Assessment of the performance of nonfouling polymer hydrogels utilizing citizen scientists

To facilitate longer duration space travel, flight crew sickness and disease transmission amongst the crew must be eliminated. High contact surfaces within space vehicles provide an opportunity for bacterial adhesion, which can lead to biofilm formation or disease transmission. This study evaluates the performance of several nonfouling polymers using citizen science, to identify the best performing chemistry for future applications as bacteria resistant coatings. The specific polymer chemistries tested were zwitterionic sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and polyampholytes composed of [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride and 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (TMA/CAA), or TMA and 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (TMA/SA). Each polymer chemistry is known to exhibit bacteria resistance, and this study provides a direct side-by-side comparison between the chemistries using a citizen science approach. Nearly 100 citizen scientists returned results comparing the performance of these polymers over repeat exposure to bacteria and 30 total days of growth. The results demonstrate that TMA/CAA polyampholyte hydrogels show the best long-term resistance to bacteria adhesion.

State of research and development of small spacecraft with optical communication

The current state of scientific and technical research and development of small space vehicles using optical communication systems is considered. The problems standing in the way of creating intersatellite optical communication are discussed as well as the mutual position of satellites determination and it tracking. Scientific tasks for the implementation of the development of an optimal reliable control system for satellite communication are defined.

Gas dynamic protective devices for orientation thruster jets of space vehicles and orbital stations

Here is a brief review of model and on-orbit experiments on the problem of contamination of spacecraft and orbital station external surfaces, including the International Space Station, by jets of orientation thrusters.

Theoretical Estimate of Cooling Time of a Liquid Hydrogen Tank during Structural Tests

Russian enterprises continue developing rocket and space vehicles based on cryogenic propellants, i.e. liquid hydrogen, oxygen, and methane. Hence, the issues of fuel tanks’ thermal strength are increasingly important. During structural tests, the operating temperatures of the test object should be simulated, since the temperature condition affects the strength and rigidity of the structure. Consequently, during ground-based experimental tests, hydrogen tanks must be cooled down to 20 K, the boiling point of hydrogen. JSC TsNIIMash is developing a helium system capable of cooling large-sized structures to a temperature of 20 K. Helium can be used in a gaseous state to cool down the structure, since the boiling point of helium, 4 K, is lower than the boiling point of hydrogen. Until now, the tanks were cooled only by filling with liquid nitrogen, therefore the temperature state of the tanks during the tests was simulated only for this case. In order to determine the applicability of the method developed, the cooling time of large-sized containers was estimated by cooling a hydrogen tank, which by its dimensions is typical for an advanced medium-class second stage launcher, to 20 K by gaseous helium.

To the question about remote sensing of the earth for precision farming tasks and assessment of the consequences of techno-environmental events

Some issues of the use of unmanned aircraft and space vehicles in monitoring the consequences of technical and environmental events and precision farming are considered. The proposed technology is aimed at improving the recognition accuracy of infrastructure objects with obtaining the numerical values of their 3D coordinates. The aim of the research is to improve the quality of monitoring using neural network identification and classification of objects in multi-zone satellite images obtained from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Research includes both theoretical research and applied problem solving. The mathematical basis of image processing is the image recognition computer. Practical research is based on experimentation, software implementation, testing of algorithms and technology. An effective method of video surveillance of the territory has been improved. The task of the authors' research is to improve the accuracy of objects recognition on the earth's surface (specific infrastructure objects, the sky, the state of vegetation of agricultural land). The authors have experience in this area. The solution to this problem occurs simultaneously in two directions. The first direction: the technical result is ensured by the fact that the technology offers the use of a UAV equipped with two video cameras. The second direction is the use of scientific idea consisting in the development of a method for joint computer processing of digital and analog images obtained from UAVs, as well as quasi-simultaneous and reusable multi-zone satellite images. A new result of the research is the developed data structure for storing the model of the recognition process, which allows to jointly save dissimilar characteristics and membership functions of different types in the same tables

Power Bus Management Techniques for Space Missions in Low Earth Orbit

In space vehicles, the typical configurations for the Solar Array Power Regulators in charge of managing power transfer from the solar array to the power bus are quite different from the corresponding devices in use for terrestrial applications. A thorough analysis is reported for the most popular approaches, namely Sequential Switching Shunt Regulation and parallel-input Pulse Width Modulated converters with Maximum Power Point Tracking. Their performance is compared with reference to a typical mission in low Earth orbit, highlighting the respective strengths and weaknesses. A novel solar array managing technique, the Sequential Maximum Power Tracking, is also introduced in the trade-off and was demonstrated able to boost energy harvesting, especially in the presence of mismatching in the solar array. It also can achieve top levels of reliability using a rather simple control hardware. Its operation was verified both by a Matlab–Simulink model and by an experimental breadboard.

Experimental Arrangement for Testing the Effectiveness of Lead Glass for Shielding Against Ionizing Radiation in Low Earth Orbit for Future Space Vehicles

The present times are exhilarating, full of possibilities, which humans, just a century ago, would deem impossible. One of them is space travel: an effort to step one foot in the vast cosmic ocean. Through this experimental arrangement, we want to make the journey a little bit affordable, easier, and most importantly, more enjoyable. The future of transportation is in space. The future space vehicle needs a material that is transparent, cheap, and safe by blocking ionizing radiation. Lead glass which is abundantly found on earth and is cheap is proved to be effective in shielding ionizing radiation. The problem is that it is tested in the earth’s environment for less energy radiation. Our experiment arrangement is designed to test the effectiveness of lead glass and if effective, the thickness of lead glass required for effective shielding of skin cells and microdrive. The experiment is designed as such to accommodate the whole setup in a cube of 3cm*3cm*3cm, so that experiment will be portable enough and easy to transport in low earth orbit This paper, however, doesn’t address the structural engineering solutions regarding implementation of lead glass as the material for space vehicles. Keywords: Ionizing radiation, radiation shielding, lead glass, low earth orbit, future space vehicles