Design of the TRIO system-on-chip for aerospace

Several design and testing aspects of the TRIO smart sensor data acquisition chip, developed by JHU/APL for NASA spacecraft applications are presented. TRIO includes a 10 bit self-corrected analog-to-digital converter (ADC), 16/32 analog inputs, a front end multiplexer with selectable aquisition time, a current source, memory, serial and parallel bus, and control logic. So far TRIO is used in many missions including Contour, Messenger, Stereo, Pluto, and the generic JPL X2000 spacecraft bus.     

货运飞船智能温湿度测量系统构建和实验

根据货运飞船热平衡实验中对温湿度测量的需求,设计并搭建了一种以控制器局域网络(CAN)总线通信技术和智能温湿度传感器SHT15为核心的分布式测量系统,温湿度测量模块将采集到的温湿度数据通过CAN总线经分线器传递给下位机,进一步传输给上位机,实现了对数据的补偿、显示和保存等功能,给出了系统中软件的设计思路和流程图.并对该系统进行了真空贮存实验和标定实验,实验结果表明:该系统具有高可靠性和高测量精度,相对湿度的测量误差在2%以内,且使用方便,易于扩展节点,现已成功运用于实际的测量工作中.      

Solar power system options for the Radiation and TechnologyDemonstration spacecraft

The Radiation and Technology Demonstration (RTD) Mission has the primary objective of demonstrating high-power (10 kilowatts) electric thruster technologies in Earth orbit. This paper discusses the conceptual design of the RTD spacecraft photovoltaic (PV) power system and mission performance analyses. These power system studies assessed multiple options for PV arrays, battery technologies and bus voltage levels. To quantify performance attributes of these power system options, a dedicated Fortran code was developed to predict power system performance and estimate system mass. The low-thrust mission trajectory was analyzed and important Earth orbital environments were modeled. Baseline power system design options are recommended on the basis of performance, mass and risk/complexity. Important findings from parametric studies are discussed and the resulting impacts to the spacecraft design and cost     

The IMAGE Observatory

The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) mission will be the first of the new Medium-class Explorer (MIDEX) missions to fly. IMAGE will utilize a combination of ultraviolet and neutral atom imaging instruments plus an RF sounder to map and image the temporal and spatial features of the magnetosphere. The eight science sensors are mounted to a single deckplate. The deckplate is enveloped in an eight-sided spacecraft bus, 225 cm across the flats, developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Corporation. Constructed of laminated aluminum honeycomb panels, covered extensively by Gallium Arsenide solar cells, the spacecraft structure is designed to withstand the launch loads of a Delta 7326-9.5 ELV. Attitude control is via a single magnetic torque rod and passive nutation damper with aspect information provided by a star camera, sun sensor, and three-axis magnetometer. A single S-band transponder provides telemetry and command functionality. Interfaces between the self-contained payload and the spacecraft are limited to MIL-STD-1553 and power. This paper lists the requirements that drove the design of the IMAGE Observatory and the implementation that met the requirements.     

基于CPCI架构航天器测试设备的故障诊断设计与实现

基于CPCI总线架构的航天器测试设备可以实现模块化、集成化和通用化设计,有利于测试系统的再次开发、直接沿用以及后续维护.某型号的综合电子和控制分系统地面测试设备采用基于CPCI总线的架构,使用VxWorks操作系统作为核心调度,采取模块化FPGA开发接口和特定功能.提出以监听任务、功能模块、板卡运行时间为检测手段,实现了对系统测试设备故障的诊断,尤其是反作用轮转速模块,软件能自主进行故障处理.在分系统及整星测试的使用过程中,此方法有效提高了设备的可靠度,提高了对星上产品的安全保护,保证整星大型试验的连续可靠运行.此方法对于其他地面测试设备的故障诊断具有一定的借鉴作用.     

ACE Spacecraft

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) was responsible for the design and fabrication of the ACE spacecraft to accommodate the ACE Mission requirements and for the integration, test, and launch support for the entire ACE Observatory. The primary ACE Mission includes a significant number of science instruments - nine - whose diverse requirements had to be factored into the overall spacecraft bus design. Secondary missions for monitoring space weather and measuring launch vibration environments were also accommodated within the spacecraft design. Substantial coordination and cooperation were required between the spacecraft and instrument engineers, and all requirements were met. Overall, the spacecraft was kept as simple as possible in meeting requirements to achieve a highly reliable and low-cost design. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

