Investigation of national policy shifts to impact orbital debris environments

Low earth orbit has become increasingly congested as the satellite population has grown over the past few decades, making orbital debris a major concern for the operational stability of space assets. This congestion was highlighted by the collision of the Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 satellites in 2009. This paper addresses the current state of orbital debris regulation in the United States and asks what might be done through policy change to mitigate risks in the orbital debris environment. A brief discussion of the nature of orbital debris addresses the major contributing factors including size classes, locations of population concentrations, projected satellite populations, and current challenges presented in using post-mission active debris removal to mitigate orbital debris. An overview of the current orbital debris regulatory structure of the United States reveals the fragmented nature of having six regulating bodies providing varying levels of oversight to their markets. A closer look into the regulatory policy of these agencies shows that, while they all take direction from The U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, this policy is a guideline with no real penalty for non-compliance. Various policy solutions to the orbital debris problem are presented, ranging from a business as usual approach to a consolidated regulation system which would encourage spacecraft operator compliance. The positive aspects of these options are presented as themes that would comprise an effective policy shift towards successful LEO conservation. Potential economic and physical limitations to this policy approach are also addressed.     

Technical, organizational and political dynamics of the International Space Station program

This paper analyzes the dynamics of cooperation of the International Space Station (ISS) program from its inception in 1981 to the final Framework Agreements for cooperation concluded in 1998. These dynamics include technical and organizational arrangements, and policy preferences. Dynamics related to technical arrangements deal with technological and scientific resources, the former governed through mechanisms for control of technology transfer, the latter regulated through intellectual property rights provisions. The dynamics linked to organizational arrangements concern authority patterns—characterized by national and international responses—and bilateral and multilaterial decision-making patterns. The dynamics of policy preferences encompass functional and symbolic dimensions. Functional issues are structured through legal and political regimes that govern the ISS program. The symbolic dimension, which includes prestige, legitimacy, influence and international accountability, frames the nature of the cooperation realized for the ISS program. ISS cooperation has evolved through three stages: (1) coordination, where collaboration is engendered through institutional (International Coordinating Working Group) and ad hoc cooperative relationships (groups of scientists and engineers sharing information); (2) augmentation, which equates with technological enhancements of a national project that involve primarily bilateral arrangements; (3) interdependence, which deals with cooperation in enabling and critical path technologies that are arranged both bilaterally and multilaterally.     

A new generation of space engines

A primary method of launching future spacecraft will be the Space Transportation System (STS). Studies have identified minimum length stages capable of lifting heavy and deployed payloads from the STS low-Earth orbit to geosynchronous Earth orbit using storage or cryogenic propulsion systems.

Aerojet TechSystems is presently developing two engines suitable for these stages, a storable engine in the few thousand pound thrust range, and a cryogenic engine with a thrust of only a few hundred pounds. The stringent life and performance requirements of these engines offer new technical challenges which can only be met through the consequent employment of novel materials and processes for the storable engine and through innovative design concepts for the cryogenic engine. The storable engine breadboard testing has been accomplished, and the flightweight development program will be complete by the end of this decade. A qualified engine is anticipated for service in the early 1990 time frame. The low thrust cryogenic engine lags this storable engine by approximately three years in development and availability.

This paper discusses the technical issues, their solutions, and the development status of these two engines.     

面向飞行器自主导航的铱星/星链星座覆盖性及可见性分析

针对低轨星座机会信号导航中单星座构型和可见星数无法同时满足高精度、高可用性的难题,基于铱星、星链轨道参数,建立了单星座和混合星座模型,探究了各个星座覆盖重数、覆盖率及飞行器对上述星座的可见性。研究结果表明：飞行器可见星数随飞行高度增加而减少,随飞行器最小观测仰角增大而减少,星链和铱星的融合可显著增加纬度60°以上区域可见星数。铱星对全球不同纬度、不同时间具有100%全覆盖;星链目前覆盖区域向两极拓展,对全球覆盖重数最大为56,最小为0,未实现全球不同纬度、全时段100%的覆盖率,但中国区域星链覆盖率均优于美国区域。星链和铱星的混合星座使全球覆盖重数优于10,不同纬度、不同时间覆盖率达到100%,显著优于单星座。     

Strategic,technological and ethical aspects of establishing colonies on Moon and Mars

