高轨目标监视系统星座设计和探测效能分析

针对高轨目标编目与成像的应用需求，提出一种运行于亚同步轨道、兼具对同步带目标远距离探测编目和近距离成像侦察的高轨天基星座。根据同步带目标探测编目要求，推导和分析了星座的轨道部署和光学相机扫描方式对目标探测效能的影响，确定了顺行轨道的双星星座可行解更多，综合探测效能更高。设计了一种符合顺光观测约束的姿态导引律，结合可行解中选取一组解进行仿真，结果表明：在夏至和秋分两种工况下，采用顺行轨道的双星星座，可对轨道倾角不大于相机半视场的所有同步带目标进行无缝遍历，且每天的探测次数不小于4次，观测弧长不小于1分钟，与理论推导一致。     

A Geosynchronous Orbit Search Strategy

Since more than 10 years there is evidence that small-size space debris is accumulating in the geosynchronous orbit (GEO), probably as the result of breakups. Two break-ups have been reported in GEO. The 1978 break-up of an EKRAN 2 satellite, SSN 10365, was identified in 1992, and in 1992 a Titan 3C Transtage, SSN 3432, break-up produced at least twenty observable pieces. Subsequently several nations performed optical surveys of the GEO region in the form of independent observation campaigns. Such surveys suffer from the fact that the field of view of optical telescopes is small compared with the total area covered by the GEO ring. As a consequence only a small volume of the orbital element-magnitude-space is covered by each individual survey. Results from these surveys are thus affected by observational biases and therefore difficult to compare. This paper describes the development of a common search strategy to overcome these limitations. The strategy optimizes the sampling for objects in orbits similar to the orbits of the known GEO population but does not exclude the detection of objects with other orbital planes. A properly designed common search strategy clearly eases the comparison of results from different groups and the extrapolation from the sparse (biased) samples to the entire GEO environment.     

Observations in the thermal IR and visible of a retired satellite in the graveyard orbit,and comparisons to active satellites in GEO

There exists a population of defunct satellites in the geo-stationary arc that potentially pose a hazard to current and future operational satellites. These drifting, non-station-kept objects have a variety of ages and sizes, and many are trapped in libration orbits around the Earth?s two gravitational potential wells (the non-spherical nature of the Earth gives rise to two geo-potential wells or “stable points” that affect objects in geostationary and geosynchronous orbits), whereas others were boosted to higher altitudes into so-called “graveyard” orbits.     

陆探四号01星微波通道在轨自主相位补偿方法

地球同步轨道星载合成孔径雷达系统单次成像任务时间长达千秒级且具有较高热耗。成像过程中,多通道射频链路上多种设备均会发生插入相移随温度漂移现象,导致方位向相位相关性变差进而影响系统的成像性能。为了解决该问题,文章中提出了一种在轨自主实时温度相位补偿方法。该方法将上百台设备/电缆的温度相位数据进行优化存储,在成像时实时读取温度后查表计算链路相位变化并进行补偿,具有灵活适应多种模式、存储及逻辑轻量、可靠稳定等特点。仿真和测试验证了该方法可有效提升系统长时间工作工况下成像性能,已成功实现在轨应用。     

Ground assisted rendezvous with geosynchronous satellites for the disposal of space debris by means of Earth-oriented tethers

Previous studies have shown that extended length Earth-oriented tethers in the geosynchronous (GEO) region can be used to re-orbit satellites to disposal orbits. One such approach involves the extension of a GEO based tether, collection of a debris object, and retraction of the tether, which transfers the retracted configuration to a higher energy orbit for debris disposal. The re-extension of the tether after debris disposal returns the configuration to the near-GEO altitude. The practical feasibility of such a system depends on the ability to collect GEO debris objects, attach them to a deployed tether system, and retract the tethers for transfer to the disposal orbits.This study addresses the collection and delivery of debris objects to the deployed tether system in GEO. The investigation considers the number, type and the characteristics of the debris objects as well as the collection tug that can be ground controlled to detect, rendezvous and dock with the debris objects for their delivery to the tethers system.A total of more than 400 objects are in drift orbits crossing all longitudes either below or above the geostationary radius. More than 130 objects are also known to librate around the stable points in GEO with periods of libration up to five or more years. A characterization of the position and velocity of the debris objects relative to the collection tug is investigated. Typical rendezvous performance requirements for uncooperative GEO satellites are examined, and the similarities with other approaches such as the ESA's CX-OLEV commercial mission proposal to extend the life of geostationary telecommunication satellites are noted.     

