时,其背面包覆隔热材料对其温度及电能输出无明显影响;对日定向时,帆板温度随时间的分布规律发生了明显改变,此时帆板背面包覆隔热材料使其温度明显上升,但帆板正面与背面的温差减小。     

大气腐蚀电化学测定研究

介绍了自行研制的环境试验中大气腐蚀电化学测定装置,包括Kelvin 大气腐蚀测定仪的工作原理,功能用途,软硬件结构及初步测试结果.自行研制的Kelvin大气腐蚀测定仪采用振动电容法技术,不需与被测量试样及电解液相接触,用Kelvin探针作参比电极,即可测得液膜下金属电极电位及极化曲线,为研究大气环境下的材料腐蚀行为提供了先进的技术和方法.     

火星空间磁场低频波动

波动是无碰撞等离子体中能量重新分配的重要途径。对波动的研究有助于更准确地认识太阳风与火星的相互作用,认识火星空间环境的特征。介绍了火星空间中常见的几种磁场低频波动,包括离子回旋波（Ion-CyclotronWave,ICW）、磁流体动力学（MagnetoHydro Dynamic,MHD）波、镜像模波、哨声波以及磁场锯齿状波动,总结了这几类波动的特征和可能的形成机制,说明不同种类的波动所反映的不同的物理过程。由于波粒相互作用在火星离子逃逸的过程中起到了重要作用,波动可影响火星环境的演化。     

Electric discharge in the Martian atmosphere,Paschen curves and implications for future missions

Electric discharge between two electrically charged surfaces occurs at a well-defined, gas-dependent combination of atmospheric pressure and the distance between those two surfaces, as described by Paschen’s law. The understanding of when the discharge will occur in the conditions present on Mars is essential for designing space-flight hardware that will operate on the Martian surface as well as understanding electrical discharge processes occurring in the Martian atmosphere. Here, we present experimentally measured Paschen curves for a gas mixture representative of the Martian atmosphere and compare our results to breakdown voltages of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium as measured with our system and from the literature. We will discuss possible implications for instrument development as well as implications for processes in the Martian atmosphere. The DC voltage at which electric discharge occurred between two stainless steel spheres was measured at pressures from 10⁻² to 100 torr in all gases. We measured a minimum voltage for discharge in the Mars ambient atmosphere of 410 ± 10 V at 0.3 torr cm. As an application, the breakdown properties of space-qualified, electrical wires to be used in the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) were studied.     

有错排射流冲击的短通道流场研究

用实验和数值模拟的方法,研究了在错排冲击孔作用下的受限通道的流场结构。并用五孔探针对通道的流场进行了详细的测量,着重研究了不同雷诺数和不同通道高径比(通道高度与射流孔直径之比)对通道内流场结构的影响。实验结果表明:通道的流场中存在着复杂的漩涡结构;在同一高度下,雷诺数的改变对通道流场的影响很小;通道高度的改变对通道流场有明显影响。      

对旋风机对旋叶轮级间流场的实验研究

采用实验方法对对旋风机对旋叶轮级间流场进行了研究。在改变级间间隙和前后级转速的情况下,采用五孔探针对级间压力场和速度场进行了了测量,并对结果进行了分析。研究表明:前后级动叶加功量的分配在对旋风机的气动设计中占有很重要的地位,这种分配可以通过转速的匹配来实现;在气动设计中,应增加对旋叶轮级间间隙的控制设计。