Study on Mutagenic Effect of Space Flight in Two-line Sterile Rice

Seeds of two-line sterile rice cultivars Zhu 1S and Lu 18S were carried into space by ＂Shijian 8＂ breeding recoverable satellite, then planted in ground. Mutagenic effects from space induction were compared with those from y-irradiation and complex processing of space induction and y-irradiation. The results showed that agronomic effect was stimulated in Mo progenies of the two-line sterile rice varieties treated by space flight, and their radiosensitivities to the irradiation of space flight performed non-sensitive. The order of mutation frequency was determined to be SP ＋ γ 〉 γ 〉 SP in M2 generation. And a series of mutated elites（individuals） were screened. Physiological indices of mutants screened like the activity of protective enzymes were measured to explore the physiological and biochemical basis of biological effect in space environment to two-line sterile rice. The results of this study show that space mutation breeding is an effective novel mean for breeding.

Effects of Space Flight on Expression of Key Proteins in Rice Leaves

As a unique form of abiotic stress, the environmental conditions of outer space are expected to induce changes in plant genomes, proteomes and metabolic pathways. However, the effect of outer space conditions on the overall physiology of plants at the protein level has yet to be reported. To investigate the effects of outer space conditions on the growth-and development-related physiological processes and metabolic pathways of rice different stages, the seeds of rice variety DN423 were sent into orbit for 12.5 d aboard the SJ-10 Returning Satellite, and then the seedlings of both treated and control rice were compared at the three-leaf stage(TLS) and tillering stage(TS). In addition to comparing plant growth and reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels, seedling proteomes were also compared using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation(i TRAQ). Space flight increased TLS plant height by 20%, reduced and increased ROS levels of the TLS and TS seedlings, respectively, and affected the expression of 36 and 323 proteins in TLS and TS leaves, respectively. Furthermore, the functions of the differentially abundant proteins were mainly associated with metabolism, energy, and protein synthesis and degradation. These results suggested that the exposure of seeds to outer space conditions affects the subsequent abundance of key signaling proteins, gene expression, and the processes of protein synthesis and degradation, thereby affecting metabolic processes and promoting adaptation to the abiotic stress of outer space. As such, the present study sheds light on the effects of space flight on plants and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of extraterrestrial biology.

Thermal comfort and thermoregulation in manned space flight

Exposure to thermal environment is one of the main concerns for manned space exploration. By focusing on the works performed on thermoregulation at microgravity or simulated microgravity, we endeavored to review the investigation on space thermal environmental physiology. First of all, the application of medical requirements for the crew module design from normal thermal comfort to accidental thermal emergencies in a space craft will be addressed. Then, alterations in the autonomic and behavioral temperature regulation caused by the effect of weightlessness both in space flight and its simulation on the ground are also discussed. Furthermore, countermeasures like exercise training, simulated natural ventilation, encouraged drink, etc., in the protection of thermoregulation during space flight is presented. Finally, the challenge of space thermal environment physiology faced in the future is figured out.

Recent Development in the Space Utility System of China's Manned Space Flight Program

This paper briefly introduces the history of China's Manned Space Flight Program and concludes the experiments done since 2008,namely,a small satellite and a material science experiment.An outlook of future Chinese Space Station is also described at the end.

Physiological Response of Space Flight Mutation New Strains of Festuca arundinacea to High Temperature Stress and Comprehensive Evaluation

[Objective] The paper was to understand the physiological response of space flight mutation new strains of Festuca arundinacea to high temperature stress. [Method] The influence of high temperature stress on eco-physiological characteristics of 11 F. arundinacea materials was studied in a pot experiment.Physiological and biochemical indexes,including soluble protein content,superoxide dismutase( SOD),peroxidase( POD) and catalase( CAT) activities,were measured and analyzed once every 4 d for a total of three times. Subordinate function and grey rational analysis were used to comprehensively evaluate the heat resistance of 11 materials. [Result] The soluble protein content decreased with the extension of heat resistance stress,while SOD,POD and CAT activities showed an upward trend. The high temperature resistance of 11 F. arundinacea materials was evaluated by subordinate function method. The resistance order was SP5-85> SP5-60 > SP5-71 > SP5-42 > SP5-94 > SP5-7 > SP5-88 > F. arundinacea cv Shuicheng > SP5-5 > SP5-89 = F. arundinacea cv Qiancao No. 1. The relational order of various heat resistance indexes and heat resistance obtained by grey rational analysis was SOD > CAT > POD > soluble protein content. [Conclusion]The result provides a theoretical basis for stress physiology and stress breeding of cold season grass in southwest region.

