Long-duration Flight Research Articles

The innovation of an aerodynamic-heat-harvest TEG considering multi-interface contact effect for a high-speed flight vehicle

High-speed flight vehicles generate large amounts of aerodynamic heat during long-duration flights, so the aerodynamic heat harvest based on thermoelectric (TE) conversion is one of the most promising thermal management techniques. In this work, a heat-harvest thermoelectric generator (TEG) is innovatively created and evaluated with the fully consideration of multiple heterogeneous interfaces effect. At first, a TEG including a force-bearing frame, twenty-seven couples of cylindrical TE legs, fifty-four couples of electrodes, two substrates, an insulation layer and two types of heterogeneous interfaces is designed and fabricated to possess the heat-harvest and force-bear functions simultaneously. Secondly, the surface topography of TE legs and electrodes are reconstructed based on the contact-type measurement and W-M function, numerical models of thermal and electrical contact resistances are established and validated by in-direct experimental measurements, and the influences of pressure, temperature and clearance medium are clarified. Thirdly, the TE transfer and conversion processes of the generator is analyzed considering the micro-scale contact resistances; the TE and mechanical performances under the vehicle’s typical aerodynamic conditions are numerically and experimentally evaluated, and the maximum voltage and output power of TEG are revealed to be 6.978 V and 12.41 W, respectively.

Output power prediction of stratospheric airship solar array based on surrogate model under global wind field

Stratospheric airships are lighter-than-air vehicles capable of continuous flying for months. The energy balance of the airship is the key to long-duration flights. The stratospheric airship is entirely powered by the solar array. It is necessary to accurately predict the output power of the array for any flight state. Because of the uneven solar radiation received by the solar array, the traditional model based on components has a slow simulation speed. In this study, a data-driven surrogate modeling approach for prediction the output power of the solar array is proposed. The surrogate model is trained using the samples obtained from the high-accuracy simulation model. By using the input parameter preprocessor, the accuracy of the surrogate model in predicting the output power of the solar array is improved to 98.65%. In addition, the predictive speed of the surrogate model is ten million times faster than the traditional simulation model. Finally, the surrogate model is used to predict the energy balance of stratospheric airships flying throughout the year under actual global wind fields.

Research on insect-like long endurance hovering double-wing FMAV prototype

PurposeEndurance time is an important factor limiting the progress of flapping-wing aircraft. In this study, this paper developed a prototype of a double-wing flapping-wing micro air vehicle (FMAV) that mimics insect-scale flapping wing for flight. Besides, novel methods for optimal selection of motor, wing length and battery to achieve prolonged endurance are proposed. The purpose of this study is increasing the flight time of double-wing FMAV by optimizing the flapping mechanism, wings, power sources, and energy sources.Design/methodology/approachThe 20.4 g FMAV prototype with wingspan of 21.5 cm used an incomplete gear flapping wing mechanism. The motor parameters related to the lift-to-power ratio of the prototype were first identified and analyzed, then theoretical analysis was conducted to analyze the impact of wing length and flapping frequency on the lift-to-power ratio, followed by practical testing to validate the theoretical findings. After that, analysis and testing examined the impact of battery energy density and efficiency on endurance. Finally, the prototype’s endurance duration was calculated and tested.FindingsThe incomplete gear facilitated 180° symmetric flapping. The motor torque constant showed a positive correlation with the prototype’s lift-to-power ratio. It was also found that the prototype achieved the best lift-to-power ratio when using 100 mm wings.Originality/valueA gear-driven flapping mechanism was designed, capable of smoothly achieving 180° symmetric flapping. Besides, factors affecting long-duration flight – motor, wings and battery – were identified and a theoretical flight duration analysis method was developed. The experimental result proves that the FMAV could achieve the longest hovering time of 705 s, outperforming other existing research on double-wing FMAV for improving endurance.

A rule-based online energy management strategy for long-endurance stratospheric airships

Stratospheric airships are typically equipped with photovoltaic energy systems to ensure consistent and controlled long-duration flights. To maximize the utilization of energy generated by the airship's solar array for mission requirements while maintaining energy balance in a computation-efficient manner, we analyzed the characteristics of global optimal energy profiles obtained through the pseudospectral method and distilled them into a rule-based energy management strategy. The rule-based strategy simplifies solving large-scale nonlinear optimization problems posed by pseudospectral method into solving problems for optimal rule logic thresholds, which greatly enhances the speed of strategy generation. Leveraging rapid strategy generation, we developed an online energy management scheme that can achieve closed-loop control by repeatedly updating the rule logic thresholds based on the feedback states. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed energy management strategy is more effective in utilizing energy to meet mission requirements compared to the two-phase energy management strategy from a previous study. Notably, the online energy management scheme can adapt to uncertainties such as modeling errors, rather than merely providing an open-loop plan.