分离模块航天器研究综述

对分离模块航天器产生的背景及概念进行了阐述和分析,介绍了包括F6系统、天基群组系统、SkyLAN（空间局域网）等在内的几种主要分离模块航天器系统,并在此基础上归纳总结出了分离模块航天器在同轨多模块系统设计、功能系统设计、信息交互技术、队形保持重组及功能适变技术、无线信息传输技术、分布式天线技术等方面的技术特点及难点,最后讨论了分离模块航天器进一步的研究方向和发展前景。     

The Juno Magnetic Field Investigation

The Juno Magnetic Field investigation (MAG) characterizes Jupiter’s planetary magnetic field and magnetosphere, providing the first globally distributed and proximate measurements of the magnetic field of Jupiter. The magnetic field instrumentation consists of two independent magnetometer sensor suites, each consisting of a tri-axial Fluxgate Magnetometer (FGM) sensor and a pair of co-located imaging sensors mounted on an ultra-stable optical bench. The imaging system sensors are part of a subsystem that provides accurate attitude information (to ～20 arcsec on a spinning spacecraft) near the point of measurement of the magnetic field. The two sensor suites are accommodated at 10 and 12 m from the body of the spacecraft on a 4 m long magnetometer boom affixed to the outer end of one of ’s three solar array assemblies. The magnetometer sensors are controlled by independent and functionally identical electronics boards within the magnetometer electronics package mounted inside Juno’s massive radiation shielded vault. The imaging sensors are controlled by a fully hardware redundant electronics package also mounted within the radiation vault. Each magnetometer sensor measures the vector magnetic field with 100 ppm absolute vector accuracy over a wide dynamic range (to 16 Gauss = \(1.6 \times 10^{6}\mbox{ nT}\) per axis) with a resolution of ～0.05 nT in the most sensitive dynamic range (±1600 nT per axis). Both magnetometers sample the magnetic field simultaneously at an intrinsic sample rate of 64 vector samples per second. The magnetic field instrumentation may be reconfigured in flight to meet unanticipated needs and is fully hardware redundant. The attitude determination system compares images with an on-board star catalog to provide attitude solutions (quaternions) at a rate of up to 4 solutions per second, and may be configured to acquire images of selected targets for science and engineering analysis. The system tracks and catalogs objects that pass through the imager field of view and also provides a continuous record of radiation exposure. A spacecraft magnetic control program was implemented to provide a magnetically clean environment for the magnetic sensors, and residual spacecraft fields and/or sensor offsets are monitored in flight taking advantage of Juno’s spin (nominally 2 rpm) to separate environmental fields from those that rotate with the spacecraft.     

Micromission spacecraft: a low-cost, high-capability platform for space science missions

The Ball Micromission Spacecraft (MSC) is a multi-purpose platform capable of supporting science missions at distances from the Sun ranging from 0.7 to 1.7 AU. In the baseline scenario, MSC is launched as a secondary payload on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, to GTO using the Ariane 5 structure for auxiliary payloads (ASAP5). The maximum launch wet mass is 242 Kg and can include up to 45 Kg of payload depending on AV needs. The on-board propulsion system is used for maneuvering in the Earth-Moon system and injecting the spacecraft into its final orbit or trajectory. For Mars missions, MSC enables orbiting Mars for science payloads and/or communications and navigation assets, or for precision Mars fly-bys to drop up to six probes. The micromissions spacecraft bus can be used for science targets other than Mars, including the Moon, Earth, Venus, Earth-Sun Lagrange points, or other small bodies. This paper summarizes the current spacecraft concept and describes the multimission spacecraft bus implementation in more detail.     

Electronic display system for the Swedish JAS39 Gripen aircraft

The cockpit design in the new JAS39 Gripen combat aircraft is based on an electronic computer-controlled display system. This display system EP 17, has four areas of presentation: one Head-Up Display (HUD) and three Multi-Function Displays (MFD). The HUD is equipped with a diffraction optics combiner which gives the display high visibility within a large field-of-view, and with minimal visual interference to the outside world. The Multi-Function Displays in the front panel are a Flight Data Display showing flight and system data, a Horizontal Situation Display that superimposes tactical information on a digital map and a Multi-Sensor Display with, primarily, radar information. This system is supported by a Display Processor comprising computers, graphic generators, sensor information processors and a digital map memory. It also includes an integrated video recording system for recording analog and digital sensor video, bus data and voice     

