Ground and on-orbit command and data handling architectures for the Active Rack Isolation System microgravity flight experiment

The Active Rack Isolation System [ARIS] International Space Station [ISS] Characterization Experiment, or ARIS-ICE for short, is a long duration microgravity characterization experiment aboard the ISS. The objective of the experiment is to fully characterize active microgravity performance of the first ARIS rack deployed on the ISS. Efficient ground and on-orbit command and data handling [C&DH] segments are the crux in achieving the challenging objectives of the mission. The objective of the paper is to provide an overview of the C&DH architectures developed for ARIS-ICE, with the view that these architectures may serve as a model for future ISS microgravity payloads. Both ground and on-orbit segments, and their interaction with corresponding ISS C&DH systems are presented. The heart of the on-orbit segment is the ARIS-ICE Payload On-orbit Processor, ARIS-ICE POP for short. The POP manages communication with the ISS C&DH system and other ISS subsystems and payloads, enables automation of test/data collection sequences, and provides a wide range of utilities such as efficient file downlinks/uplinks, data post-processing, data compression and data storage. The hardware and software architecture of the POP is presented and it is shown that the built-in functionality helps to dramatically streamline the efficiency of on-orbit operations. The ground segment has at its heart special ARIS-ICE Ground Support Equipment [GSE] software developed for the experiment. The software enables efficient command and file uplinks, and reconstruction and display of science telemetry packets. The GSE software architecture is discussed along with its interactions with ISS ground C&DH elements. A test sequence example is used to demonstrate the interplay between the ground and on-orbit segments.     

Media reaction to a SETI success

Consideration of the reaction to a SETI detection by the media, and the effect this will have on the public, is more than mere sociological speculation. An accurate forecast of the media's interest can lead to actions that will help ensure that correct and comprehensible information reaches the public. This is most critical in the first few weeks following a discovery. While a widely accepted protocol for dealing with a detection exists in the "Declaration of Principles Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence," it gives scant consideration to the fact that the actual situation will be chaotic and not subject to easy control. The 1996 story about the possible discovery of martian microfossils has provided a useful precedent for what will happen if astronomers uncover the existence of alien intelligence.     

"Signal" search for intelligence in the galactic nucleus with the array of the Lowlands

In August, 1981, the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope was used for 4 h to search for narrowband pulsing radio beacons in the direction of the Galactic Center. By using both the spatial discrimination and temporal stability available to an interferometric measurement, weak intermittent signals can be detected even in the face of the strong, naturally caused radiation from this region. A radio beacon within our bandwidth, centered on the 21 cm neutral hydrogen line, would be recognizable if it had a repetition period between 40 sec and 1/2 h. The rms sensitivity to point sources was approximately 50 mJy/cycle, and the detection limit was 500 mJy/cycle. The limit degrades for pulse widths < 0.02s. No repetitive signals were found. For a swept, narrow-band radio beacon constrained to the Galactic Disk (beamwidth = 0.02 rad), our detection limit corresponds to a transmitter power of 10(11) MW at the Galactic Center.     

高速飞行器流固界面热力载荷转换方法及其应用

高速飞行器流固界面热力载荷的快速高效转换是结构热气弹分析的重要前提。本文分别基于最小势能原理建立了流固界面热力载荷的转换方法,并编制了相应的转换软件,可实现不同单元类型、不同载荷类别、不同软件之间的双向热力载荷转换。测试算例表明,无论是定量分析还是定性分析,本文方法都能实现流固界面热力载荷的高精度快速转换。     

ZnO/SBA-15无机热控涂层填料及涂层性能

开展高紫外-可见-近红外反射能力热控填料的制备,研制新型低吸收比(α_S)高发射率(ε_H)无机热控涂层。以自制SBA-15和ZnO前驱体为原料通过溶剂热浸渍和高温煅烧法制备ZnO/SBA-15填料,然后与硅酸钾(K_2SiO_3)制备无机热控涂层;采用SAXD、XRD、SEM、太阳反射光谱分析填料和涂层的性能。结果显示采用硝酸锌作为前驱体、m(ZnO)∶m(SBA-15)=3∶7、950℃下烧结3 h可以得到高紫外-可见-近红外反射能力的填料;ZnO/SBA-15/K_2SiO_3无机涂层的α_S为0.09,ε_H为0.91,涂层结合力等级为1级,经过100次-196～100℃热循环实验后,涂层无脱落和开裂现象。SBA-15改性ZnO可以获得具有高紫外反射率和低α_S的热控填料,ZnO/SBA-15填料制备的无机热控涂层同样具备高紫外反射率、低α_S和高ε_H,可以满足航天器高效散热的需求,应用前景良好。