With the vast experience gained by Aerospace Community in the last five decades, the natural future course of action will be to expand Space Exploration. Our understanding of Moon is relatively better with a number of unmanned satellite missions carried out by the leading Space Agencies and manned missions to Moon by USA. Also a number of unmanned satellite missions and surface rover missions were carried out to Mars by those Space agencies generating many new details about Mars. While the future exploration efforts by global community will also be centered obviously on Moon and Mars, it is noteworthy that already NASA had declared its plans for establishing a Surface Base on Moon and developing the technical infrastructure required. Surface Bases on Moon and Mars give rise to a number of strategic, technical and ethical issues both in the process of development, and in the process of establishing the bases. The strategic issues related to Moon and Mars Surface Bases will be centered around development of enabling technologies, cost of the missions, and international cooperation. The obvious path for tackling both the technological development and cost issues will be through innovative and new means of international cooperation. International cooperation can take many forms like—all capable players joining a leader, or sharing of tasks at system level, or all players having their independent programmes with agreed common interfaces of the items being taken to and left on the surface of Moon/Mars. Each model has its own unique features. Among the technical issues, the first one is that of the Mission Objectives—why Surface Bases have to be developed and what will be the activity of crew on Surface Bases? Surface Bases have to meet mainly the issues on long term survivability of humans on the Mars/Moon with their specific atmosphere, gravity and surface characteristics. Moon offers excellent advantages for astronomy while posing difficulties with respect to solar power utilization and extreme temperature variations. Hence the technical challenges depend on a number of factors starting from mission requirements. Obviously the most important technical challenge to be addressed will be in the areas of crew safety, crew survivability, adequate provision to overcome contingencies, and in-situ resource utilization. Towards this, new innovations will be developed in areas such as specialized space suits, rovers, power and communication systems, and ascent and descent modules. The biggest ethical issue is whether humankind from Earth is targeting ‘habitation’ or ‘colonization’ of Moon/Mars. The next question will be whether the in-situ resource exploitation will be only for carrying out further missions to other planets from Moon/Mars or for utilization on Earth. The third ethical issue will be the long term impact of pollution on Moon/Mars due to technologies employed for power generation and other logistics on Surfaces. The paper elaborates the views of the authors on the strategic, technical and ethical aspects of establishing Surface Bases and colonies on Moon and Mars. The underlying assumptions and gray areas under each aspect will be explained with the resulting long-term implications.     

Mars through the looking glass: an interdisciplinary analysis of forward and backward contamination

The exploration of the planet Mars represents a significant milestone in humanity's exploration of the Universe. In the quest to better explore and understand Mars, issues of forward and backward contamination are particularly pertinent. This paper provides an interdisciplinary analysis of forward and backward contamination. Its substantive material reflects the scientific and technical concerns through the looking glass of legal and policy issues, and vice versa. The paper critically surveys contamination issues of current, nascent and proposed Mars missions from a scientific viewpoint. It then makes a comparative review of legal and policy mechanisms designed to protect against such contamination. It draws cross-linkages between the sciences and the law in this area. The paper then delineates a suggested interdisciplinary framework to protect against forward and backward contamination. This framework is based on co-operation between the various nations undertaking Mars missions, as well as between the various fields of expertise. It highlights the importance of an interdisciplinary overview in the implementation of measures protecting against forward and backward contamination. Strategies on the implementation of these measures are also outlined.     

Overview of the legal and policy challenges of orbital debris removal

Much attention has been paid recently to the issue of removing human-generated space debris from Earth orbit, especially following conclusions reached by both NASA and ESA that mitigating debris is not sufficient, that debris-on-debris and debris-on-active-satellite collisions will continue to generate new debris even without additional launches, and that some sort of active debris removal (ADR) is needed. Several techniques for ADR are technically plausible enough to merit further research and eventually operational testing. However, all ADR technologies present significant legal and policy challenges which will need to be addressed for debris removal to become viable. This paper summarizes the most promising techniques for removing space debris in both LEO and GEO, including electrodynamic tethers and ground- and space-based lasers. It then discusses several of the legal and policy challenges posed, including: lack of separate legal definitions for functional operational spacecraft and non-functional space debris; lack of international consensus on which types of space debris objects should be removed; sovereignty issues related to who is legally authorized to remove pieces of space debris; the need for transparency and confidence-building measures to reduce misperceptions of ADR as anti-satellite weapons; and intellectual property rights and liability with regard to ADR operations. Significant work on these issues must take place in parallel to the technical research and development of ADR techniques, and debris removal needs to be done in an environment of international collaboration and cooperation.     

Human missions to Mars: new psychological challenges and research issues

Human exploratory missions to Mars represent the most exciting future vision of human space flight. With respect to the distance to travel and mission duration, these missions will provide unique psychological challenges that do not compare to any other endeavor humans ever have attempted. The present paper presents outcomes of two recent projects sponsored by the European Space Agency--Humex and Reglisse--where these challenges and risks have been analyzed in some detail, and where concepts for future research have been developed. This presentation involves three steps. At first, it will be shown that our current psychological knowledge derived from orbital spaceflight and analogue environments is not sufficient to assess the specific risks of mission into outer space. Secondly, new psychological challenges of missions to Mars will be identified with respect to three different areas: (1) individual adaptation and performance, (2) crew interactions, and (3) concept and methods of psychological countermeasures. Finally, different options and issues of preparatory psychological research will be discussed.     

