The future of launch vehicles

This article traces the development of satellite launch vehicles from the derivatives of long-range ballistic missiles to the current Ariane and Space Shuttle programmes. Looking to the next generation of launchers, the author outlines current thinking on reusable vehicles, focusing particularly on the British Aerospace/Rolls Royce HOTOL concept.     

The famous son of Ukrainian people V.I. Voznyuk who has provided launch of all ballistic missiles of the cosmodrome Kapustin Yar

The history of the life of V.I. Voznyuk is a history of the phenomenon of the Soviet rocket progress when the engineers with experience of launch of military rocket of small radius of action were testing the ballistic missiles. The remarkable and little-known destiny of Voznuk is the history of the Soviet rocket technology experts who had a severe practical schooling of command by the military forces of the first combat missiles “Katucha” during the grim military years (including the grandiose fight in Stalingrad) and then they have continued to launch the ballistic missiles. V.I. Voznyuk worked as the chief of the first Soviet cosmodrome Kapustin Yar for almost 30 years—since the most difficult moment of its organization. He organized a launch of the first Soviet ballistic missiles R-1, R-2, R-5M of S. Korolev. This report is about the outstanding achievement of the organizing ability of V.I. Voznyuk—about the launch of a missile with a nuclear warhead in 1956. V.I. Voznyuk closes a unique chain in the world of outstanding figures of space-rocket technology who were born or lived in Ukraine from designers of missile up to the organizers of its manufacture and now up to the organizers of the tests of rockets—J. Aizenberg, V. Budnik, O. Baclanov, V. Dogujiev, M. Galasj, N. Gerasuta, V. Gluschko, B. Gubanov, A. Gudimenko, I. Ivanov, G. Kesunjko, B. Konoplev, S. Korolev, V. Kovtunenko, V. Kukuschkin, O. Makarov, A. Nedaivoda, M. Reshetniyov, Yu. Semenov, V. Sergeev, Yu. Smetanin, V. Tchelomey, D. Torchiy, V. Utkin and M. Yangel.     

基于变结构控制的前向拦截导引方法

对于来袭的高速大机动弹道导弹特别是洲际弹道导弹，由于其速度很高，应用常规的尾追式或迎击式拦截方式，对拦截弹的速度、机动性、准确性都有更高的要求，所以难度较大，为此产生了一种新型的前向拦截导引方法，设计了一种基于变结构控制的前向拦截导引律，它具有导引精度高、需求过载小等优点，数字仿真验证了所给方法的有效性。     

Capabilities to Control the Throw-Weight of Ballistic Missiles by the Mobile Radar Data

The methods of estimating the throw-weight of ballistic missiles are analyzed on the basis of radar observations of different phases of BM trajectory from the instant of launch to the instant of impact of detachable elements. Approximate estimations of the accuracy of resulting estimations of mass, which are achieved by modern radars obtaining the data from three main phases of the BM trajectory, are given.     

基于轨迹特征的预警系统目标识别

文章针对弹道导弹预警系统目标识别任务的特点,通过分析弹道导弹和卫星目标间的运动特性差异,给出了预警雷达基于最小矢径这一特征区分弹道导弹和卫星的流程,并分析了弹道导弹射程、雷达测量精度、观测时间、采样间隔等因素对此流程的影响。仿真结果表明:利用最小矢径实现弹道导弹和卫星的区分是可行的,而且此法对雷达测量精度要求不是特别高。     

预警卫星H∞回路成形复合控制研究

针对预警卫星系统所具有的建模不确定性与干扰不确定性,为了实现凝视相机对战术弹道导弹的快速、高精度自动跟踪指向控制,设计了具有鲁棒稳定性的星体姿态与相机跟踪指向的复合控制系统.先利用拉格朗日法建立了预警卫星系统的动力学模型,在研究凝视相机对战术弹道导弹跟踪规律的基础上,运用H∞回路成形理论设计了星体姿态和相机跟踪指向的复...     

