欧洲微重力研究和用户支持的现状及展望

CURRENT STATUS AND PERSPECTIVE ON MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH AND USERS SUPPORT IN EUROPE

本文综述了欧洲在微重力状态下对材料科学、流体科学和生物科学的研究以及用户支持的主要情况。从简短的历史回顾开始,分析了欧洲主要的空间飞行试验,以及以长远目标为重点的未来发展情况。叙述了进行地面研究的指导思想,分析了所使用的地面实验设施(落塔,抛物线飞行,探空火箭等)。此外,还简要地介绍了微重力下的实验操作技术(遥科学,机器人等)。

This paper reviews the major research and user support activities performed in Europe in the fields of microgravity Materials, Fluids and Life Sciences. Starting from a brief historical introduction, the major European missions are analysed, the future developments depicted with a special emphasis on the European long term scientific goals. The concept of ground based research is introduced and the ground facilities (i.e. drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets) used are analysed. Furthermore, a special glance will be given to the activites aimed to develop specific operational techniques to be used in micro-gravity (i.e. telescience, robotics, etc.) .