低频靶标法测量CCD相机调制传递函数的仿真

基于用高频靶标法测试调制传递函数(MTF)时不能准确地体现出CCD器件的平均采样的情况。该文探讨用低频靶标法测试MTF,介绍它的原理;通过数字仿真CCD的光学镜头的模糊和采样平均过程,分析不同频率靶标的MTF测试结果,并分析相位造成的影响。     

Lunar habitat concept employing the space shuttle external tank

The space shuttle external tank, which consists of a liquid oxygen tank, an intertank structure, and a liquid hydrogen tank, is an expendable structure used for approximately 8.5 min during each launch. A concept for outfitting the liquid oxygen tank-intertank unit for a 12-person lunar habitat is described. The concept utilizes existing structures and openings for both man and equipment access without compromising the structural integrity of the tank. Living quarters, instrumentation, environmental control and life support, thermal control, and propulsion systems are installed at Space Station Freedom. The unmanned habitat is then transported to low lunar orbit and autonomously soft landed on the lunar surface. Design studies indicate that this concept is feasible by the year 2000 with concurrent development of a space transfer vehicle and manned cargo lander for crew changeover and resupply.     

一种用于火星研究的成像光谱仪

成像光谱仪在未来的一系列行星无人探测活动中将发挥重要作用。光谱成像技术的科学目的在于,通过测量行星表面物质反射和发射的可见光与红外辐射光谱特性的强度与分布来弄清行星的结构组成情况。作为美国国家航宇局主持制定的“行星探测仪器确定与开发计划”的一部分,美国喷气推进实验室目前正研制一种适于多种行星探测任务的标准成像光谱仪。在“伽利略号”探测木星时使用过的近红外成像光谱仪(NIMS)的基础上,美国喷气推进实验室又研制出了Ⅰ型可见光—红外成像光谱仪(VIMS)。这台仪器已为美国航宇局初步选中,用于最近批准将要实施的“火星观察者号”航天器的探测任务中。     

Gravity and perceptual stability during translational head movement on earth and in microgravity

We measured the amount of visual movement judged consistent with translational head movement under normal and microgravity conditions. Subjects wore a virtual reality helmet in which the ratio of the movement of the world to the movement of the head (visual gain) was variable. Using the method of adjustment under normal gravity 10 subjects adjusted the visual gain until the visual world appeared stable during head movements that were either parallel or orthogonal to gravity. Using the method of constant stimuli under normal gravity, seven subjects moved their heads and judged whether the virtual world appeared to move “with” or “against” their movement for several visual gains. One subject repeated the constant stimuli judgements in microgravity during parabolic flight. The accuracy of judgements appeared unaffected by the direction or absence of gravity. Only the variability appeared affected by the absence of gravity. These results are discussed in relation to discomfort during head movements in microgravity.     

分块式空间望远镜技术研究现状及其发展趋势

大口径空间光学望远镜是实现高分辨率遥感与高灵敏度探测的重要科学仪器。传统的整体式望远镜口径超过4 m将难以突破现有运载器整流罩有效包络的限制,采用分块式的技术手段可以在满足运载能力的前提下实现口径最大化,是解决当前望远镜高分辨率与高信息收集能力的最优选择。文章先从部署形式上对分块式空间望远镜的国内外研究现状进行了梳理,归纳出分块望远镜在技术实现路线上的技术类型和特点,分别对高精度机构展开技术、机器人智能装配技术、波前检测与调控技术以及超轻可调分块镜技术进行了技术内涵及实现技术途径分析,最后面向未来远景目标,对分块式空间望远镜的技术发展作了展望。     

On the stabilization of ribose by silicate minerals

The RNA-world theory hypothesizes that early Earth life was based on the RNA molecule. However, the notion that ribose, the sugar in RNA, is unstable still casts a serious doubt over this theory. Recently, it has been found that the silicate-mediated formose reaction facilitates the stabilization of ribose. Using accurate quantum chemical calculations, we determined the relative stability of the silicate complexes of arabinose, lyxose, ribose, and xylose with the intent to determine which would form predominantly from a formose-like reaction. Five stereoisomers were investigated for each complex. The stereoisomers of 2:1 ribose-silicate are the more stable ones, to the extent that the least stable of these is even more stable than the most stable stereoisomer of the other 2:1 sugar-silicate complexes. Thus, thermodynamically, a formose-like reaction in the presence of silicate minerals should preferentially form the silicate complex of ribose over the silicate complex of arabinose, lyxose, and xylose.     

Effects of microgravity on the binding of acetylsalicylic acid by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii

Bacteroids can be induced in vitro by treating growing Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii with succinic acid or succinic acid structural analogs like acetysalicylic acid. Quantitating bacteroid induction by measuring acetylsalicylic binding under normal (1 g) conditions showed two forms of binding to occur. In one form of binding cells immediately bound comparatively high levels of acetylsalicylic acid, but the binding was quickly reversed. The second form of binding increased with time by first order kinetics and reached saturation in 40 s. Similar experiments performed in the microgravity environment aboard the NASA 930 aircraft showed only one form of binding and total acetylsalicyclic acid bound was 32% higher than at 1 g.