北斗工程IGSO/MEO/GEO发射轨道设计

随着我国航天事业的蓬勃发展,运载火箭发射要求也呈现多样化。北斗卫星导航系统是我国自行研制的全球卫星导航系统,经历三步跨越式发展,目前已经全面建成。CZ-3A系列火箭承担了北斗工程全部发射任务,该工程对火箭倾斜同步转移轨道（IGTO）、中圆转移轨道（MTO）、地球同步转移轨道（GTO）新类型轨道要求。介绍了该类轨道特点,讨论了火箭发射方案、发射轨道设计及高空风双向补偿方法。实际飞行考核充分证明了发射轨道设计的正确性,设计方法确保了北斗工程全部发射任务取得圆满成功,为北斗工程顺利实施奠定了基础。     

Mars Direct: Humans to the red planet by 1999

“Mars Direct”, is an approach to the space Exploration Initiative that allows for the rapid initiation of manned Mars exploration, possibly as early as 1999. The approach does not require any on-orbit assembly or refueling or any support from the Space Station or other orbital infrastructure. Furthermore, the Mars Direct plan is not merely a “flags and footprints” one-shot expedition, but puts into place immediately an economical method of Earth-Mars transportation, real surface exploratory mobility, and significant base capabilities that can evolve into a mostly self-sufficient Mars settlement. This paper presents both the initial and evolutionary phases of the Mars Direct plan. In the initial phase, only chemical propulsion is used, sendig 4 persons on conjunction class Mars exploratory missions. Two heavy lift booster launches are required to support each mission. The first launch delivers an unfueled Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) to the martian surface, where it fills itself with methane/oxygen bipropellant manufactured primarily out of indigenous resources. After propellant production is completed, a second launch delivers the crew to the prepared site, where they conduct regional exploration for 1.5 years and then return directly to Earth in the ERV. In the second phase of Mars Direct, nuclear thermal propulsion is used to cut crew transit times in half, increase cargo delivery capacity, and to create the potential for true global mobility through the use of CO₂ propelled ballistic hopping vehicles (“NIMFs”). In this paper we present both phases of the Mars Direct plan, including mission architecture, vehicle designs, and exploratory strategy leading to the establishment of a 48 person permanent Mars base. Some speculative thoughts on the possibility of actually colonizing Mars are also presented.     

Registration of the 12 December 2012 satellite launch by North Korea: Should UNOOSA have accepted it?

The transmittal letter from North Korea to the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs in January 2013 of the registration of the placement in orbit of the North Korea satellite, Bright Star 3-2, in December 2012 raised a number of interesting legal issues. Specifically, the United Nations Security Council had adopted Resolution 2087 on the 22nd of January 2013 that condemned that North Korean launch due to the use of ballistic missile technology and that the launch was in violation of two prior UN Resolutions. The status of the satellite itself was not addressed in Resolution 2087, and the question of whether the satellite should be registered by the UNOOSA was unclear. This note concludes that the UNOOSA was legally bound to register the satellite under the terms of the Outer Space Treaty and the Registration Convention.     

An inconvenient regulatory truth: Divergence in US and EU satellite export control policies on China

Since the early 1990s the USA has maintained export control sanctions against Chinese international commercial satellite launch services. In 1998 these sanctions were further strengthened, resulting in a de facto international embargo that is premised on ITAR export licenses. Since 1998 this de facto embargo has effectively prohibited China from launching Western commercial satellites of a sophisticated technological standard. Today, European commercial satellite manufacturers are positioned to fully benefit from ITAR-free technology investments, gaining access to Chinese launch services for the launch of commercial telecommunication satellites that are technologically comparable to US satellites. This article examines the policy implications for the USA in light of EU regulatory divergence and the impending return of China to the international commercial launch services market.     

精确跟踪空间系统发展概况及对抗措施分析

美国导弹防御局将精确跟踪空间系统(PTSS)计划视为未来10年国土和地区防御中最大的提高,PTSS将提供来袭弹道导弹整个飞行弹道的火控跟踪数据,可直接引导武器系统发射拦截导弹,显著扩大了拦截弹的防御作战范围。在深入分析PTSS系统发展概况、功能特性的基础上,围绕BM突防需求,探讨了针对PTSS跟踪相机的对抗技术措施。     

长征三号甲系列运载火箭高适应性发展——从总体与导航制导控制的视角

从总体与导航制导控制的视角,对长征三号甲系列运载火箭发展与成就进行了分析和小结。长征三号甲系列运载火箭,在长征三号运载火箭解决我国发射高轨道卫星有无问题的基础上,历经基本能力、适应能力、高适应能力的发展,具备了高轨道大型卫星运载能力,突破了从单一轨道面到三维空间各种轨道发射、从高轨卫星转移轨道到工作轨道发射、从地球轨道到地月轨道发射以及从航天技术试验到高可靠工程应用发射等关键技术,使我国运载火箭整体能力取得了地球全轨道发射、星际轨道发射等跨越发展。航天重大工程和国际商业发射表明,该系列运载火箭已进入世界高轨道航天器发射的运载火箭前列,并奠定了进一步开拓发展的基础。     

MD-GBR雷达对弹道导弹目标识别

以评估美国国家导弹防御(NMD)系统雷达识别能力为背景,分析了空间目标典型特征和中段弹道导弹目标特性,提出了地基雷达识别弹道导弹目标的技术途径.根据弹道导弹目标群在飞行中段表现出的特性,提出了涉及目标结构特性、姿态特性以及极化特性的综合识别策略,并初步分析了各种识别措施的可行性.     

