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Z-pinch and Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) are two promising techniques for bringing fusion power to the field of in-space propulsion. A design team comprising of engineers and scientists from UAHuntsville, NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and the University of Wisconsin developed concept vehicles for a crewed round trip mission to Mars and an interstellar precursor mission. Outlined in this paper are vehicle concepts, complete with conceptual analysis of the mission profile, operations, structural and thermal analysis and power/avionics design. Additionally engineering design of the thruster itself is included. The design efforts adds greatly to the fidelity of estimates for power density (alpha) and overall performance for these thruster concepts.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of developing diabetes. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines (July 2008) recommend the use of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) but not an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the six‐week postnatal check. Our data analysis aims to challenge this recommendation. Retrospective data were obtained for 95 women with GDM who delivered at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, UK (2003–2008). The results of the FPG concentration were assessed in relation to the two‐hour glucose value. Of the 95 OGTTs, the two‐hour glucose value revealed that seven had diabetes and 19 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). However, 12 women had IGT and one had diabetes with a normal FPG (<6.0mmol/L). The sensitivity and specificity of using FPG for the diagnosis of postnatal diabetes are 85.7% and 87.5%, respectively. In our population, using a six‐week postnatal FPG is unsatisfactory for evaluating the glucose tolerance of women with previous GDM as it would result in failure to diagnose 63.2% of those with IGT and a smaller proportion of those with diabetes. It is established that lifestyle changes can reduce the incidence of diabetes in individuals with IGT. For this reason, the OGTT remains the preferred option for the postnatal follow up of women with previous GDM in our hospital. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons.

The Advanced Concepts Office at Marshall Space Flight Center completed a brief spacecraft design study for the 8-meter monolithic Advanced Technology Large Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST-8m). This spacecraft concept provides all power, communication, telemetry, avionics, guidance and control, and thermal control for the observatory, and inserts the observatory into a halo orbit about the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point. The multidisciplinary design team created a simple spacecraft design that enables component and science instrument servicing, employs articulating solar panels for help with momentum management, and provides precise pointing control while at the same time fast slewing for the observatory.

Abstract. This paper describes the engineering of several vehicles designed for a crewed mission to the Jovian satellite Callisto. Each subsystem is discussed in detail. Mission and trajectory analysis for each mission concept is described. Crew support components are also described. Vehicles were developed using both fission powered magneto plasma dynamic (MPD) thrusters and magnetized target fusion (MTF) propulsion systems. Conclusions were drawn regarding the usefulness of these propulsion systems for crewed exploration of the outer solar system.