Flows past airfoils for the low-Reynolds number conditions of flying in Martian atmosphere

Fixed-wing aircraft with potential for long-duration flight and efficient manoeuvrability is expected to be the next frontier of Mars surface exploration. However, the feasibility of such an aircraft demands for wing airfoil suitable for low Reynolds flight conditions. In this framework, the paper deals with the computational study of two wing sections specifically designed for Mars exploration aircraft. Two-dimensional steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations, using the computational fluid dynamics tool SU2 with the γ−Reθ transition model and the XFoil panel flow solver, are performed to address airfoils’ aerodynamics. Computational tools are validated by simulating flow past the Eppler 387 airfoil at Re∞=60×103, and comparing the results with experimental data collected in wind tunnel experiments. Aerodynamic performances of optimal wing sections are investigated at Re∞=3.4×104 by considering pressure coefficients and skin friction coefficients. The application of a literature-based correlation, specifically tailored to identify transition and reattachment locations, is extended to separation point detection. Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis conducted on the studied airfoils revealed that separation occurs within the laminar regime. Additionally, examination of turbulent shear stresses highlighted the role of airfoil curvature in counterbalancing the suction defect produced by the laminar separation bubble. This curvature-induced effect was found to play a crucial role in optimizing airfoil efficiency.

Frequency and Clinical Features of Space Headache Experienced by Astronauts During Long-Haul Space Flights.

Few anecdotal cases and 1 small retrospective study during short-duration space missions suggest that headache may occur early in flight, as part of the space motion syndrome. Whether headaches may also occur at later stages of space flights is unknown. We aimed to prospectively characterize the incidence, timing, clinical features, and management of space headaches during long-duration flights. We prospectively evaluated the occurrence, characteristics, and evolution of space headaches and the effects of treatment and countermeasures during long-haul flights with onboard questionnaires and correlated them with prevailing temperature, pressure, and ambient O2 and CO2 levels, measured within the International Space Station. In addition, we analyzed retrospective headache data from a different astronaut cohort. Headache data were reported using descriptive statistics and correlation data with intraindividual logistic regression models. Astronauts were included through (inter)national aerospace organizations. In the prospective study, 22/24 (91.7%) astronauts (mean ± SD age: 46.6 ± 6.5 years, 95.8% male) experienced ≥1 episode of headache during a total of 3,596 space days. A total of 378 episodes were reported (median 9; range 1-128) with detailed information on 189. Phenotypically, 170/189 (89.9%) episodes were tension-type headache (TTH) and 19/189 (10.1%) were migraine. Episodes in the first week differed from those in later periods in terms of phenotype (migraine 12/51 [23.5%] vs 7/138 [5.1%]; TTH 39/51 [86.5%] vs 131/138 [94.9%]; overall p = 0.0002) and accompanying symptoms: nausea: 17.6% vs 6.9%, p = 0.05; vomiting: 9.8% vs 0.7%, p = 0.005; nasal congestion: 52.9% vs 29.7%, p = 0.004; facial edema: 41.2% vs 1.4%, p < 0.001; and duration (p = 0.001). Severity and treatments were similar: acute antiheadache medication: 55.6%; other medication: 22.4%; and alternative treatments: 41.1%. Headache occurrence was not associated with temperature or ambient pressure/levels of O2 and CO2 (all p > 0.05). In the retrospective study, 23/42 (54.8%) astronauts (43.5 ± 7.2 years, 90.5% male) reported experiencing ≥1 headache episode during mission. Nasal congestion was the most common (8/33; 24.2%) accompanying symptom. Seventeen of 42 astronauts have been previously described. Astronauts during space flights frequently experience headaches. These most often have characteristics of TTHs but sometimes have migrainous features, particularly during the first week of flight in astronauts without a history of recurrent headaches before or after the space flight.

