A two-dimensional approach to multibody free dynamics in space environment

The equation of motion of a multibody system, described here as a chain of rigid bars and revolute joints orbiting around the Earth, is derived.

For each bar two translational and one rotational equilibrium equations are written. The forces acting on each body are the gravitational forces and the reaction forces (unknown) acting on it's end joints. The complete set of equilibrium equations consists of N_X differential equations, where N_X is the order of the state vector. The total number of unknowns is N_X+N_R where N_R=2N_J and N_J is the number of joints. The N_R additional equations, to make the system determinate, are provided by the nondifferential compatibility equations.

The resulting system is a set of differential algebraic equations (DAE) for which the well-known method of reducing the system to ordinary differential equations (ODE) is applied.

Since the internal forces are associated with the relative displacements between the bodies, which are small fractions of the distance of the multibody spacecraft from the center of the Earth, the task of obtaining these forces from inertial coordinates, from a numerical viewpoint, could be impossible. So the problem is reformulated in such a way that the equation of motion of the system, contains global quantities where no internal forces appear, and local equations where internal forces do appear. In the latter one, only quantities of the same order of the spacecraft dimensions are present. Numerical results complete the work.     

Optimal control of the deployment process of solar wings on spacecraft

The optimal attitude control problem of spacecraft during the stretching process of solar wings is investigated in this paper. The dynamical equations of the nonholonomic system are derived from the conservation principle of the angular momentum of the multibody system. Attitude control of the spacecraft with internal motion is reduced to a nonholonomic motion planning problem. The spacecraft attitude control is transformed into the steering problem for a drift free control system. The optimal solution for steering a spacecraft with solar wings is presented. The controlled motion of spacecraft is simulated for two cases. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimal control approach.     

Cubature Kalman filtering for relative spacecraft attitude and position estimation

A novel relative spacecraft attitude and position estimation approach based on cubature Kalman filter is derived. The integrated sensor suit comprises the gyro sensors on each spacecraft and a vision-based navigation system on the deputy spacecraft. In the traditional algorithm, an assumption that the chief?s body frame coincides with its Local Vertical Local Horizontal (LVLH) frame is made to construct the line-of-sight observations for convenience. To solve this problem, two relative quaternions that map the chief?s LVLH frame to the deputy and chief body frames are involved. The general relative equations of motion for eccentric orbits are used to describe the positional dynamics. The implementation equations for the cubature Kalman filter are derived. Simulation results indicate that the proposed filter provides more accurate estimates of relative attitude and position over than the extended Kalman filter.     

Optimization of space orbits design for Earth orbiting missions

In Earth orbiting space missions, the orbit selection dictates the mission parameters like the ground resolution, the area coverage, and the frequency of coverage parameters. To achieve desired mission parameters, usually Earth regions of interest are identified and the spacecraft is maneuvered continuously to visit only these regions. This method is expensive, it requires a propulsion system onboard the spacecraft, working throughout the mission lifetime. It also requires a longer time to cover all the regions of interest, due to the very weak thrust forces compared to that of the Earth's gravitational field. This paper presents a methodology to design natural orbits, in which the regions of interest are visited without the use of propulsion systems, depending only on the gravitational forces. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem. A genetic algorithm along with a second order gradient method is implemented for optimization. The design process takes into consideration the gravitational second zonal harmonic, and hence allows for the design of repeated Sun-synchronous orbits. The field of view of the payload is also taken into consideration in the optimization process. Numerical results are presented that demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed method.     

Multi-structural estimation of an integrated navigation system of a reusable spacecraft

An approach to the synthesis of an integrated navigation system is considered for a reusable space-craft that performs an arbitrary spatial maneuver under the conditions of internal and external disturbances. The offered approach provides for a noise-suppressing solution of the navigation problem, both in a regular mode of spacecraft motion, and during its descent along the unplanned trajectory.     

