Optimal reconfiguration maneuvers for spacecraft imaging arrays in multi-body regimes

Upcoming National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission concepts include satellite arrays to facilitate imaging and identification of distant planets. These mission scenarios are diverse, including designs such as the terrestrial planet finder-occulter (TPF-O), where a monolithic telescope is aided by a single occulter spacecraft, and the micro-arcsecond X-ray imaging mission (MAXIM), where as many as 16 spacecraft move together to form a space interferometer. Each design, however, requires precise reconfiguration and star tracking in potentially complex dynamic regimes. This paper explores control methods for satellite imaging array reconfiguration in multi-body systems. Specifically, optimal nonlinear control and geometric control methods are derived and compared to the more traditional linear quadratic regulators, as well as input state feedback linearization. These control strategies are implemented and evaluated for the TPF-O mission concept.     

导航星座的任务重构技术研究

以COMPASS卫星导航星座为对象,研究了导航任务的重构技术。首先,对COMPASS卫星导航星座的主要性能进行了分析和仿真;其次,分析了星座中部分卫星失效后对导航性能的影响;最后,提出了分别利用在轨运行的高、中、低轨卫星及临近空间飞行器进行任务重构的方法,并对重构后的导航性能进行了仿真。仿真结果表明：提出的任务重构方法对于保证导航星座的正常运行是有效的。同时,对于研究飞行器应急测控技术具有借鉴意义。     

圆轨道欠驱动航天器编队重构脉冲控制

针对圆轨道径向或迹向欠驱动航天器编队重构控制问题,提出了欠驱动脉冲控制方法。首先,基于圆轨道欠驱动航天器相对运动动力学模型,分析了两类欠驱动条件下的系统可控性和重构可行性。然后,解析推导了两类欠驱动条件下实现重构所需的最少脉冲次数以及对应的速度增量消耗。最后,设计数值仿真算例,验证了本文提出的欠驱动脉冲控制方法的正确性。仿真结果表明:径向和迹向欠驱动条件下均可实现圆轨道编队重构。与全驱动控制方法相比,欠驱动控制方法可有效避免由推力器故障引起的重构任务失效,故而提高了控制系统的灵活性与可靠性。     

面向空间近距离操作的机械臂与服务卫星协同控制

针对航天器在轨服务任务中涉及的空间近距离操作需求，提出一种机械臂与服务卫星协同控制方法。首先建立了机械臂和服务卫星组合体动力学模型以及服务卫星和目标卫星相对位姿耦合动力学模型。然后采用全局终端滑模控制设计了机械臂轨迹跟踪控制方法，采用PD控制设计了服务卫星相对位姿耦合控制方法，并将机械臂反作用力和力矩作为前馈补偿叠加到服务卫星控制系统中，实现了两者的协同控制。最后通过数值仿真验证了控制方法的有效性。仿真结果表明，该方法能够满足空间近距离操作任务对机械臂和服务卫星的控制精度、稳定性和误差收敛时间的要求，具有工程实用性。     

共面快速受控绕飞轨迹设计与控制

绕飞运动在航天器在轨服务与在轨支援、辅助航天员舱外活动、航天器编队飞行、空间交会对接等空间活动中具有重要应用。分析了快速受控绕飞的可行性和主要过程，建立了适用于目标航天器运行在圆轨道上的共面快速绕飞和进入绕飞与退出绕飞的轨迹设计模型，采用多速度脉冲控制方法和等角度，等时间控制方式对绕飞轨迹进行控制。仿真计算结果表明所提出的快速受控绕飞轨迹设计模型和控制方法可以实现对圆轨道目标航天器的共面快速受控绕飞。     

A DLR small satellite mission for the investigation of hot spots, vegetation and clouds

Starting from their FIRES proposal [1]the DLR makes a new approach in the design of a small satellite mission dedicated to hot spot detection and evaluation: the BIRD mission. The new approach is characterized by a strict design-to-cost philosophy. A two-channel infrared sensor system in combination with a Wide-Angle Optoelectronic Stereo Scanner (WAOSS) shall be the payload of a small satellite (80kg) considered for piggyback launch. So the launch is not a main cost driver as for other small satellite missions with dedicated launchers. The paper describes the mission objectives, the scientific payload, the spacecraft bus, and the mission architecture of a small satellite mission dedicated to the investigation of hot spots (forest fires, volcanic activities, burning oil wells or coal seams), of vegetation condition and changes and of clouds. The paper represents some results of a phase A study and of the progressing phase B.     

The Brazilian scientific microsatellite SACI-1

The National Space Research Institute (INPE) is developing the first Brazilian Scientific Microsatellite (SACI-1) based on the vanguard technology and on the experience acquired through projects developed by Brazilian Space Program. The SACI-1 is a 750km polar orbit satellite. The spacecraft will combine spin stabilization with geomagnetic control and has a total mass of 60 kg. The overall dimensions are 640×470×470 mm. The SACI-1 satellite shall be launched together with CBERS (China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite). Its platform is being designed for multiple mission applications. The Brazilian Academy of Sciences has selected four scientific payloads that characterize the mission. The scientific experiments are: ORCAS (Solar and Anomalous Cosmic Rays Observation in the Magnetosphere), PLASMEX (Study of Plasma Bubbles), FOTSAT (Airglow Photometer), and MAGNEX (Geomagnetic Experiment).     