Team Coordination Style Is an Adaptive, Emergent Property of Interactions Between Critical Care Air Transport Team Personnel

ObjectiveCritical Care Air Transport (CCAT) teams care for critically ill or injured patients during long-duration flights. Despite the differences between the CCAT domain and a more traditional clinical setting, CCAT clinicians are not explicitly trained how to coordinate care in the aircraft environment. We characterized the team coordination patterns adopted by CCAT teams and explored any links between team coordination style and performance. MethodsThis retrospective study used transcripts from 91 CCAT teams as they completed simulated patient care scenarios during an advanced training course. Qualitative and quantitative measures were used to characterize team behavior. ResultsVocalized content varied by team role, with physicians acting as leaders. The type of content verbalized by each team role depended on the team coordination style. The team coordination style and the content of vocalized messages were not affected by prior team member deployment or the characteristics of particular scenarios, and the team coordination style did not predict measures related to patient status. ConclusionIndividual team member coordination behaviors vary depending on the coordination style used by the team as a whole. Coordination style appears to arise from the interactions among individual team members rather than in response to situational factors external to the team.

X-Band Microstrip Array Antenna for UAV Onboard Full Circularly Polarized Synthetic Aperture Radar

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles onboard synthetic aperture radar (UAV-SAR) have been developed by many institutions to provide high-resolution, real-time data acquisition and local emergency observation. The SAR system remains the issue to realize the system with the high resolution, lightweight, minimalized payload, power efficiency, high altitude operation, extreme environment, long-duration flight, and full polarimetric mode. For this purpose, our research group plans to develop the X-band circularly polarized UAV-SAR for disaster and environmental monitoring using the 25 kg payload of the UAV. The SAR system requires a broadband antenna and full circular polarization for precise observations. The antenna for the SAR systems requires a small size, lightweight, high gain, broadband for chirp pulse, and good antenna isolation and axial ratio (AR). For this purpose, we proposed the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$4\times4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ax-shaped radiator array antenna. The proposed antenna was simulated, fabricated, and measured in an anechoic chamber. Furthermore, the indoor polarimetric scattering SAR experiment was conducted using canonical targets to investigate the polarimetric SAR capability of the system with the proposed antenna. The result proves the performance of circularly polarized SAR.

Detection of turbulence occurrences from temperature, pressure, and position measurements under superpressure balloons

Abstract. This article deals with the detection of small-scale turbulence from in situ meteorological measurements performed under superpressure balloons (SPBs). These balloons allow long-duration flights (several months) at a prerequisite height level. The data set is gathered from the Strateole-2 probationary campaign during which eights SPBs flew in the tropical tropopause layer at altitudes of around 19 and 20.5 km from November 2019 to March 2020. Turbulence is not directly measured by the instrument set onboard the SPBs. Nonetheless, there is the potential to derive information about the occurrence of turbulence from the temporally well-resolved measurements of pressure, temperature, and position. It constitutes a challenge to extract the aforementioned information from a measurement set that was not designed for quantifying turbulence, and the paper explains the methodology developed to overcome this difficulty. It is observed that SPBs oscillate quasi-periodically around their equilibrium positions. The oscillation periods, which are 220 s on average with a range of 130 to 500 s, are close to but noticeably smaller than the Brunt–Väisälä period (∼300 s). The amplitude of these vertical motions is ∼±15 m, inducing large fluctuations in all quantities, whether measured (e.g., pressure, temperature and position) or inferred (e.g., density and potential temperature). The relationships between the changes in these quantities and the vertical displacements of the balloons are used to infer properties of the flow in which the SPBs drift. In the case of active turbulence, the vertical stratification as well as the wind shear are likely to be reduced by mixing. Hence, the increments of potential temperature, δθ, and of the vertical displacements of the balloon, δzB, are expected to be uncorrelated because ∂θ/∂z→0. Moreover, the local vertical gradients of measured quantities, temperature (T) and horizontal velocities (u and v), are estimated from the covariance of the increments of the considered quantity with δzB. The Richardson number of the flow is deduced. Several binary indexes (true or false) to describe the state of the flow, laminar or turbulent, are evaluated. These turbulence indexes, based either on correlations between δθ and δzB or on estimates of the local Richardson number, are found to be consistent, as they differ in less than 3 % of cases. The flow is observed to be turbulent for about 5 % of the time, with strong inhomogeneities along the longitude.