ATS-6 Interferometer

The Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6) RF interferometer is utilized primarily as a precision 3-axis attitude sensor having an unambiguous field of view of 350°. This function requires two separated ground transmitters, each using one of the two available frequency channels or sharing a single channel by time multiplexing. For 3-axis control, one uplink transmitter can provide 2-axis attitude (pitch and roll) with other sensors (e.g., a Polaris tracker) providing yaw attitude. By utilizing two uplink transmitters and the Earth sensor or three time multiplexed uplink transmitters, the interferometer can also provide measurements of ATS-6 spacecraft orbit position. Uplink frequencies are 6.150 and 6.155 GHz. The receiving antennas are spaced at 19.95 wavelengths (?) for the vernier baseline and 1.66 ? for the coarse baseline. Spacecraft system weight is 8.39 kg (18.5 lb) and power requirement is 15.5 W. Flight evaluation results are given for the interferometer including R F link budgets, modulation of uplink carrier, signal-to-noise ratio, and dropout behavior. A hardware calibration model is described, containing major biases in the phase measurements. Techniques for flight calibration as both an attitude and spacecraft position sensor are outlined . Flight testing has shown that on-line calibration of receiver/converter biases must be performed on a short term routine basis. Interferometer resolution was found to be 0.00140 space angle with negligible noise (jitter) at transmitted power levels above 72 dBW. As an attitude sensor, the interferometer has demonstrated the ability to provide stabilization to better than 0.     

Dual-Spin Spacecraft Nutation Control Using Articulated Payloads

A technique is presented for achieving active control of nutation on a dual-spin spacecraft with an articulated payload through use of the payload's control system. Using the Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO)-8 as an illustration, the closed-form solution to the nutation/control system dynamic interaction is presented. Control system design criteria are developed which establish the basic stability of the interaction. Design procedures are described to achieve the most effective nutation damping. Limitations on the amount of damping which can be achieved are characterized as functions of spacecraft and payload mass properties and servodesign parameters. The design techniques presented are verified through a series of on-orbit tests recently conducted on the OSO-8 spacecraft.     

Investigations of a distributed real-time information system for flight measuring applications

Modern aircraft require complex systems of complementary sensors for the achievement of precise and dynamic on-line flight measurements. For the computation, transmission and storage of sensor data a distributed information system is needed which has to respect hard real-time demands. In this paper the demands of an aircraft sensor system on the components of the distributed information system are analysed allowing the allocation and partitioning of the tasks to the resources. Simulation experiments are used to investigate the real-time behaviour of the whole information system, consisting of several RISC-processors, DRAMs and bus systems. The bus systems are divided into parallel and serial buses; the serial field bus system is realized by PROFIBUS. The real-time behaviour of PROFIBUS is additionally analysed by hardware experiments.     

The IBEX Flight Segment

IBEX provides the observations needed for detailed modeling and in-depth understanding of the interstellar interaction (McComas et al. in Physics of the Outer Heliosphere, Third Annual IGPP Conference, pp. 162–181, 2004; Space Sci. Rev., 2009a, this issue). From mission design to launch and acquisition, this goal drove all flight system development. This paper describes the management, design, testing and integration of IBEX’s flight system, which successfully launched from Kwajalein Atoll on October 19, 2008. The payload is supported by a simple, Sun-pointing, spin-stabilized spacecraft with no deployables. The spacecraft bus consists of the following subsystems: attitude control, command and data handling, electrical power, hydrazine propulsion, RF, thermal, and structures. A novel 3-step orbit approach was employed to put IBEX in its highly elliptical, 8-day final orbit using a Solid Rocket Motor, which provided large delta-V after IBEX separated from the Pegasus launch vehicle; an adapter cone, which interfaced between the SRM and Pegasus; Motorized Lightbands, which performed separation from the Pegasus, ejection of the adapter cone, and separation of the spent SRM from the spacecraft; a ShockRing isolation system to lower expected launch loads; and the onboard Hydrazine Propulsion System. After orbit raising, IBEX transitioned from commissioning to nominal operations and science acquisition. At every phase of development, the Systems Engineering and Mission Assurance teams supervised the design, testing and integration of all IBEX flight elements.     

Robust image-based coordinated control for spacecraft formation flying

This paper addresses a coordinated control problem for Spacecraft Formation Flying (SFF). The distributed followers are required to track and synchronize with the leader spacecraft. By using the feature points in the two-dimensional image space, an integrated 6-degree-of-freedom dynamic model is formulated for spacecraft relative motion. Without sophisticated three-dimensional reconstruction, image features are directly utilized for the controller design. The proposed image-based controller can drive the follower spacecraft in the desired configuration with respect to the leader when the real-time captured images match their reference counterparts. To improve the precision of the formation configuration, the proposed controller employs a coordinated term to reduce the relative distance errors between followers. The uncertainties in the system dynamics are handled by integrating the adaptive technique into the controller, which increases the robustness of the SFF system. The closed-loop system stability is analyzed using the Lyapunov method and algebraic graph theory. A numerical simulation for a given SFF scenario is performed to evaluate the performance of the controller.     