Prospects for a European space administration

This paper addresses legal issues relating to the relationship between ESA and the EU. At present, several policy options are being discussed on how the two international organisations might enhance their cooperation in order to allow Europe's space activities to become more efficient and more competitive. The political options can be classified into four models, each having its specific implications concerning institutional and substantive legal questions. It becomes equally apparent that any cooperation of the two organisations will have certain effects on the funding of space programmes. The paper outlines the various models against the background of the latest policy developments and gives an overview of the possible implications of the models.     

Space policy challenges facing the Barack Obama administration

President Barack Obama faces space policy challenges in security, commercial and civil areas in an era in which the use of space assets for these ends is irreversible. The very future of space is linked to addressing the challenges within the first term of the Obama administration. This paper draws on, but does not attempt to summarize, discussions at the National Space Forum 2008 organized by the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies at the United States Air Force Academy and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. The goal of the forum was to examine the key decisions that will need to be made in regard to space policy by facilitating debate among the security, commercial and civil space sectors, and the broader national policy community. The paper focuses on choices which, for budgetary or other reasons, cannot be delayed. A brief discussion of the issues surrounding each choice is presented, followed by the implications of pursuing different choices. One key assumption underlies everything: resources available for activities in space will not grow significantly in real terms over the course of the Obama administration.     

星用第三代铼/铱材料490 N发动机研制进展

提高轨控发动机的真空比冲可以有效减少卫星变轨推进剂的消耗量,从而延长卫星的在轨工作寿命或增加有效载荷质量。介绍了我国在研的卫星用第三代铼/铱材料490 N发动机设计方案、技术攻关和试验情况,对工程化应用存在的问题进行了分析,并提出了改进和优化方案。在第二代490 N发动机的设计基础上,第三代490 N发动机成功攻克了可靠传热稳定工作喷注器、高性能喷注器与燃烧室匹配以及新型高温抗氧化材料制备等关键技术,真空比冲提高了10 s,达到325 s。两台发动机均通过了25 000 s鉴定级高空模拟热试车寿命考核,性能指标达到国际先进水平。但是针对试车子样数较少和铼/铱燃烧室制备工艺困难的问题,仍需进一步开展铼基体和铱涂层的高温性能研究,并继续优化发动机设计。     

Regulating ISS— An interdisciplinary essay

The International Space Station (ISS) is a multifaceted international project. Several space agencies from different countries work together in the Outer Space. This paper will illustrate the exciting questions arising from such a venture and therefore the challenge to incorporate a variety of issues into a legal order. The Paper is addressed to lawyers who need not necessarily be experts in space law, and also to space experts who have no legal background. It demonstrates the three layers of the ISS regime—from the “Intergovernmental Agreement” (IGA) as a “frame” with pillars and boundaries, over the “Memoranda of Understanding” (MOU) which rules in a more specific way, to the so-called “Implementing Arrangements” regulating the overall and single aspects of ISS in detail.The paper underlines questions of applicable jurisdiction, utilization rights and the rights on intellectual property onboard of the ISS. Furthermore the problem of liability in space flight is highlighted, also with a view to the different aspects of the liability issue, for example (internal) liability caused by programme delays (e.g. US Space Shuttle delays).In conclusion, the paper illustrates the situation of astronauts by the “Code of Conduct for the International Space Station Crew” and provides an example for the actual ISS Programme—an international cooperation in a highly demanding environment which will be a basis for future space ventures in many ways.     

生态视阈下的商务翻译人才培养策略研究

本文以生态翻译学为切入点,在介绍生态翻译学这一全新理念的同时,根据翻译适应选择论和翻译生态环境规律,探讨当今国际商务环境下翻译活动的适应与选择,详细考察商务翻译的生态环境,论述商务翻译生态环境中各生态因子的职能作用以及它们之间的相互关系,将其用于指导翻译人才培养方案、课程设置、教材选用、保障机制等方面,以便顺应经济发展转型的需要,培养满足现代服务业需求的高端商务翻译人才。     

一种空间极低温吸附制冷机的设计与实现

针对极低温吸附制冷技术的热沉制冷系统,系统分析了极低温吸附制冷的特性,研究了热沉温度对极低温吸附制冷性能的影响,研制了一台极低温吸附制冷机样机,工质气体为氦4,在1.5W@4.2K G-M制冷机基础上实现了50μW@0.8K的制冷性能,验证了基于机械制冷系统的更高热沉温度技术的可行性,这一成果为深空探测和载人空间站相关研究提供了技术支撑。     