Dynamic Modeling and Control for Tilt-Rotor UAV Based on 3D Flow Field Transient CFD

The tilt-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (TRUAV) is characterized by both multi-rotor vertical takeoff or landing and fixed-wing long-duration flight. Not only the structure of TRUAV is complex, but also the aerodynamic coupling is severe. Especially when the TRUAV is in the transition mode, the rotor flow field and wake are complicated. The abnormal variation of the aerodynamic force of the rotor blades will directly affect the balance and manipulation of the aircraft. The downwash flow generated by the rotor spiral propeller tip vortex interference will impact the wing from every direction, forming a blocked three-dimensional effect flow field on the wing surface, which seriously affects the stability of the UAV. In this paper, the transient CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) numerical simulation was applied to examine the flow fields of the fuselage and rotor under the transition modal of TRUAV as well as the aerodynamic disturbance. In addition, the dynamics model of the TRUAV was established based on the change of the tilt angle state, and considering the effect of rotor slip flow, we analyzed the three-dimensional flow field distribution of TRUAV in the transition mode under the aerodynamic disturbance of the fuselage and rotor, and we identified each aerodynamic parameter required for modeling. A cascade PID control strategy is designed for the TRUAV, and the results verify that the proposed TRUAV model can remain stable even when the maximum roll angle is 20 degrees. At last, the simulation results provide data support for the optimization of the TRUAV aerodynamic profile and the design of subsequent flight control methods.

Quadrotor Model for Energy Consumption Analysis

In this paper, a quadrotor dynamic model’s energy efficiency was investigated. A method for the design of the dynamic model which assures energy consumption estimation was presented. This model was developed to analyze the energy efficiency of the quadrotor during each maneuver. A medium-class quadrotor (4.689 kg) was used as a test platform. Thrust force correction factors obtained with FLIGHTLAB software were used to predict object behavior in forward flight. Model validation and long-duration flight tests in outdoor windy conditions are also presented. Monte-Carlo simulation was used to study the influence of uncertainties in model parameters on the simulation reliability. The developed model might be used for practical purposes (for example, energy-efficient coverage path planning).

Spaceflight-Associated Vascular Remodeling and Gene Expression in Mouse Calvaria.

Astronauts suffer from a loss of bone mass at a rate of 1.5% per month from lower regions of the body during the course of long-duration (>30 days) spaceflight, a phenomenon that poses important risks for returning crew. Conversely, a gain in bone mass may occur in non-load bearing regions of the body as related to microgravity-induced cephalad fluid shift. Representing non-load bearing regions with mouse calvaria and leveraging the STS-131 (15-day) and BION-M1 (30-day) flights, we examined spatial and temporal calvarial vascular remodeling and gene expression related to microgravity exposure compared between spaceflight (SF) and ground control (GC) cohorts. We examined parasagittal capillary numbers and structures in calvaria from 16 to 23 week-old C57BL/6 female mice (GC, n = 4; SF, n = 5) from STS-131 and 19–20 week-old C57BL/6 male mice (GC, n = 6; SF, n = 6) from BION-M1 using a robust isolectin-IB4 vessel marker. We found that the vessel diameter reduces significantly in mice exposed to 15 days of spaceflight relative to control. Capillarization increases by 30% (SF vs. GC, p = 0.054) in SF mice compared to GC mice. The vessel numbers and diameter remain unchanged in BION-M1 mice calvarial section. We next analyzed the parietal pro-angiogenic (VEGFA) and pro-osteogenic gene (BMP-2, DMP1, RUNX2 and OCN) expression in BION-M1 mice using quantitative RT-PCR. VEGFA gene expression increased 15-fold while BMP-2 gene expression increased 11-fold in flight mice compared to GC. The linkage between vascular morphology and gene expression in the SF conditions suggests that angiogenesis may be important in the regulation of pathological bone growth in non-weight bearing regions of the body. Short-duration microgravity-mediated bone restructuring has implications in planning effective countermeasures for long-duration flights and extraterrestrial human habitation.