Space Flight, Astronautics and Light Barrier

Amazing achievements and accomplishments of space science and technologies in the past half-century have profoundly affected all disciplines of natural science and engineering. By the end of 20(th) Century, man or man-made spacecrafts landed, or approached and surveyed all planets of solar system and their moons except Pluto. Biologists believe that life may emerge and evolve wherever liquid water exists. No liquid water is ever found yet on all planets and their moons in Solar System except for our Earth. Our mother planet turned out to be the only life-supporting oasis within 4 light years of the Milky Way. It is suggested in this article that time has come for science and engineering communities to study and prepare interstellar flight of manned or unmanned spacecrafts beyond Solar System. Four issues are to be addressed as prerequisite for such flight, namely, detailed survey of nearby space beyond Solar System, design of nuclear fusion rocket engine, long-sustainable on-board life-supporting system and breakthrough of the light barrier.

Space Flight Validation of Design and Engineering of the ZDPS-1A Pico-satellite

The ZDPS-1A pico-satellites are the first satellites in China within the 1-10 kg mass range that are successfully operated on orbit. Unlike common pico-satellites, they are designed to be ＂larger but stronger＂ with more powerful platforms and unique payloads so as to bear a better promise for real applications. Through their space flight mission, the functionality and perform- ance of the two flight models are tested on orbit and validated to be mostly normal and in consistency with design and ground tests with only several inconforming occasions. Moreover, they have worked properly on orbit for one year so far, well exceed- ing their life expectancy of three months. Therefore, the space flight mission has reached all its goals, and verified that the design concept and the engineering process of the pico-satellites are sufficient in allowing them the desired functionality and perform- ance in, and the adaption to the launch procedure and the low-Earth orbit space environment. In the foreseeable future, the plat- form together with the design concept and the engineering process of the pico-satellites are expected to be applied to more com- plicated real space applications.

Acclimation during spaceflight:effects on human emotion

Recently,studies on the extent to which spaceflight affects the psychology of individuals has received attention.In order to reveal the mental challenges that humans face in space,we need practical viewpoints to integrate the psychological effects,behavior,performance and the environment itself for space exploration.The present review discusses the individual variables related to space psychology and manned spaceflight,in addition to their growing trends.These items include patterns of emotional changes in extreme environments and the approaches to evaluating emotions.Moreover,the review concludes with suggested future research on emotion during spaceflight and its analogs.These data and information are needed to plan for the exploration of the Moon and Mars,along with contributions to the construction of the international space station(ISS) and astronaut training.

Secondary metabolism in simulated microgravity and space flight

Space flight experiments have suggested that microgravity can affect cellular processes in microorganisms.To simulate the microgravity environment on earth,several models have been developed and applied to examine the effect of microgravity on secondary metabolism.In this paper,studies of effects of space flight on secondary metabolism are exemplified and reviewed along with the advantages and disadvantages of the current models used for simulating microgravity.This discussion is both significant and timely to researchers considering the use of simulated microgravity or space flight to explore effects of weightlessness on secondary metabolism.

Space Flight Puts New Life Into Old Bones

John Glenn(约翰·格伦,我们不妨尊称他“格老”)是美国最年长的宇航员。这名36年前作为美国第一个进入地球轨道的宇航员,如今又以77岁的古稀高龄,兼有美国参议员的显赫身份,到太空作了一周的“逍遥游”。然而,此游并不“逍遥”:他浑身插满实验管、感应器,还要不断地抽血、验尿、吞药丸。本文对此情况也略有介绍。笔者要补充的材料是:当Glenn决定以77岁高龄重返太空后,“在家中引来了一片反对声”。可是,他还是毅然重返太空,去当一位医学科学实验的对象,去做人体健康和衰老的过程的研究,被誉为“为实现人类长寿而努力的探索者”。他的崇高精神,令人敬佩！

China’s First Manned Space Flight Ends in Success

2003年10月15日9时9分50秒,我国自行研制的“神舟”五号载人飞船,在酒泉卫星发射中心发射升空,准确进入预定轨道,本文从10月16日晨“神舟”五号顺利返回地面的消息谈起,夹叙夹议,可读性强,文中出现了一个新词taikonaut,其中taiko类似于汉语“太空”的拼音,其后半部分naut系英语单词cosmonaut(宇航员)之后缀,中国的太空人促生了一个英语新词!其含义是“太空航行员”或称“太空员”。此词的发明人是马来西亚华人,在一些网络技术论坛上,他首创了此词。

Effects of space flight on DNA mutation and secondary metabolites of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.)