航天器近程编队自主协同相对导航方法

针对GNSS(全球导航卫星系统)拒止环境下近圆轨道多航天器近距离编队自主协同相对导航问题,提出了利用测角相机偏离航天器质心安装时的杆臂效应和多航天器之间几何一致性约束来实现相对导航的方法。首先,在第二轨道坐标下分别建立了基于Hill Clohessy Wiltshire方程的多航天器编队相对轨道演化模型、测角相机偏离质心安装情况下的相对视线角测量模型;然后,引入多航天器之间几何约束建立了相对轨道状态的一致性约束模型,并基于该约束模型设计了一致性扩展卡尔曼滤波估计算法;接着,对所建立的相对导航模型进行了相对轨道状态的可观测性分析,得到了使相对轨道可观测的相机偏置安装条件;最后,通过数值仿真实验对所提算法进行了校验,并与一致性无约束条件下的估计算法进行了对比分析。仿真结果表明,本文所提算法的相对位置误差能够快速收敛,在5 m传感器偏置和10 -3 rad量级测角误差条件下,多航天器相对定位误差在10 m以内。     

INS/CNS/GNSS组合导航系统信息分析及其滤波器设计

分析了INS/CNS/GNSS组合导航系统信息结构的特殊性 ,指出在此情况下应用联邦滤波器进行状态估计的信息不对等。针对此类情形 ,设计了几种滤波器的结构 ,分析了所设计滤波器的信息构成及信息的分配与融合 ,并尝试提出伪联邦滤波器的概念。本文所讨论的情形及设计的滤波器结构可以推广到一般的同类情形 ,并应用到相似的多传感器信息融合系统中     

Equilibrium attitude and stability of a spacecraft on a stationary orbit around an asteroid

The stationary orbits around an asteroid, if exist, can be used for communication and navigation purposes just as around the Earth. The equilibrium attitude and stability of a rigid spacecraft on a stationary orbit around a uniformly-rotating asteroid are studied. The linearized equations of attitude motion are obtained under the small motion assumption. Then, the equilibrium attitude is determined in both cases of a general and a symmetrical spacecraft. Due to the higher-order inertia integrals of the spacecraft, the equilibrium attitude is slightly away from zero Euler angles. Then necessary conditions of stability of this conservative system are analyzed based on the linearized equations of motion. The effects of different parameters, including the harmonic coefficients C₂₀ and C₂₂ of the asteroid and higher-order inertia integrals of the spacecraft, on the stability are assessed and compared. Due to the significantly non-spherical shape and rapid rotation of the asteroid, the effects of the harmonic coefficients C₂₀ and C₂₂ are very significant, while effects of the third- and fourth-order inertia integrals of the spacecraft can be neglected. Considering a spacecraft on a stationary orbit around an example asteroid, we show that the classical stability domain predicted by the Beletskii–DeBra–Delp method on a circular orbit in a central gravity field is modified due to the non-spherical mass distribution of the asteroid. Our results are confirmed by a numerical simulation.     

用Kane方法建立的空间站大型伸展机构柔性多体动力学模型

本文采用Ｋａｎｅ方法建立了空间站大型伸展机构柔性多体系统动力学模型。该模型考虑了系统的轨道运动、姿态运动、构件伸展运动和构件弹性运动，通过约束矩阵建立系统的约束关系，所得方程具有程式化特点，便于计算机编程。该模型还可适用于空间飞行器、地面车辆、复杂机械等多体系统。     

Determination of parameters of rotational motion of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monitor-E</Emphasis> spacecraft from the telemetry data on solar batteries’ current

The Monitor-E spacecraft executed uncontrolled flight due to emergency situation, no telemetry information on parameters of the spacecraft’s attitude motion being available. So, the problem arose to determine the spacecraft’s rotational motion from the accessible indirect information—the electric current provided by solar batteries. In this paper the integrated statistical technique is described, that allows one to solve this problem. The values of current, obtained over the time interval some tens of minutes long, have been processed simultaneously by the least squares method using the integration of the equations of spacecraft’s rotational motion. As a result of processing, the initial conditions of motion were estimated, and the spacecraft’s moments of inertia were updated, as well as the angles, specifying solar batteries position in the spacecraft-fixed coordinate system. The results of processing of 12 data sets are presented, which allowed us to reconstruct the actual rotational motion of the spacecraft.     