Station-keeping for high-altitude balloon with reinforcement learning

The operating altitudes of the stratospheric balloons can reach near-space altitudes of more than 20 km, where the appearance of the quasi-zero wind layer follows the seasonal rule. As unmanned aerial vehicles with application potential, the effective flight control of balloon position is crucial. This research develops a station-keeping control approach based on reinforcement learning, and the control strategy also considers the characteristics of the local wind field. Firstly, an atmospheric environment model with an uncertain wind field is established according to the analysis of the historical wind data. The model serves as a training environment for the balloon station-keeping strategy training. Secondly, the thermal model, dynamic model, and altitude control model are introduced, and an environment based on historical real wind data is developed. Thirdly, the dueling double Q-learning deep network with prioritized experience replay method is applied to the station keeping of high-altitude balloons. The Priority Experience Replay based on High-Value Samples (HVS-PER) is developed to improve the stability of strategy training. Finally, the performance of the optimal network is evaluated by the total reward, horizontal displacement, and effective working time under the uncertain wind environment. The strategy analysis also has reference to exploiting appropriate initial positions and capturing the opportunity of releasing a balloon. This work confirms that the control strategy is viable in complex and variable wind field environments and is capable of long-duration flights.

Ecomorphological variation of the Triatoma guasayana wing shape in semi-arid Chaco region

Triatoma guasayana (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), considered a secondary vector of Chagas disease, invades rural dwellings through flight dispersal during the warm season in semi-arid Chaco of Argentina. The objective of this study was to define and compare morphometrics features in the relative body size and wing shape of T. guasayana related to temperature and rainfall between spring, summer and end of summer. A total of 188 adults were collected in rural communities in the northwest of the province of Córdoba (central Argentina). Relative body size [body length (mm) / wing length (mm)] and 11 landmarks on the right wing were recorded. The temperature ( °C) and precipitation (mm) data were extracted from the MODIS sensor and Terra Climate dataset, respectively. Correlations between climatic variables and morphological variation were analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS). Males at the end of summer were smaller than those at spring or summer (F = 4.48; df = 2; p = 0.01), whereas females were similar in relative body size at all seasons (F = 0.76; df = 2; p = 0.47). The PLS in males showed a correlation between wing shape and temperature (r = 0.48; p = 0.03) and precipitation (r = 0.50; p = 0.02) while in females only the temperature was the correlation significant (r = 0.35; p = 0.03). Triatoma guasayana has elongated and thin wings in spring that become short and wide at the end of summer. The morphotype of early summer could allow sustained long-duration flights, while the morphotype of end of summer would be related to short flights, correlated with the dispersive behavior of the species. The results in this study suggest that wing morphology of T. guasayana has phenotypic plasticity, and that temperature and rainfall could be considered modulator factors during the developmental stage.

Aerial Survey Robotics in Extreme Environments: Mapping Volcanic CO2 Emissions With Flocking UAVs

We present methods for autonomous collaborative surveying of volcanic CO2 emissions using aerial robots. CO2 is a useful predictor of volcanic eruptions and an influential greenhouse gas. However, current CO2 mapping methods are hazardous and inefficient, as a result, only a small fraction of CO2 emitting volcanoes have been surveyed. We develop algorithms and a platform to measure volcanic CO2 emissions. The Dragonfly Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform is capable of long-duration CO2 collection flights in harsh environments. We implement two survey algorithms on teams of Dragonfly robots and demonstrate that they effectively map gas emissions and locate the highest gas concentrations. Our experiments culminate in a successful field test of collaborative rasterization and gradient descent algorithms in a challenging real-world environment at the edge of the Valles Caldera supervolcano. Both algorithms treat multiple flocking UAVs as a distributed flexible instrument. Simultaneous sensing in multiple UAVs gives scientists greater confidence in estimates of gas concentrations and the locations of sources of those emissions. These methods are also applicable to a range of other airborne concentration mapping tasks, such as pipeline leak detection and contaminant localization.

Cognitive performance, fatigue, emotional, and physiological strains in simulated long-duration flight missions

ABSTRACT Pilots in long-duration flight missions in single-seat aircraft may be affected by fatigue. This study determined associations between cognitive performance, emotions and physiological activation and deactivation – measured by heart rate variability (HRV) – in a simulated 11-h flight mission in the 39 Gripen aircraft. Twelve participants volunteered for the study. Perceived fatigue was measured by the Samn-Perelli Fatigue Index (SPFI). Cognitive performance was measured by non-executive and executive tasks. Emotions were assessed by the Circumplex Affect Space instrument. HRV was considered in relation to the cognitive tasks in four time points – Hours 3, 5, 7, 9 – and their associations with emotional ratings. Results indicated a decrease in performance in the non-executive task after approximately 7 h. This result was correlated with self-reported measures of fatigue. HRV, assessed by indices of parasympathetic modulation, remained unchanged for both non-executive and executive tasks over time (p > .05 for all). Significant correlations were observed between emotions and HRV; with increased boredom, increased passiveness, decreased stimulation, and decreased activeness, HRV indicators increased (p < .05). This suggests that a low self-regulatory effort for maintaining performance in these conditions was prevalent and that pilots could adapt to some degree to the demands and fatigue of long-duration missions.