A preliminary study of pulse-laser powered orbital launcher

An air-breathing pulse-laser powered orbital launcher has been proposed as an alternative to conventional chemical launch systems. The aim of the present study is to assess its feasibility through the estimation of its achievable payload mass per unit beam power and launch cost. A transfer trajectory from the ground to a geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) is proposed, and the launch trajectory to its geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) is computed using the realistic performance modeled in the pulsejet, ramjet, and rocket flight modes of the launcher. Results show that the launcher can transfer 0.084 kg of payload per 1 MW beam power to a geosynchronous earth orbit. The cost becomes a quarter of existing systems if one can divide a single launch into 24,000 multiple launches.     

椭圆轨道编队飞行的典型模态与构型保持控制方法

基于T H方程推导了椭圆参考轨道编队飞行的周期性条件,讨论了椭圆参考轨道卫星编队飞行的典型模态。该模态是圆形参考轨道空间圆形模态的推广。论述了二阶带谐项(J2项)摄动对编队飞行构型保持的影响,基于相平面法提出了一种编队飞行构型保持控制方法。该控制方法不是消极的抵消干扰的影响,而是积极的利用干扰的作用达到节约燃料并精确保持构型的目的。仿真表明,采用该控制方法可对椭圆参考轨道卫星编队构型进行有效的保持。     

卫星轨道摄动频谱分析

本文基于Ｌｉｅ级数的方法对卫星轨道摄动进行了频谱分析。这种摄动是由地球引力场的所有带谱调和项和田谐调和项引起的。为了适用小偏心率轨道，采用了Ｈｉｌｌ变量来描述卫星轨道，并在所获得的谱分析式中保留了所有与偏心率ｅ无关的项。在这个基础上又经过简单的变换给出了卫星位置摄动三分量的谱分析式。     

在轨物体接近算法研究

根据NORAD公布的在轨物体(空间碎片或航天器) 的轨道数据,给出了计算在轨物体两两间发生接近事件的方法。该方法结合了计算在轨物体 接近的运动学筛选法和相对距离函数法,以提高计算效率。以该方法为基础,提出了特定航 天器与全体在轨物体间的接近事件算法。算法采用了改进后的几何筛选法。该方法并不求解 两轨道的最近点,而是求解包含最近点的时间窗口,从而解决了原方法漏报接近事件的问题 。该方法在理论上可以检测到所有的接近事件,数值仿真验证支持了该结论。在计算效率 上新方法相对于原算法也有约10倍的提高。     

General solution for the optimal trajectory of an AFE-type spacecraft

The aeroassisted flight experiment (AFE) refers to an experimental spacecraft to be launched and then recovered by the Space Shuttle. It simulates a transfer from a geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) to a low Earth orbit (LEO). In this paper, with reference to an AFE-type spacecraft, an actual GEO-to-LEO transfer is considered under the following assumptions: the GEO and LEO orbital planes are identical; both the initial and final orbits are circular; the initial phase angle is given, while the final phase angle is free. The aeroassisted orbital transfer trajectory involves three branches: a preatmospheric branch, GEO-to-entry; an atmospheric branch, entry-to-exit; a post-atmospheric branch, exit-to-LEO. The optimal trajectory is determined by minimizing the total characteristic velocity. The optimization is performed with respect to the velocity impulses at GEO, LEO, and the time history of the angle of bank during the atmospheric pass. It is assumed that the entry path inclination is free and that the angle of attack is constant, = 17.0 deg. The sequential gradient-restoration algorithm is used to compute the optimal trajectory and it is shown that the best atmospheric pass is to be performed with constant angle of bank. The resulting optimal trajectory constitutes an ideal nominal trajectory for the generation of guidance trajectories for two reasons: the fact that the low value of the characteristic velocity is accompanied by relatively low values of the peak heating rate and the peak dynamic pressure; and the simplicity of the control distribution, requiring constant angle of bank.     