国外中继卫星对航天器交会对接的测控通信支持

中继卫星系统的天基测控通信是近代航天技术的重大突破,它能够有效地满足航天器交会对接的测控通信需要。文章分析了美国＂跟踪与数据中继卫星系统＂（TDRSS）和欧洲＂阿特米斯＂（ARTEMIS）中继卫星对＂自动转移飞行器＂（ATV）与＂国际空间站＂（ISS）交会对接任务的测控通信支持,总结了国外中继卫星系统支持航天器交会对接...     

微小卫星热控系统的研究现状及发展趋势

文章针对微小航天器研究现状和发展需求给热控系统设计带来的难点和挑战,从传热学和控制学两个角度,对近年来微小卫星热控领域出现的先进的热量收集、传输和排放装置展开论述;追踪了国内外学者提出的热控发展新的理论和方案。总之,开展各种智能、灵巧的航天器热控部件研究及针对高性能传热装置的控制策略研究是由微小卫星的结构布局和任务特点所决定的必然要求和发展趋势。     

挠性飞行器的脉冲调制控制

三轴稳定控制是大挠性飞行器有效和重要的姿态控制方式，喷嘴控制是实现三轴稳定控制的手段之一。本文针对伪速率调制器（ＰＳＲＭ）和脉冲调宽调频调制器（ＰＷＰＦＭ），采用非线性脉冲调制器线性化和描述函数两种方法来分析大挠性航天飞行器的姿态稳定性问题，并对某型卫星的远地点点火姿态控制系统进行了分析和仿真。     

航天器热设计中的系统性和鲁棒性

从航天器系统设计最优的角度,讨论了热设计应关注的几个问题:系统最优而非分系统指标最优的热设计原则,合理并充分利用航天器资源的热管理思路,解决航天器研制问题的热设计最小重构手段,适应航天器在轨意外故障的鲁棒性热设计方法。提出了现阶段航天器热设计应适当增加主动热控比例的设计原则;结合卫星应用实例,给出了充分利用电加热这种简单可靠的主动热控手段,来提高热设计鲁棒性,从而提升热设计系统性的方案和流程。     

Computational methodology to predict satellite system-level effects from impacts of untrackable space debris

This paper presents a computational methodology to predict the satellite system-level effects resulting from impacts of untrackable space debris particles. This approach seeks to improve on traditional risk assessment practices by looking beyond the structural penetration of the satellite and predicting the physical damage to internal components and the associated functional impairment caused by untrackable debris impacts. The proposed method combines a debris flux model with the Schäfer–Ryan–Lambert ballistic limit equation (BLE), which accounts for the inherent shielding of components positioned behind the spacecraft structure wall. Individual debris particle impact trajectories and component shadowing effects are considered and the failure probabilities of individual satellite components as a function of mission time are calculated. These results are correlated to expected functional impairment using a Boolean logic model of the system functional architecture considering the functional dependencies and redundancies within the system.     

The deep space 1 extended mission

The primary mission of Deep Space 1 (DS1), the first flight of the New Millennium program, completed successfully in September 1999, having exceeded its objectives of testing new, high-risk technologies important for future space and Earth science missions. DS1 is now in its extended mission, with plans to take advantage of the advanced technologies, including solar electric propulsion, to conduct an encounter with comet 19P/Borrelly in September 2001. During the extended mission, the spacecraft's commercial star tracker failed; this critical loss prevented the spacecraft from achieving three-axis attitude control or knowledge. A two-phase approach to recovering the mission was undertaken. The first involved devising a new method of pointing the high-gain antenna to Earth using the radio signal received at the Deep Space Network as an indicator of spacecraft attitude. The second was the development of new flight software that allowed the spacecraft to return to three-axis operation without substantial ground assistance. The principal new feature of this software is the use of the science camera as an attitude sensor. The differences between the science camera and the star tracker have important implications not only for the design of the new software but also for the methods of operating the spacecraft and conducting the mission. The ambitious rescue was fully successful, and the extended mission is back on track.     

解析求解非线性相对运动的最优重构问题

椭圆轨道相对运动模型的线性化导致其在大尺度相对运动应用中精度不能满足需求。针对任意椭圆轨道上的大尺度航天器编队最优重构问题,提出一种基于椭圆轨道非线性相对运动模型的近似解析求解方法。首先通过变分法建立了非线性最优重构问题的数学模型;然后采用摄动法,以偏近点角为积分变量求得了不含特殊积分的解析开环最优控制,有效地避免了真近点角域下最优控制解所含有的特殊积分。仿真验证了所求最优控制的有效性和优越性,结果表明在相对运动尺度较大时,相比基于椭圆轨道线性化模型的最优控制,在燃耗保持相近的情况下,所求非线性控制有效地降低了重构误差。     

Rosetta: The ESA comet rendezvous mission

Rosetta was selected in November 1993 for the ESA Cornerstone 3 mission, to be launched in 2003, dedicated to the exploration of the small bodies of the solar system (asteroids and comets). Following this selection, the Rosetta mission and its spacecraft have been completely reviewed: this paper presents the studies performed the proposed mission and the resulting spacecraft design.