微重力环境中重力梯度加速度引起的流体晃动运动

本文研究了关于旋转轴在贮箱的非对称轴上且远离贮箱的几何中心情况下，流体在微重力环境中由重力梯度加速度诱发的晃动特性，建立了问题的数学模型并对模型进行了数值模拟。以高级Ｘ射线天文物理实验卫星（简称ＡＸＡＦ─Ｓ）作为研究对象，获得了由旋转运动引起的重力梯度加速度的数学表达式。晃动问题的数值计算以与卫星固连的非惯性坐标系为基础，目的是寻求一种较为易处理且适合于流体力学方程的边界和初始条件。通过数值计算获得了流体作用于卫星贮箱上的力和力矩。     

The Use of Quaternions in the Optimal Control Problems of Motion of the Center of Mass of a Spacecraft in a Newtonian Gravitational Field: I

The problem of optimal control is considered for the motion of the center of mass of a spacecraft in a central Newtonian gravitational field. For solving the problem, two variants of the equations of motion for the spacecraft center of mass are used, written in rotating coordinate systems. Both the variants have a quaternion variable among the phase variables. In the first variant this variable characterizes the orientation of an instantaneous orbit of the spacecraft and (simultaneously) the spacecraft location in this orbit, while in the second variant only the instantaneous orbit orientation is specified by it. The suggested equations are convenient in the respect that they allow the general three-dimensional problem of optimal control by the motion of the spacecraft center of mass to be considered as a composition of two interrelated problems. In the first variant these problems are (1) the problem of control of the shape and size of the spacecraft orbit and (2) the problem of control of the orientation of a spacecraft orbit and the spacecraft location in this orbit. The second variant treats (1) the problem of control of the shape and size of the spacecraft orbit and the orbit location of the spacecraft and (2) the problem of control of the orientation of the spacecraft orbit. The use of quaternion variables makes this consideration most efficient. The problem of optimal control is solved on the basis of the maximum principle. Several first integrals of the systems of equations of the boundary value problems of the maximum principle are found. Transformations are suggested that reduce the dimensions of the systems of differential equations of boundary value problems (without complicating them). Geometrical interpretations are given to the transformations and first integrals. The relation of the vectorial first integral of one of the derived systems of equations (which is an analog of the well-known vectorial first integral of the studied problem of optimal control) with the found quaternion first integral is considered. In this paper, which is the first part of the work, we consider the models of motion of the spacecraft center of mass that employ quaternion variables. The problem of optimal control by the motion of the spacecraft center of mass is investigated on the basis of the first variant of equations of motion. An example of a numerical solution of the problem is given.     

柔性绳网动力学建模与天地差异性分析

采用有限元模型研究了柔性绳网系统的动力学特性。针对空间绳网直接弹射展开方式,首先将绳网离散为若干单元,各单元处理为非线性“半阻尼弹簧”模型,然后分别计算各单元所受气动力和重力,最终建立绳网系统多柔体动力学模型。基于所建立的动力学模型分别对柔性绳网在地面和太空展开的动力学过程进行了仿真分析,研究了绳网在展开面积、空间位形和飞行距离等方面的天地差异性及其动力学机理,为未来空间绳网系统的分析设计提供理论参考。     

Ballistics, navigation, and motion control for a spacecraft during its landing on the surface of Phobos

Basic concepts and algorithms laid as foundations of the scheme of landing on the Martian moon Phobos (developed for the Phobos-Grunt project) are presented. The conditions ensuring the landing are discussed. Algorithms of onboard navigation and control are described. The equations of spacecraft motion with respect to Phobos are considered, as well as their use for correction of the spacecraft motion. The algorithm of estimation of the spacecraft’s state vector using measurements with a laser altimeter and Doppler meter of velocity and distance is presented. A system for modeling the landing with a firmware complex including a prototype of the onboard computer is described.     