Long-read sequencing reveals increased occurrence of genomic variants and adenosine methylation in Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 after long-duration flight exposure onboard the International Space Station

AbstractBacillus pumilus SAFR-032, an endospore-forming bacterial strain, was investigated to determine its methylation pattern (methylome) change, compared to ground control, after direct exposure to space conditions onboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 1.5 years. The resulting ISS-flown and non-flown strains were sequenced using the Nanopore MinION and an in-house method and pipeline to identify methylated positions in the genome. Our analysis indicated genomic variants and m6A methylation increased in the ISS-flown SAFR-032. To complement the broader omics investigation and explore phenotypic changes, ISS-flown and non-flown strains were compared in a series of laboratory-based chamber experiments using an X-ray irradiation source (doses applied at 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 Gy); results show a potentially higher survival fraction of ISS-flown DS2 at the two highest exposures. Taken together, results from this study document lasting changes to the genome by methylation, potentially triggered by conditions in spaceflight, with functional consequences for the resistance of bacteria to stressors expected on long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit.

How Birds During Migration Maintain (Oxidative) Balance

Animals dynamically adjust their physiology and behavior to survive in changing environments, and seasonal migration is one life stage that demonstrates these dynamic adjustments. As birds migrate between breeding and wintering areas, they incur physiological demands that challenge their antioxidant system. Migrating birds presumably respond to these oxidative challenges by up-regulating protective endogenous systems or accumulating dietary antioxidants at stopover sites, although our understanding of the pre-migration preparations and mid-migration responses of birds to such oxidative challenges is as yet incomplete. Here we review evidence from field and captive-bird studies that address the following questions: (1) Do migratory birds build antioxidant capacity as they build fat stores in preparation for long flights? (2) Is oxidative damage an inevitable consequence of oxidative challenges such as flight, and, if so, how is the extent of damage affected by factors such as the response of the antioxidant system, the level of energetic challenge, and the availability of dietary antioxidants? (3) Do migratory birds ‘recover’ from the oxidative damage accrued during long-duration flights, and, if so, does the pace of this rebalancing of oxidative status depend on the quality of the stopover site? The answer to all these questions is a qualified ‘yes’ although ecological factors (e.g., diet and habitat quality, geographic barriers to migration, and weather) affect how the antioxidant system responds. Furthermore, the pace of this dynamic physiological response remains an open question, despite its potential importance for shaping outcomes on timescales ranging from single flights to migratory journeys. In sum, the antioxidant system of birds during migration is impressively dynamic and responsive to environmental conditions, and thus provides ample opportunities to study how the physiology of migratory birds responds to a changing and challenging world.

Promising manned spacecraft for a long-duration flight with a flexible inflatable shell

The development of astronautics is approaching the stage of colonization of space objects of the Solar System, which will lead to regular and long-term manned space flights. Perspective projects of colonization and long-term stay of a man in space flight conditions were considered. The project proposed in this article is based on a conceptual approach. This paper considers the new type of promising spacecraft that solve the problem of the influence of the absence of gravity on a person in space during a long flight. The principle of a new generation manned spacecraft (MS) is presented. Using a flexible inflatable shell is a solution to reduce the mass of the MS. The analysis of existing solutions of flexible inflatable shells of American and Russian analogues and for the developed design of a new generation spacecraft is carried out. The comparison of the characteristics of three types of shells is made, with the definition of general and distinctive features of the structure and the system that provides the deployment of shells. Advantages and disadvantages of projects are described.

Cardiovascular protection in long-term spaceflight: current understanding and challenges

<p indent=0mm>China’s space station Tiangong is expected to be completed and will operate in the low-Earth orbit in the near future. During the long-duration flight in space, microgravity is one of the major hazards that affect crew members’ long-term cardiovascular health and task performance. The profound effects of microgravity on cardiovascular adaptation during long-term spaceflight and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood, which hampers the development of effective cardiovascular protective countermeasures. Here, we review and discuss the current research advances concerning long-term microgravity-induced cardiovascular responses, adaptations and possible underlying mechanisms. We further highlight and discuss the perspectives and challenges in developing more efficient cardiovascular protective countermeasures for long-term spaceflight.