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This work (summarizing the results of experimentation with Closed Ecological System BIOS-3, Krasnoyarsk, and Russian Siberia in 1989-1998) is an attempt to analyze the process of plant biomass incineration as a source of carbon dioxide for plant photosynthesis and growth and its effects on closed system stability. It is common knowledge that incineration of phytomass supplies into the atmosphere of a Closed Ecological System (CES) not carbon dioxide only, but also gaseous toxic agents inhibiting photosynthetic processes. Mathematical modeling has demonstrated that when the limit value of intensity of production processes and matter turnover specific for every closed ecosystem is exceeded the gaseous toxic agents destroy the system. This value is proportional to CES buffer absorption capacity and is non-linearly dependent on the tolerance of the plant component to the impact of flue gases.

The objective of this paper is to detail a proposal for an Androgynous Docking Airlock/Utility Module (ADAM) that would allow extravehicular (EVA) crews, working from the Orion spacecraft, to avoid depressurizing the command module of the Orion vehicle for planned EVA repair, maintenance and interdiction of orbital structures. Unlike the Space Shuttle, Russian Soyuz vehicle or the Chinese Shenzhou manned spacecraft, the proposed Orion space vehicle has no airlock. This necessitates the depressurizing of the entire Command Module cabin during EVA activity. It also means that all crewmembers will have to wear space suits during contingency and planned EVAs. This inordinately dangerous situation will require all crewmembers to be exposed to the space vacuum for as much as seven hours or more if a working EVA becomes necessary.

This work represents an extended analysis of the mathematical model which was originally developed in an attempt to analyze the process of plant biomass incineration as a source of carbon dioxide for plant photosynthesis and growth and its effects on closed ecological system stability, Mathematical modeling has demonstrated that when the limit value of intensity of production processes and matter turnover specific for every closed ecosystem is exceeded, the gaseous toxic agents destroy the system. In order to illustrate further the performance and application of the proposed model, the hypothetical optimized ecological life support system was investigated, The preliminary results suggest appropriate system parameters for further engineering implementation. The results of the theoretical analysis are verified and supported by quantitative estimates from the Russian Closed Ecosystem (CES) BIOS-3 which was tested for extended life support between 1970 and 1990.

The FAA recently published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that proposes expanding the requirements for aircraft encountering icing conditions. Recent high-profile cases of engine flameouts attributed to airborne ice crystal ingestion have focused attention on detecting and quantifying not only liquid water droplets but also airborne ice crystals. In response to these events and the FAA publication, Goodrich is developing a lidar-based airborne optical icing conditions detector (OICD) that distinguishes ice crystals from liquid water droplets using circularly polarized light. The sensor is also capable of measuring optical extinction of a cloud, a parameter that can be used to quantify water content. This paper discusses recent OICD test results for a wide variety of clouds generated in the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) and encountered during flight test campaigns with the University of North Dakota (UND.)

Over a one-year period beginning in March, 2005, and with a materials budget of approximately $25,000, the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium developed a pressurized planetary space suit concept demonstrator in conjunction with institutions of higher education across the state. This project sought to combine educational instruction in space suit design and manufacturing while simultaneously developing a usable test article incorporating technical approaches appropriate to the project's schedule and budgetary constraints. The North Dakota Experimental (NDX) Suit serves as a testbed for new planetary suit materials and component assemblies. Designed around a dual-plane enclosure ring built on a composite hard upper torso (HUT), the NDX is designed for an operating differential pressure of 26.2 kPa. In order to test a two-chamber suit concept, the NDX features a neck dam assembly that divides the helmet breathing cavity from the body below the neck.

The North Dakota Citation Research Aircraft is a Cessna Citation II twin-engine fan-jet aircraft modified to be an atmospheric research platform that has been used on many field projects since the 1970s. The typical sampling speed of the modified Citation II is 160 knots indicated air speed (IAS), with sampling at altitudes up to 12.1 km (40,000 ft). The Citation Research Aircraft was operated by the University of North Dakota (UND) for many years but is now operated by Weather Modification International (WMI) of Fargo, North Dakota. WMI and UND together provide a unique test facility that is capable of deploying a wide range of instrumentation. WMI has the experience to install the custom instrumentation required for a specific field project and the expertise to conduct the most demanding aircraft sampling, including thunderstorm in-situ measurements.