International cooperation in assuring continuity of environmental satellite data

In the 25 years since the launch of the first weather satellite, meteorological observations from space have become an essential part of weather forecasting and global environmental monitoring. Beginning in the 1970s, constrained national budgets and the need for a coordinated approach to global satellite observing have caused satellite operators to pursue international cooperation to assure the continuity and compatibility of these systems. This article reviews current bilateral and multilateral cooperation and technical coordination in environmental satellite activities. It also explores the potential for alternative institutional arrangements for maintaining the continuity of environmental satellite data in the decades to come.     

Russian and Ukrainian satellites to observe the oceans

The Russian/CIS space programme is planning launches from the world’s oceans. In July 1998 a small German satellite was launched from a Russian submarine, the first launch of its kind. A whole family of submarine-launched missiles is available for commercial launches of this kind. In addition, 1999 should see the first flight in the Sea Launch programme which brings together Russian, Ukrainian, US and Norwegian experience.     

Will we see a regional or global duopoly in the satellite manufacturing industry? The European perspective

Consolidation in the aerospace industry in the 1990s has been swift and dramatic as companies strive to gain size and scale in order to better compete both in the global aerospace commercial market and in the regional institutional market. Restructuring has stalled, however, in the satellite manufacturing industry since the turn of the century. And, despite the significant over-capacity that plagues the market and the financial stress endured by satellite manufacturers, the industry has shown remarkable resistance to restructuring and adapting itself to the new market size and reality. This paper explores whether the current satellite manufacturing industry structure is sustainable, or whether it will evolve towards a global or regional duopoly (one or two satellite manufacturers on each side of the Atlantic), by focusing on the European side of this hypothesis.     

The European contribution to a global civil navigation satellite system

Space technology revolutionizes navigation. It will become the method for any task of position, velocity, range determination and time distribution. The existing navigation satellite systems of the USA (GPS) and of Russia (GLONASS) are military systems. They only partly meet the requirements of civil safety critical applications. A global civil navigation satellite system (GNSS) is required. The European Union (EU) has recognized the importance of satellite based navigation and its role for transportation in general and for the development of the Trans-European Network (TEN) in particular. It has therefore decided to become a major partner in the development of the GNSS. In this article a concept is proposed which starts with a European regional segment (ENSS) as an element for the integrated global system. This concept requires the establishment of international standards to enable seamless global service. It has the advantage of meeting both the particular demands of regions and civil user groups.     

Ten years of Arianespace

This article celebrates the tenth birthday of Europe's satellite launch corporation. It was born at a time when expendable launch vehicles were widely believed to be redundant, but has confounded its critics to become the leader in the world commercial satellite launch market. The author notes the milestones on Arianespace's path, and expresses confidence in its ability to the growing competitive challenge of the 1990s.     

弹道导弹的飞行试验与精度鉴定

通过总结我国第一代弹道导弹的研制经验,分析国外导弹试验和精度鉴定工作的经验,对工作程序、试验弹道选择、飞行试验发数安排与精度鉴定等问题进行了讨论,并提出了对我国第二代弹道导弹精度鉴定工作对策的初步思考。     

机动发射弹道导弹集群诸元快速规划

针对机动发射条件下弹道导弹集群的飞行诸元快速规划问题，将神经网络预测与最小二乘优化相结合，提出了一种弹道导弹发射诸元快速规划方法。首先分析了弹道导弹助推段飞行策略并选取适当的发射诸元，以发落点信息为输入，设计双隐藏层诸元预测网络，通过弹道仿真获取弹道数据建立数据集完成网络训练，利用该网络可以得到发射诸元迭代初值。在此基础上，为了消除数据集中样本数据不平衡对发射诸元规划精度的影响，以落点射程、横程、高程偏差最小为指标函数，结合最小二乘优化方法进行迭代获得发射诸元精确解。最后在典型发射场景下，进行了弹道导弹集群机动快速发射仿真验证。结果表明，该方法相较于传统方法可显著提高计算速度与精度，且在给定的大范围机动条件下，能够满足弹道导弹集群对远距离、多目标的快速精确打击。