时变拓扑卫星集群分布式自主相对导航方法

针对时变拓扑卫星集群的相对导航需求,提出了基于图论的时变拓扑分布式一致性无迹卡尔曼滤波算法。首先给出了固定拓扑卫星集群的相对运动方程、测角测距测量模型和无迹卡尔曼滤波算法,然后考虑测角失效时相对导航系统不可观或弱可观的问题,结合矢量环一致性约束,构造了一致性无迹卡尔曼滤波算法,以提高系统的可观度;在此基础上,针对时变拓扑卫星集群,以滤波精度为优化指标,在图论的基础上利用Dijkstra算法对卫星集群的时变拓扑结构进行重构,并将重构后的拓扑结构应用于卫星集群相对导航。仿真结果表明所提算法能有效改善不完备测量带来的模糊轨道问题,并且能够实现实时的拓扑重构,以满足时变拓扑星群的相对导航精度要求。     

Determination of an Estimation of Parameters of Motion of a Spacecraft on the Stage of Its Descent on the Basis of Integration of Inertial and Optoelectronic Navigation Systems

The problem of determining an estimation of current spacecraft motion parameters on the stage of its descent is solved on the basis of readings of an optoelectronic navigation system and additional information from the self-contained inertial navigation system at the most general assumptions on the nature of motion of the object and the statistical properties of the noise of the measuring devices.     

带挠性附件卫星的模型化及截断

本文给出了具有中心刚体和P个挠性附件的空间飞行器姿态动力学方程式,并用约束和非约束两种模态展开,得到时域求解的状态方程式和频域中的增广姿态角对控制力矩的逆传递函数阵。推导中考虑了挠性附件对中心刚体的相对运动。本文还给出了两种模态恒等式,其中之一可用来做控制系统分析时截断高阶方程式的截断准则。     

Nonlinear feedback control of low-thrust orbital transfer in a central gravitational field

This paper investigates the problem of continuous-thrust orbital transfer using orbital elements feedback from a nonlinear control standpoint, utilizing concepts of controllability, feedback stabilizability and their interaction. Gauss's variational equations (GVEs) are used to model the state-space dynamics of motion under a central gravitational field. First, the notion of accessibility is reviewed. It is then shown that the GVEs are globally accessible. Based on the accessibility result, a nonlinear feedback controller is derived which asymptotically steers a spacecraft form an initial elliptic orbit to any given elliptic orbit. The performance of the new controller is illustrated by simulating an orbital transfer between two geosynchronous Earth orbits. It is shown that the low-thrust controller requires less fuel than an impulsive maneuver for the same transfer time. Closed-form, analytic expressions for the new orbital transfer controller are given. Finally, it is proven, based on a topological nonlinear stabilizability test, that there does not exist a continuous closed-loop controller that can transfer a spacecraft onto a parabolic escape trajectory.     

One optimization problem for trajectories of spacecraft rendezvous mission to a group of asteroids

The optimization problem is considered for the trajectory of a spacecraft mission to a group of asteroids. The ratio of the final spacecraft mass to the flight time is maximized. The spacecraft is controlled by changing the value and direction of the jet engine thrust (small thrust). The motion of the Earth, asteroids, and the spacecraft proceeds in the central Newtonian gravitational field of the Sun. The Earth and asteroids are considered as point objects moving in preset elliptical orbits. The spacecraft departure from the Earth is considered in the context of the method of a point-like sphere of action, and the excess of hyperbolic velocity is limited. It is required sequentially to have a rendezvous with asteroids from four various groups, one from each group; it is necessary to be on the first three asteroids for no less than 90 days. The trajectory is finished by arrival at the last asteroid. Constraints on the time of departure from the Earth, flight duration, and final mass are taken into account in this problem.     

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.