Three mission opportunities have been identified in 2003–2004, allowing rendezvous with a comet. From a single Ariane 5 launch, the transfer to the comet orbit will be supported by planetary gravity assists (two from Earth, one from Venus or Mars); during the transfer sequence, two asteroid fly-bys will occur, allowing first mission science phases. The comet rendezvous will occur 8–9 years after launch; Rosetta will orbit around the comet and the main science mission phase will take place up to the comet perihelion (1–2 years duration).

The spacecraft design is driven (i) by the communication scenario with the Earth and its equipment, (ii) by the autonomy requirements for the long cruise phases which are not supported by the ground stations, (iii) by the solar cells solar array for the electrical power supply and (iv) by the navigation scenario and sensors for cruise, target approach and rendezvous phases. These requirements will be developed and the satellite design will be presented.     

A bistatic SAR mission for earth observation based on a small satellite

The authors present a new scientific space mission consisting of a satellite carrying a receiving- only SAR which receives the signal transmitted by the ENVISAT-1 SAR. The integration of ENVISAT-1 SAR and bistatic radar data offers an improved potentiality of surface classification, three-dimensional observation, and the opportunity of advanced scientific experiments in the field of bistatic scattering. The small satellite nominal orbit and the attitude manoeuvres are designed in order to maintain an adequate overlap between the two radar swaths along the whole orbit, taking into account the ENVISAT-1 attitude and pointing. A preliminary satellite design (2-year lifetime) is then performed to evaluate the orbit decay and to determine the appropriate orbit manoeuvres (every 4 days) to control the satellites relative phase. The numerical simulation shows that a spacecraft of about 584kg is able to meet the mission requirements.     

SSETO—Small Satellite for Exoplanetary Transit Observation

SSETO is the result of a phase-A study in context of the small satellite program of the University of Stuttgart that demonstrates the capability of a university institute to build a small satellite with a budget of 5 million Euro. The satellite will be capable of observing exoplanets in a Neptune–Earth scale and obtaining data of interstellar dust. Due to a system failure of NASA?s Kepler mission, there is currently (October 2013) a lack of satellites searching for exoplanets. This paper details the design of subsystems and payload, as well as the required test tasks in accordance with the mission profile at a conceptional level. The costs for standard spacecraft testing and integration tasks are included, but not those of launch, ground support, operations and engineer working hours.     

Research on constellation refueling based on formation flying

A new scheme for refueling satellite constellation is proposed in this paper. Compared with the traditional research, where the satellite refueling is implemented through spacecraft rendezvous and docking, the new pattern studied here is based on formation flying, and it is more feasible, safer and more reliable. On the grounds of the proposed pattern, two refueling strategies are studied. The first is called single supplier refueling (SSR) based on formation flying. In this scenario, one fuel-sufficient satellite called a supplier, departs from its parking orbit, and after a series of orbit maneuvers, arrives at the target constellation that consists of multiple fuel-deficient satellites called workers. It then transfers equal fuel to each worker within the prescribed mission time. The second strategy is called double suppliers refueling (DSR) based on formation flying. This time two suppliers take charge of refueling half of the workers respectively in the same way as SSR. Using a genetic algorithm, the orbit of a supplier with a minimum consumption of fuel can be obtained once the mission time is fixed. Simulation results indicate that DSR is superior to SSR and that this dominance will be more distinct as the number of workers increases and the mission time decreases.     

航天器自主任务规划修复技术研究进展

结合航天器自主能力发展的迫切需求，阐述了航天器自主任务规划修复的必要性和难点。给出了航天器自主任务规划修复技术、航天器任务规划稳定性和规划修复问题的定义。根据规划执行失败时采用的修复策略，将自主任务规划修复技术分为规则匹配型、局部调整型、删除/求精型、状态转移型和构造新问题型五类。重点归纳了各类自主任务规划修复技术的研究进展和特点，分析了规划稳定性的定量评价方法。并在对目前任务规划修复方法总结分析的基础上，给出了未来航天器自主任务规划修复技术的研究方向建议。     

深空环境下卫星编队飞行队形重构实时重规划

针对深空环境中卫星编队自主队形重构的机动问题,设计了队形重构过程中的实时重规划方案。在每次重规划过程中首先用Legendre伪谱法将当前时刻到终端时刻的重构问题离散化为非线性规划问题;其次,根据卫星编队飞行队形重构的特点,使用协同进化粒子群(CPSO)方法对每次重规划进行求解,该方法既避免了传统优化方法对复杂问题梯度的求解,又能在整个优化过程中保证约束条件的满足,并且能够事先为粒子群的进化提供大致方向,极大地提高了每次重规划的计算速度;最后,提出了重构过程中具体的重规划策略,以保证队形重构的顺利进行。仿真结果表明,与传统的控制方法相比,在重构过程中,该方法能够在初始给定轨迹的基础上进一步优化,可以有效降低重构过程的能量消耗,并能够避免重构过程中碰撞的发生。