航天器用薄膜温度传感器的研制及性能研究

飞行器以高超声速飞行时瞬间温升可达1 600℃以上,为了保证飞行器的可靠和运行安全,准确实时测量热防护系统表面温度显得尤为重要。针对高温环境实时测温的技术难题,结合磁控溅射技术和陶瓷烧结技术,提出了一种引线和传感器基底一体化的微小型高温薄膜温度传感器结构。采用高温检定炉对传感器陶瓷基底的高温绝缘性进行了测试,并使用多种微观形貌表征方法对传感器主要结构材料进行筛选,得到薄膜温度传感器制备所需的最佳材料组合。进行了薄膜温度传感器静态标定和综合性能高温考核试验,结果表明,所研制传感器灵敏度、重复性的变化与标准热电偶基本保持一致,在实际环境温度低于1 500℃时,传感器测量误差不超过4‰,可在1 200℃高温环境中连续准确测温6 h以上,且测温上限高达1 800℃,验证了该传感器在高温环境中进行测温的可行性和实用性,为航天器表面温度测量和热防护系统优化提供科学依据。     

基于FC-1394的空间载荷试验信息系统设计

IEEEl394是一种具有支持等时传输和异步传输的特点的高速串行数据总线,目前已在航天器载荷试验数据传输中得到良好应用,但在未来大型空间飞行器载荷试验信息传输的应用中仍存在重量功耗开销大、传输距离和速率有限等问题.光纤通道作为一种具有良好兼容性、可靠性高、低时延、传输距离远和传输速率高等优点的先进总线技术,可为上层协议提供通用的高速率数据传输通道.基于IEEEl394和光纤通道的基本特性,给出了一种适用于空间载荷试验信息系统的FC-1394桥接方案,并为基于IEEE1394和光纤通道协议映射的空间信息系统数据网络互连提供了一种解决方案.     

Highlights of a Brushless Direct-Drive Solar Array Control System Design

This paper summarizes a drive system design for controlling the position and rate of solar power arrays on orbiting spacecraft. There are no gears or sliding contact elements used anywhere in the system and only low-speed bearings are needed. Such mechanization is particularly well suited to solid lubrication techniques, and wear rates are very low, so that the drive system can operate directly in the space environment for long periods of time. Three major components were developed for implementation of this design concept. They are: 1) a brushless dc torque motor; 2) a rotary power transformer; and 3) an offset-tooth shaft position and rate sensor. These components are combined in a hybrid system configuration in which the signal processing and logic functions are performed by digital and linear integrated circuits. A root contour and describing function analysis, confirmed by experimentation, shows that several modes of limit cycle generation can occur in the vicinity of null. Compensation circuits are given that inhibit or suppress limit cycling and provide controlled electronic damping of the system. The system offers relatively high stiffness and can be operated at indefinitely low angular rates with minimum power consumption.     

Variable structure control and active vibration suppression of flexible spacecraft during attitude maneuver

This paper presents a new approach to vibration reduction of flexible spacecraft during attitude maneuver by using the theory of variable structure control (VSC) to design switching logic for thruster firing and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) as sensor and actuator for active vibration suppression. The spacecraft to be investigated is a hub with a cantilever flexible beam appendage, which can undergo a single axis rotation. The proposed control system includes the attitude controller acting on the rigid hub, designed by variable structure control technique, and the surface-bonded PZT patches for active vibration suppression of flexible appendages, designed by the positive position feedback (PPF) control technique. To avoid chattering, pulse-width pulse-frequency (PWPF) modulation is adopted for the thruster control, which makes the thrusters to be operated in a close to linear manner and also can suppress the relatively large amplitude vibrations excited by, for example, rapid maneuver. However, some residual micro-vibrations still exist due to the switching actions. Upon that, the technique of active vibration control using PZT is turned on to provide further vibration suppression of the residual micro-vibrations and fine tuning of the system performance. By combining the advantages of both these control strategies, an improved performance for vibration control in both the macro-and micro-senses can result. Both analytical and numerical results are presented to show the theoretical and practical merit of this approach.