High energy-density propulsion—reducing the risk to humans in planetary exploration

The potential benefits to humankind of space exploration are tremendous. Space is not only the final frontier but is also the next marketplace. The orbital space above Earth offers tremendous opportunities for both strategic assets and commercial development. The critical obstacle retarding the use of the space around the Earth is the lack of low cost access to orbit. Further out, the next giant leap for mankind will be the human exploration of Mars. Almost certainly within the next 30 years, a human crew will brave the isolation, the radiation, and the lack of gravity to walk on and explore the Red planet. Both of these missions will change the outlook and perspective of every human being on the planet. However, these missions are expensive and extremely difficult. Chemical propulsion has demonstrated an inability to achieve orbit cheaply and is a very high-risk option to accomplish the Mars mission. An alternative solution is to develop a high performance propulsion system. Nuclear propulsion has the potential to be such a system. The question will be whether humanity is willing to take on the challenge.     

EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SPACE PLASMAS

The Cluster mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) will allow, for the first time three-dimensional measurements in key regions of the Earth's magnetosphere to be carried out. The European Numerical Simulation Network (ENSN) aims at providing a theoretical support to the mission. We describe the achievements of the ENSN during its first period of activity 1991–1994, during which the network was funded by the European Union. In particular, the ENSN has set up (i) thematic Working Groups on the prime scientific goals of the mission, (ii) a code development Working Group to develop numerical simulation codes specifically adapted to studying magnetospheric boundaries and the corresponding scale mixing, and (iii) software models of Cluster instruments to test in a numerical simulation what the set of four instruments will measure.     

Tunnel/predictor display with two-axis control coordination and simplification

A longitudinal-lateral control coordination and simplification concept is considered for a tunnel/predictor display, which presents the command flight path and a specified future aircraft position in a 3-dimensional format to the pilot, for improving flight path control. A basic element of the proposed concept is the generation of common longitudinal-lateral transfer characteristics of the predictor-aircraft system for the crossover frequency region. Control coordination is supported by a dynamics similarity between the longitudinal and the lateral response characteristics of the predictor position in closed-loop pilot control actions. The control coordination and simplification concept is considered to support the pilot in manual flight path control, directed at an enhancement of his control performance and at a reduction of his workload. Results from pilot-in-the-loop simulation experiments support the theoretical findings and show the effectiveness of the proposed predictor concept with control coordination.     

Scientific Planning and Commanding of the Rosetta Payload

ESA’s Rosetta mission was launched in March 2004 and is on its way to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, where it is scheduled to arrive in summer 2014. It comprises a payload of 12 scientific instruments and a Lander. All instruments are provided by Principal Investigators, which are responsible for their operations. As for most ESA science missions, the ground segment of the mission consists of a Mission Operations Centre (MOC) and a Science Operations Centre (SOC). While the MOC is responsible for all spacecraft-related aspects and the final uplink of all command timelines to the spacecraft, the scientific operations of the instruments and the collection of the data and ingestion into the Planetary Science Archive are coordinated by the SOC. This paper focuses on the tasks of the SOC and in particular on the methodology and constraints to convert the scientific goals of the Rosetta mission to operational timelines.     

Broad-band spectral properties of accreting X-ray binary pulsars

Broad-band spectra of accreting X-ray binary pulsars can be fitted by a phenomenological model composed of a power law with a high energy rollover above 10 keV, plus a blackbody component with a temperature of few hundred eV. While, at least qualitatively, the hard tail can be explained in terms of (inverse) Compton scattering, the origin of the soft component cannot find a unique explanation. Recently, a qualitative picture able to explain the overall broad-band spectrum of luminous X-ray pulsars was carried out by taking into account the effect of bulk Comptonization in the accretion column. After a review of these recent theoretical developments, I will present a case study of how different modeling of the continuum affect broad features, in particular the cyclotron resonance features in Vela X-1.     

四维下降飞行技术的研究与仿真：定常航迹角法下降剖面解算

本文研究的是四维飞行性能管理系统的核心环节－飞机在终端区域内的四维下降技术，首先探讨了基于常值航迹角的定常Ｍ数／指示空速下降飞行技术，论述了其高度剖面的构成与特点，通过尤拉积分方法求解飞机运动方程，实现了高度冲面的解算。其次开发了对速度剖面的迭代过程，选取原则及方法。本文在进行理论分析的同时，还开发了满意的仿真软件，一了其应用价值。     

TC4钛合金的微动磨损及防护

对Ｔｉ－６Ａｌ－４Ｖ合金在１８℃，１００℃２５０℃下的微动磨损特性及防护工艺进行了研究。表明：该合金微动磨损的主要磨损形式是疲劳脱层，其磨损量随温度升高而下降，高渐微动磨损量与磨损区表面所形成的氧化层的性质及厚度有关。     

管理软件生成器系统CDBAG—4GL

阐述了“管理软件生成器系统CDBAG-4GL”的研制背景、系统组成、逻辑结构、功能及特点;并简要介绍了设计思想、生成原理以及实现技术要点等。“CD-BAG一4GL”已商品化,它可根据用户要求自动生成各类专用的管理信息系统。为应用开发人员和最终用户提供一个一体化的通用的快速开发工具和环境。作为第四代软件开发工具的生成器和第四代语言是提高应用开发效率和质量的有效途径。     

飞机空中加油任务剖面优化设计

介绍了某型飞机执行作战任务途中何时进行空中加油，并按照最大航程截击对飞机各个飞行任务段的飞行性能进行了计算，得出了最佳巡航速度，确定了最优的加油时机和加油量。计算过程中采用了遗传算法，考虑了爬升过程和巡航过程中飞机变质量的难点问题，提高了计算结果的可信度。     

CVD-Si3N4陶瓷及其复合材料氧化行为研究进展

概述了CVD—Si3N4陶瓷及其复合材料在干燥氧气下的氧化行为。Si3N4陶瓷在高温下氧化时，除生成SiO2保护膜外，还生成一薄层比SiO2膜更优异的氧气扩散阻挡层(Si—O—N化合物层)，该层具有优异的抗氧化性能。介绍了两种氧化机制模型，同时分析了温度、杂质等对CVD—Si3N4陶瓷氧化行为的影响。