Detection and Prediction of Absorbed Radiation Doses from Solar Proton Fluxes onboard Orbital Stations

We consider cases of simultaneous detection of the absorbed doses produced by proton fluxes of powerful solar events onboard the Mir and ISS orbital stations and the Ekspress A3 geosynchronous satellite. Experimental data are analyzed using a software package that takes into account the energy spectra of protons at the Earth's orbit depending on the time of event evolution, as well as their penetration to near-earth orbits and through the protective shields of spacecraft. Based on a comparison of the experimental data of dosimeters with the calculation of absorbed doses under the action of solar proton events, we developed a method of estimating the effective thickness of the shielding of dosimeters and made some estimates. A possibility is considered for predicting the radiation hazard onboard orbital stations upon the appearance of solar proton events using dosimeter data from a geosynchronous orbit.     

New insights on the orbital debris collision hazard at GEO

An analysis is performed of the orbital debris collision hazard to operational spacecraft at geosynchronous orbit (GEO). As part of the examination, the contribution of individual components of the population are considered and presented to provide a clearer linkage between object characteristic and resulting risk. Our examination of GEO collision risk reveals several critical new insights: (1) the current probability of collision in GEO is relatively low, yet the future is difficult to predict due to our limited ability to observe objects in GEO and the uncertainty in past and future debris-generating events in GEO; (2) the probability of collision in GEO is not uniform by longitude — it is seven times greater in regions centered about the geopotential wells; (3) the probability of a mission-terminating collision is greatly dependent upon the approximately 2200 objects in the 10 cm–1 m range observed in GEO but not yet cataloged; (4) hardware relocated to GEO “graveyard” disposal orbits pose a potential additional, but not fully understood, collision hazard to operational GEO satellites; and (5) the collision hazard throughout the course of a day or year is highly episodic (i.e. non-uniform).     

Using Venus for locating space observatories to discover potentially hazardous asteroids

The paper outlines the history of space missions for discovery and observation of near-earth objects, whose orbits are within that of the Earth, with using Venus gravity to enter the orbits advantageous for observing the Atira asteroids.     

Quasi-synchronous orbits and their employment for the approach of a spacecraft to Phobos

The problem of construction of quasi-synchronous orbits which pass through a prescribed point over the surface of Phobos at a prescribed instant of time is considered. The orbits should pass as close as possible to the surface of Phobos at each passage above the planned region of landing.     

Compliance of disposal orbits with the French Space Operations Act: The Good Practices and the STELA tool

Space debris mitigation is one objective of the French Space Operations Act (FSOA), in line with Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) recommendations, through the removal of non-operational objects from populated regions. At the end of their mission, space objects are to be placed on orbits that will minimize future hazards to space objects orbiting in the same region. The FSOA, which came into force in 2010, ensures that technical risks associated with space activities are properly mitigated. The Act confers CNES a central support role in providing technical expertise to government on regulations dealing with space operations. In order to address the compliance of disposal orbits with the law technical requirements, CNES draws up Good Practices as well as a dedicated tool, Semi-analytic Tool for End of Life Analysis (STELA).     

Further analysis of infrared spectrophotometric observations of high area to mass ratio (HAMR) objects in GEO

Optical surveys have identified a class of high area-to-mass ratio (HAMR) objects in the vicinity of the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) ring^. The exact origin and nature of these objects are not well known, although their proximity to the GEO belt poses a hazard to active GEO satellites. The prevalent conjecture is that many of these objects may be thermal materials shed from derelict spacecraft in ‘graveyard’ orbits above the GEO ring. Due to their high area-to-mass ratios and unknown attitude dynamics and material characteristics, solar radiation pressure (SRP) perturbs their orbits in ways that makes it difficult to predict their orbital trajectories over periods of time exceeding a week or less. To better understand and track these objects and infer their origins, we have made observations that allow us to determine physical characteristics that will improve the non-conservative force modeling used for orbit determination (OD) and prediction. Information on their temperatures, areas, emissivities, and albedos may be obtained from thermal infrared and visible measurements. Simultaneous observations in the thermal infrared and visible wavelengths may allow disentangling of projected area, albedo, and object emissivity.Further analysis and modeling of observational data on certain of the HAMR objects collected at the AMOS observatory 3.6 m AEOS telescope are presented. The thermal-IR spectra of these geosynchronous orbit objects acquired by the Broadband Array Spectrograph System (BASS) span wavelengths 3 to 13 μm and constitute a unique data set, providing a means of measuring object fluxes in the infrared and visible wavelengths. These, in turn, allow temperatures and emissivity-area products to be calculated, and in some cases provide information on rotation rates. We compare our observational results with the outputs of simple models, in terms of visible and infrared flux and orbital characteristics. The resulting temperatures and rotation rates are used in SRP acceleration models to demonstrate improvements in OD and prediction performance relative to models which assume default ambient temperature and static attitude dynamics. Additionally, we have the capability and plans to measure material properties with the same instrument in the lab as used at the telescope to facilitate direct comparisons.     

