微重力环境下半球形贮箱液体重定位试验研究

本文利用落塔形成的微重力环境,对半球形贮箱中液体重定位问题进行了试验研究。所用液体与半球形箱壁之间的接触角为零并在加载前形成了失重初始凹液面.本试验分侧向不加干扰及加干扰两种初始条件.通过高速摄影机观察了液体重定位的全过程并测量了重定位流速和重定位时间。试验结果表明,液体重定位呈壁流流型.实测重定位时间与理论估算值一致.      

用高空气球实现的微重力环境模拟实验系统

本文主要阐述利用高空气球落舱进行微重力环境模拟实验的可行性,工程系统的构成,系统控制时序以及试验结果。     

国外空间微重力钟计划及其应用前景

原子钟已经发展到很高的水平,它们在空间科学试验中起着非常重要的作用。文章介绍国外已经建议和正在开展的高精度微重力钟计划,以及它们的应用前景。     

板式贮箱内部流动的定常和非定常数值模拟

为了研究微重力环境下板式表面张力贮箱的内部流动规律,对板式贮箱导流板的驱动机理进行了分析,得到了微重力环境下板式贮箱内部定常和非定常流动的基本方程。应用四阶龙格-库塔法对定常流动方程进行求解,得到定常流动时导流板上液带的分布规律;应用MacCormack数值离散方法,对非定常流动方程进行求解,得到了不同时刻导流板上液带的分布规律及液带恢复稳定所需的时间。计算结果为板式贮箱的设计提供了数值依据,奠定了板式贮箱的设计基础。     

微重力环境模拟作业训练机器人碰撞力反馈控制

针对航天员在地球表面进行微重力环境中操作训练时微重力环境模拟作业训练机器人存在的碰撞力反馈控制问题,建立碰撞力反馈模型、提出单个柔索驱动单元控制策略和机器人系统碰撞力反馈控制策略。利用Matlab/Simulink软件对碰撞力反馈模型和控制策略进行仿真验证,该模型和控制策略可以实现机器人碰撞力反馈,且具有计算量小、实时性好、不需要额外增加传感器等优势;结合提出的柔索驱动单元复合控制策略和机器人系统碰撞力反馈控制策略进行机器人碰撞力反馈控制实验,提高机器人控制的准确性和实时性。结果表明,基于干扰观测器的柔索驱动单元复合控制策略将柔索驱动单元主动控制精度提升11%,被动控制多余力消除率达到81.82%;机器人碰撞力反馈控制策略可以有效提升航天员作业训练时碰撞力临场感体验。     

Fuzzy adaptive robust control for space robot considering the effect of the gravity

Space robot is assembled and tested in gravity environment, and completes on-orbit service（OOS） in microgravity environment. The kinematic and dynamic characteristic of the robot will change with the variations of gravity in different working condition. Fully considering the change of kinematic and dynamic models caused by the change of gravity environment, a fuzzy adaptive robust control（FARC） strategy which is adaptive to these model variations is put forward for trajectory tracking control of space robot. A fuzzy algorithm is employed to approximate the nonlinear uncertainties in the model, adaptive laws of the parameters are constructed, and the approximation error is compensated by using a robust control algorithm. The stability of the control system is guaranteed based on the Lyapunov theory and the trajectory tracking control simulation is performed. The simulation results are compared with the proportional plus derivative（PD） controller, and the effectiveness to achieve better trajectory tracking performance under different gravity environment without changing the control parameters and the advantage of the proposed controller are verified.     

Spaceflight results in increase of thick filament but not thin filament proteins in the paramyosin mutant of Caenorhabditis elegans

We have investigated the effect of microgravity during spaceflight on body-wall muscle fiber size and muscle proteins in the paramyosin mutant of Caenorhabditis elegans. Both mutant and wild-type strains were subjected to 10 days of microgravity during spaceflight and compared to ground control groups. No significant change in muscle fiber size or quantity of the protein was observed in wild-type worms; where as atrophy of body-wall muscle and an increase in thick filament proteins were observed in the paramyosin mutant unc-15(e73) animals after spaceflight. We conclude that the mutant with abnormal muscle responded to microgravity by increasing the total amount of muscle protein in order to compensate for the loss of muscle function.     

In vitro effects of simulated microgravity on Sertoli cell function

With the advent of space flights questions concerning the effects of microgravity (0×G) on human reproductive physiology have received great attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of 0×G on Sertoli cells. A Sertoli cell line from mouse testis (42GPA9) was analyzed for cytoskeletal and Sex Hormone Binding Globilin (SHBG) changes by immunohistochemistry, for antioxidant content by RT-PCR and for culture medium lactate concentrations by protein chemistry. Cells were cultured for 6, 24 and 48 h on a three-dimensional Random Positioning Machine (3D-RPM); static controls (1×G) were positioned on the supporting frame. At the end of each experiment, cultured cells were either fixed in paraformaldehyde or lysed and RNA-extracted or used for culture medium lactate measurements as needed. At 0×G, Sertoli cytoskeleton became disorganized, microtubules fragmented and SHBG undetectable already after 24 h, with alterations worsening by 48 h. It was evident that various antioxidant systems appreciably increased during the first 24 h but significantly decreased at 48 h. No changes occurred in the 1×G samples. Initially, 0×G seemed to disturb antioxidant protection strategies allowing the testes to support sperm production, thus generating an aging-like state of oxidative stress. Lactate production at 0×G slightly decreased after 24 h. Further experiments are needed in space to investigate upon steroidogenesis and germ cell differentiation within the testis, to rule out male infertility as a possible consequence, which could be a problem, as life expectancy increases.     

Marangoni heat pipe: An experiment on board MIOsat Italian microsatellite

This article summarizes the activities in preparation of a microgravity experiment to be carried out by using a small technological payload onboard a microsatellite developed by the Italian Space Agency. A dedicated hardware will be developed to investigate innovative heat pipes filled with self-rewetting fluids, i.e. dilute aqueous alcoholic solutions with unique surface tension properties. After a general introduction of the scientific background, the paper is focused on the main activities in preparation of the flight experiment, on the design of the flight hardware and on the experimental planned procedure. The laboratory results achieved on ground in preparation of a flight experiment are also presented, including measurements of fluids physical properties and preliminary heat pipes performances characterization test. From the engineering point of view, the activities dealing with heat pipes filling and sealing are included. The activities for heat pipe characterization conclude the paper.     

小行星星壤低速侵入过程力学响应的实验研究

为研究小行星星壤在低速侵入过程中的力学响应,利用落塔实验舱构建微重力环境,制备典型的无黏性星壤模拟物,利用恒速加载方式模拟采样器等装置侵入星壤的过程,测量了模拟物的承载强度和边界应力随沉降深度的变化,并记录了模拟物表面形貌的变化过程。实验结果表明,微重力下星壤的承载能力较地球重力环境下大大降低,其响应特性更接近于流体,且与侵入速度、星壤孔隙率、颗粒粒径级配、侵入体尺寸等因素相关联。实验结果可为小行星表面着陆和采样装置的设计与验证提供重要数据支撑。