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) seeds were flown on a recoverable satellite for 18 days(the average radiation dose in the flight recovery module was 0.102 mGy/d, the distance from flight apogee to earth was 350 km, gravity 10-6). After returning to earth, the seeds were germinated and grown to maturity. The parallel ground-based seeds were also planted under the same conditions. The leaves of licorice were used for inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis and the two main secondary me-tabolites in one-year-old roots were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among 22 random primers used in this experiment, 6 primers generated different DNA band types. Analysis of HPLC showed that the content of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and liquiritin (LQ) in the roots from seeds flown in space was respectively 2.19, 1.18 times higher than that of the control group. The results demonstrated that the extraterrestrial environment induced mutagenic effects on licorice and affected its secondary metabolites. These changes indicated that extraterrestrial orbit is possible means of breeding of licorice so as to preserve this endangered medicinal plant.

Are We Learning as Much as Possible from Spaceflight to Better Understand Health and Risks to Health on Earth, as Well as in Space?

The objective of this review is to discuss the changes in human biology and physiology that occur when humans, who evolved on Earth for millions of years, now are subjected to space flight for extended periods of time, and how detailing such changes associated with space flight could help better understand risks for loss of health on Earth. Space programs invest heavily in the selection and training of astronauts. They also are investing in maintaining the health of astronauts, both for extensive stays in low earth orbit on ISS, and in preparation for deep space missions in the future. This effort is critical for the success of such missions as the N is small and the tasks needed to be performed in a hostile environment are complex and demanding. However, space is a unique environment, devoid of many of the “boundary conditions” that shaped human evolution (e.g. 1 g environment, magnetic fields, background radiation, oxygen, water, etc). Therefore, for humans to be successful in space, we need to learn to adapt and minimize the impact of an altered environment on human health. Conversely, we can also learn considerably from this altered environment for life on earth. The question is, are we getting the maximal information from life in space to learn about like on earth? The answer is likely No, and as such, our “Return on Investment” is not as great as it could be. Even though the number of astronauts is not large, what we can learn from them could help shape new questions for research focused on health for those on earth, as well is contribute to “precision health” from the study of astronaut diversity. This latter effort would contribute to both the health of astronauts identifying risks, as well as contribute to health on earth via better understanding of the human genome and epigenome, as well as factors contributing to risk for diseases on earth, particularly as individuals age and regulatory systems become altered. Better use of the International Space Station, and similar platforms in the future, could provide critical insights in aging-associated risks for loss of health on Earth, as well as promote new approaches to using precision medicine to overcome threats to health while in space. To achieve this goal will likely require advanced approaches to collecting such information and use of more systems biology, systems physiology approaches to integrate the information.

Aerodynamic map for soft and hard hypersonic level flight in near space

In this note, we design a velocity-altitude map for hypersonic level flight in near space of altitude 20-100 km. This map displays aerodynamic-related parameters associated with near space level flight, schematically or quantitatively. Various physical conditions for the near-space level flight are then characterized, including laminar or turbulent flow, rarefaction or continuous flow, aerodynamic heating, as well as conditions for sustaining level flight with and without orbital effect. This map allows one to identify conditions to have soft flight or hard flight, and this identification would be helpful for making correct planning on detailed studies of aerodynamics or making initial design of near space vehicles.

A Space-Flight Ship Travelling by a Plasma Rocket Engine from the Earth Ground to the Moon

Since a thrust of an ion rocket engine is much weaker than the one of a chemical fuel engine, nowadays, ion engines are used mainly in spaces where gravities are very weak. Here, as a powerful plasma rocket to make a heavy ship get out from the gravity-sphere of the earth without relying on an atomic power rocket, an ion-velocity booster is investigated. It is a main challenge how to protect the engine wall from the melting due to collisions of ions which grow into high-energy particles.

