Need for a National Brazilian Centre of Space Policy and Law Studies

This paper argues the urgent need for a Brazilian National Centre on Space Policy and Law Studies, by laying down the basis for such a centre as a natural step in Brazilian space development. In doing so, it looks at the numbers of specialists in this field working in Brazil space entities—both public and private—and at the basic requirements for such specialists. It also discusses the way the main Brazilian space institutions currently deal with legal and policy challenges in space, and whether their methods are effective. Founding a national centre could provide lessons not only for other countries in Latin America but also for other developing countries.     

Rio de la Plata estuarine system: Relationship between river flow and frontal variability

This paper deals with the application of SeaWIFS images to characterize spatial and temporal variability of fronts in the Rio de la Plata estuarine system over the period 2000–2003. We aim to depict the relationship between river outflow and variability of fronts’ loci on monthly to ENSO-related timescales and the influence of the winds along Rio de la Plata (axial winds) on the abrupt changes in frontal dynamics over synoptic timescales. During the studied period both La Niña (July 1999–June 2000) and El Niño (April 2002–May 2003) events induced significant displacements of fronts. Three distinct fronts were analyzed between river, estuarine, coastal and marine waters of the Rio de la Plata: Main Turbidity Front, Main Marine Front, and Secondary Marine Front. Their number, location and separation seem to be mainly related to river outflow and second, to fresh (>8 m/s) axial winds. During low discharge periods (i.e. summer time and/or La Niña events) these winds induce abrupt changes in the location of fronts (100–200 km) and greater separation between them over synoptic timescale, whereas during high river discharge or ENSO years some of the variability of fronts location is explained by the river’s outflow fluctuations, especially by the high variability of the River Uruguay discharge.     

Comparative survival analysis of Deinococcus radiodurans and the haloarchaea Natrialba magadii and Haloferax volcanii exposed to vacuum ultraviolet irradiation

The haloarchaea Natrialba magadii and Haloferax volcanii, as well as the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, were exposed to vacuum UV (VUV) radiation at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory. Cell monolayers (containing 10(5) to 10(6) cells per sample) were prepared over polycarbonate filters and irradiated under high vacuum (10(-5) Pa) with polychromatic synchrotron radiation. N. magadii was remarkably resistant to high vacuum with a survival fraction of (3.77±0.76)×10(-2), which was larger than that of D. radiodurans (1.13±0.23)×10(-2). The survival fraction of the haloarchaea H. volcanii, of (3.60±1.80)×10(-4), was much smaller. Radiation resistance profiles were similar between the haloarchaea and D. radiodurans for fluences up to 150?J m(-2). For fluences larger than 150?J m(-2), there was a significant decrease in the survival of haloarchaea, and in particular H. volcanii did not survive. Survival for D. radiodurans was 1% after exposure to the higher VUV fluence (1350?J m(-2)), while N. magadii had a survival lower than 0.1%. Such survival fractions are discussed regarding the possibility of interplanetary transfer of viable microorganisms and the possible existence of microbial life in extraterrestrial salty environments such as the planet Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa. This is the first work to report survival of haloarchaea under simulated interplanetary conditions.     

夜气辉对天基光学碎片探测的影响分析

设计并完成了夜气辉背景下的天基碎片观测试验,获取了综合谱段的观测数据。基于观测数据进行夜气辉的辐射特性及其对天基碎片探测的影响分析。结果表明,夜气辉辐射随纬度和高度呈现一定的分布特点,这些特点均符合夜气辉的理论分布规律。在约90 km处辐射最强,亮度可达到单位积分时间每平方角秒近15星等,这对恒星及碎片提取概率影响较大,其中,13等星的提取概率仅为40.5%。     

高速旋转状态下高压涡轮叶盘振动试验研究

在高速旋转状态下,开展对高压涡轮转子叶片的振动特性和缘板阻尼装置减振效果的试验研究,有利于后期的设计迭代,获得真实的叶片振动情况。以高压涡轮转子模拟件为对象,采用雾化油滴非接触式激励方式模拟涡轮叶片周期性气动激励,建立高速旋转状态下高压涡轮转子叶片振动特性试验系统,并进行介于静止状态夹具固定式测试和整机直接测试之间的组件级试验,在高速旋转状态下实现叶片非接触式高频激振,获取叶片的振动特性和缘板阻尼装置对转子叶片的减振效果。结果表明:在常温 10000~19000r / min 运行转速下,缘板阻尼装置对转子叶片减振约 40% ,阻尼质量较大的叶片频率较高。     

天基强银河背景下的空间碎片探测试验及分析

本文设计并完成了银河背景下碎片探测试验,数据分析表明,强的银河背景会降低探测器对暗弱碎片的探测能力,但对碎片的天文定位精度影响不大。本文验证了采用基于探测概率的极限探测星等方法表征探测器极限探测能力的合理性,以及基于仿真的方法增加数据完备度的可行性。本文的工作将为后续天基探测器的设计及探测试验的开展提供依据。     

On the dynamics of a novel manipulator with slewing and deployable links

Using a novel space platform-based manipulator with slewing and deployable links, the paper addresses two issues of considerable importance: (a) How important is it to model flexibility of the system? (b) How many modes are needed to adequately represent the elastic character? Results suggest that the fundamental mode is able to capture physics of the response quite accurately. Due to its massive character, the platform dynamics is virtually unaffected, even by severe maneuvers of the manipulator. Hence, treating the platform as rigid would save the computational cost without affecting the accuracy. Although the link flexibility does affect the manipulator's tip vibration, the joint and platform vibrations remain negligible. The revolute joint flexibility appears to be an important parameter affecting both the joint as well as tip responses. The information should prove useful in the design of this new class of manipulators.