Calculation of quasisynchronous orbits of a spacecraft around Phobos for solving the problem of landing on its surface

The problem of selecting quasi-synchronous orbits of a spacecraft around Phobos is considered. These quasi-synchronous orbits are far (with respect to the Hill’s sphere) quasi-satellite orbits with retrograde rotation in the restricted three body problem. The orbit should pass through a given point at a specified time instant. It should also possess a property of minimum distance from the Phobos surface at every passage above the region of planned landing. The equations of dynamics are represented in the form describing the orbit as a combination of motions in two drifting ellipses, inner and outer ellipses. The center of the outer ellipse is located on the inner ellipse. A formula is derived that relates averaged values of half-axes of the inner and outer ellipses. It is used for construction of the first approximation of numerically designed orbit, which makes it possible to simplify and speed up the computing process. The tables of initial conditions obtained as a result of calculations are presented.     

基于星间链路的多星系统分散定轨算法

介绍了一种基于星间链路信息的多星系统自主导航方法。首先以星间相对位置矢量为观测量建立两星系统的观测方程,采用强跟踪滤波(STF)算法进行集中定轨,获得卫星的参考轨道信息。在此基础上,建立单星的观测方程,然后使用加权最小二乘估计器和卡尔曼滤波器进行单星轨道确定,从而实现了一种不需要长期轨道预报信息的分散定轨算法。数学仿真表明,该算法是可行的,且具有较好的定轨精度。     

Optimal Choice of a Satellite Broadcasting System Based on High-Elliptic Orbits

The problem of the construction of a satellite broadcasting system whose capabilities are supplemented and expanded in comparison with geosynchronous satellites is considered. The optimal orbit of a high-elliptic satellite of the Earth, which provides for a maximal duration of stay of the satellite sighting line within the directional pattern of an antenna motionlessly installed on the Earth's surface, is determined. The advantages of using a satellite system with such orbits are shown.     

L׳ADROIT – A spaceborne ultraviolet laser system for space debris clearing

Small (1–10 cm) debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are extremely dangerous, because they spread the breakup cascade. Pulsed laser active debris removal using laser ablation jets on target is the most cost-effective way to re-enter the small debris. No other solutions address the whole problem of large (~100 cm, 1 t) as well as small debris. Physical removal of small debris (by nets, tethers and so on) is uneconomical because of the energy cost of matching orbits. In this paper, we present a completely new proposal relative to our earlier work. This new approach uses rapid, head-on interaction in 10–40 s rather than 4 minutes, using 20–40 kW bursts of 100 ps, 355 nm UV pulses from a 1.5 m diameter aperture on a space-based station in LEO. The station employs “heat-capacity” laser mode with low duty cycle to create an adaptable, robust, dual-mode system which can lower or raise large derelict objects into less dangerous orbits, as well as clear out the small debris in a 400-km thick LEO band. Time-average laser optical power is less than 15 kW. The combination of short pulses and UV wavelength gives lower required fluence on target as well as higher momentum coupling coefficient. An orbiting system can have short range because of high interaction rate deriving from its velocity through the debris field. This leads to much smaller mirrors and lower average power than the ground-based systems we have considered previously. Our system also permits strong defense of specific assets. Analysis gives an estimated cost less than $1 k each to re-enter most small debris in a few months, and about 280 k$ each to raise or lower 1-ton objects by 40 km. We believe it can do this for 2000 such large objects in about four years. Laser ablation is one of the few interactions in nature that propel a distant object without any significant reaction on the source.