载人飞船舷窗防热与密封结构的设计与试验

讨论了研制中国载人飞船舷窗防热和密封结构的几个技术难题:1)保证舷窗在返回的高温环境中防热与密封可靠;2)保证窗玻璃材料与周围防热材料烧蚀同步,避免出现局部干扰热流;3)进行多种异质材料,包括透明材料组成的复杂结构温度场的分析计算;4)通过地面模拟试验准确地预测实际飞行条件下舷窗的防热与密封性能。文章阐述了解决这些难点的主要方法和结果。神舟一号至神舟六号的飞行成功表明,舷窗结构的防热和密封性能良好,同时,也给舷窗防热与密封设计技术做了多次飞行验证。     

大型航天器研制设施建设中的技术状态控制与文件管理

文章通过分析大型航天器研制设施项目的建设特点,对因技术变更造成的技术状态控制问题,提出借鉴型号研制技术状态管理模式予以解决的方法。同时,对建设项目文件管理中存在的有关问题提出改进建议。     

The need for a United Nations space policy

The international community is entering an era of shared global utilities from space and is increasingly reliant on space systems and activities that support a myriad of applications and utilities on Earth. A growing number of states are seeking to develop or extend their space capabilities. At the same time, a variety of non-state actors are also extending their involvement in space activities. The United Nations is the principal inter-governmental forum to deal with various space issues of global importance. Moreover, the United Nations system itself has become increasingly reliant on space systems for its day-to-day operations. In order for the United Nations to play its necessary role in the space arena, it will need to be supported by a space policy. A United Nations space policy would provide over-arching guidance on space activities for UN stakeholders in the space arena; it would inform UN participation in space activities and would promote improved coordination and cooperative governance of outer space activities. A world without a common UN space policy will not be able to respond to the challenges of the rapidly evolving space arena in the 21st century.     

Planning the post-Apollo space program: Are there lessons for the present?

The current debate over the future of human spaceflight in the USA has been a fascinating, and troubling, exercise in futility for those inextricably committed to an expansive vision of human exploration and development of space. The retirement of the Space Shuttle, originally set for the end of 2010 but later extended into 2011, the technical and funding problems of the Constellation follow-on program that led to its cancellation in 2009, and the emergence of commercial vendors who might be able to offer human access to Earth orbit have all complicated the current environment. In view of this situation, the question may be legitimately asked: what might we learn from earlier efforts to develop a human spaceflight capability the last time such a transition took place? Using the post-Apollo transition from the ballistic capsule to a winged, reusable vehicle as a case study, this article seeks to illuminate the planning, decision-making, economic, and political issues that have arisen in this policy debate. It suggests that a web of interlocking issues—only one of which was technical—affected the course taken. Instead, politics, economics, social and cultural priorities, values, and institutional considerations all helped to frame the debate and shape the decision.     

China's rise in space and US policy responses: A collision course?

China's opaque politics present particular difficulties for US space policy. Heavily invested in and reliant on space, the US will closely monitor China's burgeoning space program. New space powers, and the increasing use of space generally will further create significant challenges, most particularly to the reliance of states on space for national security. In order to maintain its space capabilities, the US will have to decide between securing this via multilateral and co-operative uses of space, or through trying to maintain a level of dominance over other space actors. While very gradually shifting away from the latter position, Washington's policy choices are complicated by the lack of a clear Chinese space strategy. While the Chinese space program, and its wider intentions, are opaque, tenure of a more cooperative approach course might prove fragile.     

The International Space Station: a pathway to the future

Nearly six years after the launch of the first International Space Station element, and four years after its initial occupation, the United States and our 6 international partners have made great strides in operating this impressive Earth orbiting research facility. This past year we have done so in the face of the adversity of operating without the benefit of the Space Shuttle. In his January 14, 2004, speech announcing a new vision for America's space program, President Bush affirmed the United States' commitment to completing construction of the International Space Station by 2010. The President also stated that we would focus our future research aboard the Station on the long-term effects of space travel on human biology. This research will help enable human crews to venture through the vast voids of space for months at a time. In addition, ISS affords a unique opportunity to serve as an engineering test bed for hardware and operations critical to the exploration tasks. NASA looks forward to working with our partners on International Space Station research that will help open up new pathways for future exploration and discovery beyond low Earth orbit. This paper provides an overview of the International Space Station Program focusing on a review of the events of the past year, as well as plans for next year and the future.