搭载实践十号卫星的不同小麦品种突变体鉴定与分析

为探讨卫星搭载对小麦农艺性状、高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)和分子水平变异的影响,本研究利用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)技术、简单重复序列(SSR)标记技术对实践十号返回式科学实验卫星搭载周麦18、周麦22和汶农14小麦品种干种子的SP3代农艺性状变异和SP5代突变系的HMW-GS和SSR分子标记多态性进行鉴定与分析。结果发现,航天诱变SP3代农艺性状与其野生型存在明显差异,且不同小麦品种对太空环境的敏感性不同。航天搭载能够诱发高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基和基因组DNA发生变异,发现3个小麦品种高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基的变异频率分别为2.15%、3.66%和5.21%,其中汶农14突变体HMW-GS亚基变异频率最高。21个SSR分子标记检测结果显示,周麦18和周麦22的航天诱变突变体与其野生型差异标记数量均不超过2个,而汶农14航天诱变的部分突变体与其野生型间差异标记数量较多,且株高和穗型等性状发生了遗传分离。综上,航天诱变使小麦基因组和蛋白组发生变异,所创制的优异特色突变体可为小麦育种的遗传改良和功能基因的研究利用提供丰富的材料基础。

Cytological Effects of Space Environment on Different Genotype of Rice

For exploring the biological effect of space environment on different genotype of rice seeds, the cytological effects of M1 generation after space flight were studied. Twelve different genotypes of rice seeds which belong to different climate ecotype （early, medium and late） of indica and japonica were onboard ＂Shenzhou 4＂ spaceship for 162 h. After recovered the total number of mitosis cells and chromosomal aberration were observed. In all the lines the mitotic index （MIs） of space flight are much higher than control, which indicates the stimulate effect of space environment. The cell rate of chromosomal aberration （CRCA） of space flight is also much higher than control, but varies from line to line. It indicates that biological effect of space environment on rice seed dependents not only on flight duration but also on rice genotype. The radiosensitivities of different lines were also discussed according to CRCAs.

文献《Validation of commercial fiber optic components for aerospace environments》点评

文章是对一篇SPIE会议文献《用于太空环境的商业光纤器件地面验证方法》的点评。介绍了商业光纤部件从市场采购到准备作为太空飞行部件使用前,在空间环境作用(包括真空、热、振动、辐射)下的地面工艺性合格鉴定试验技术。这项技术由NASA哥达德空间飞行中心(GSFC)创立并命名为"工艺技术有效性保证法",该项技术还包括如何建立商用光纤产品制造工艺性合格鉴定试验验收标准或准则方面的内容。"点评"还针对文献中3个实例之一"水星激光高度仪"试验件的热与振动环境试验规范、试验夹具等重要试验技术信息进行详细介绍。

SPACE CARGO TRANSPORT BAGS THROUGH MEMBRANE WATER TREATMENT ELEMENTS TO SPACE ARCHITECTURE BUILDING ELEMENT:A TOTAL PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY AND LIFE CYCLE DESIGN OPTIMIZATION EXPERIMENT

The CTB Water Wall project is a maximal product life cycle utilization concept study by members of the space architecture design community.Its function is to demonstrate a human space activity Cargo Transport Bag(CTB)that becomes a primary water recycling membrane element after delivery of cargo,and then a permanent architectural building block for sustainable space habitation after its use in water treatment is complete.As such,it is intended as an experiment in radical life cycle product optimization in an extremely mass-constrained application environment(human space operations).It also introduces some fundamentally interesting concepts in architectural use of waste materials in extreme environments.Finally,it is in some ways a simple,tactile and visual demonstration of how far sustainable product design can be taken,if the motivation and technical justification are present.

SpaceX 公司星舰航天器载人深空探测任务浅析

针对星舰航天器载人深空探测任务,概述了系统基本情况,介绍了SpaceX公司针对该系统支持载人月球、载人火星探测任务的初步方案,分别对星舰航天器飞行期间和星表停留期间的能力及性能需求进行分析,考虑实际工程情况估算了任务规模并总结了关键技术,最后针对载人深空探测提出了几点思考与建议,可为后续工程规划及方案论证提供参考。