Abstract: An image sensor has a CdTe plate, a plurality of hole-type electrodes, and a voltage-applying unit. The hole-type electrodes are arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction of thickness. The voltage-applying unit applies a voltage to the hole-type electrodes. One of the electrodes is not adjacent to any other electrode and is used as an anode. The remaining electrodes are used as cathodes. A sensor-element array is provided on the detecting surface of the image sensor. The array comprises a plurality of sensor elements arranged in the form of a matrix. Each sensor element comprises an anode, a plurality of cathodes, and CdTe lying between the anode and the cathodes.

Abstract: A large membrane space structure deployed and spanned by centrifugal force owing to the spin motion, contains a hub located at a central portion thereof and a sail including a plurality of petals attached to the hub by supports. Each of the petals has regions symmetrical to an imaginary center line passing through the center of the hub. Membranes are spanned on the regions. Each of the membranes is divided into parts of suitable shapes, and adjacent membranes are discretely connected to each other by bridge belts to suppress the residual crease strain. The petals are symmetric with respect to the center of the hub. Deployment force is provided in the circumferential direction by the introduction of imaginary tension lines. The petals may be connected to each other to help deployment.

Abstract: A pressure-resistant balloon includes a gasbag and a volume changing mechanism which deforms the gasbag in a fully inflated state to change a volume of the gasbag. The gasbag includes spindle-shaped gores of an airtight film material, adjacent gores joined together at side edges, and load tapes fitted to joined sections of the side edges, and extending along the side edges, respectively. After inflated, the gasbag allows no gas to be discharged so as to maintain an internal gas pressure. Each of the gores outwardly protrudes between two adjacent load tapes without an elongation of the airtight film material of the gore, when the gasbag is in the fully inflated state. The protruding gore has a radius of curvature in a direction intersecting with the two adjacent load tapes. The radius of curvature is smaller than a radius of the gasbag.

Abstract: A balloon comprising an envelope, wherein the envelope has a multilayered structure comprising a gas-impervious sheet, and a liquid absorbent sheet overlaid on the inner surface of the gas-impervious sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing the decrease of the efficiency of heat transfer, caused by frost formation, in a precooler of an air breathing engine. In the precooler, the heat exchanger tube is provided. Into the heat exchanger tube, liquid hydrogen serving as a coolant is supplied. The main air flow is sent to the precooler via the intake duct, and the main air flow which is cooled down there, is then sent to a compressor of the air breathing engine. Via the nozzle provided in the middle of the intake duct, ethanol is mixed into the main air flow. Ethanol is carried into the precooler, and condenses together with the water vapor on the surface of the heat exchanger tube. A frost layer thus formed has less cavities and low thermal resistance as compared to that formed when the water vapor condenses solely. Therefore, the decrease of the performance of the heat exchanger, which is caused by the frost formation, can be prevented.

Abstract: Based on a shape of gores of the Natural-Shaped Balloon, side edge parts of gores having a large width and a large length are connected to load tapes of a length equal to a circumferential length of a side edge part of the gores of the Natural-Shaped Balloon, in a state that wrinkles are formed uniformly and shortened on the side edge parts of the gores. As these gores are swollen out from between the load tapes from the beginning, the radius of curvature of the gores becomes small and the tension against the internal pressure of gas within a gas bag becomes small, so that higher pressure resistance is obtained. Further, a manufacturing method of the present invention is for connecting the side edge parts of the gores with the load tapes while shortening the length of the side edge parts. Thus, it is possible to efficiently manufacture this super-pressure balloon.

Abstract: When the operation of an electromagnetic thruster valve disposed in a fluid assage for establishing the connection between a gas tank and a thruster unit for jetting gas filled in the gas tank is controlled to follow a thrust command, rise time of thrust at certain thrust is measured based on a state of the operation of the electromagnetic thruster valve. Then, the measured value and a predetermined delay value are subject to a comparison. The obtained difference is used as previous delay time to correct delay time of operation control of the electromagnetic thruster valve with respect to a next thrust command when the operation of the electromagnetic valve is controlled.

Abstract: A sample collector of this invention includes a projectile projecting unit n which a projectile is loaded and which has a projecting outlet for projecting out the projectile loaded therein, an enclosed container which is communicated with the projecting outlet of the projectile projecting unit, which has a projectile passing hole arranged at a position located away from the projecting outlet, the passing hole allowing the projectile to pass through it after the projectile is projected out from the projecting outlet, and which covers a space between the projecting outlet of the projectile projecting unit, and a kinetic energy absorbing mechanism which is arranged around a projectile path between the projecting outlet of the projectile projecting unit and the projectile passing hole of the enclosed container. The kinetic energy absorbing mechanism may be an independent active type such as brushes or an integral passive type structured by a part of the container.

Abstract: A liquid oxidizer immersion hybrid rocket having a combustion chamber, a porous fuel material placed in the combustion chamber, a liquid oxidizer filled into pores of the porous fuel material, and two holding plates provided in the combustion chamber so as to hold opposite ends of the porous fuel material respectively. The porous fuel material comprises a large number of layers stacked one another in an axial direction of the combustion chamber.