Orbit Design for Twin-spacecraft Space VLBI

Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (S-VLBI) is an aperture synthesis technique utilizing an array of radio telescopes including ground telescopes and space orbiting telescopes. It can achieve much higher spatial resolution than that from the ground-only VLBI. In this paper, a new concept of twin spacecraft S-VLBI has been proposed, which utilizes the space-space baselines formed by two satellites to obtain larger and uniform uv coverage without atmospheric influence and hence achieve high quality images with higher angular resolution. The orbit selections of the two satellites are investigated. The imaging performance and actual launch conditions are all taken into account in orbit designing of the twin spacecraft S-VLBI. Three schemes of orbit design using traditional elliptical orbits and circular orbits are presented. These design results can be used for different scientific goals. Furthermore, these designing ideas can provide useful references for the future Chinese millimeter-wave S-VLBI mission.      

精确动力学模型下的火星探测轨道设计

首先在二体意义下采用粒子群优化算法（PSO）求解Lambert问题,确定发射窗口和二体地火转移轨道。使用圆锥曲线拼接法设计地心停泊轨道、逃逸轨道,并作为轨道精确设计的初值,以建立在火星的B平面参数和地火转移时间为约束,在精确动力学模型下进行微分迭代修正,最终得到满足约束的精确轨道。将设计轨道在STK软件中仿真,结果吻合。     

End-to-end trajectory design for a solar-sail-only pole-sitter at Venus,Earth, and Mars

The concept of a pole-sitter has been under investigation for many years, showing the capability of a low-thrust propulsion system to maintain a spacecraft at a static position along a planet’s polar axis. From such a position, the spacecraft has a view of the planet’s polar regions equivalent to that of the low- and mid-latitudes from geostationary orbit. Previous work has hinted at the existence of pole-sitters that would only require a solar sail to provide the necessary propulsive thrust if a slight deviation from a position exactly along the polar axis is allowed, without compromising on the continuous view of the planet’s polar region (a so-called quasi-pole-sitter). This paper conducts a further in-depth analysis of these high-potential solar-sail-only quasi-pole-sitters and presents a full end-to-end trajectory design: from launch and transfer to orbit design and orbit control. The results are the next steppingstone towards strengthening the feasibility and utility of these orbits for continuous planetary polar observation.     

Space debris mitigation strategies and practices in geosynchronous transfer orbits

Missions to geosynchronous orbits remain one of the most important elements of space launch traffic, accounting for 40% of all missions to Earth orbit and beyond during the four-year period 2000–2003. The vast majority of these missions leave one or more objects in geosynchronous transfer orbits (GTOs), contributing on a short-term or long-term basis to the space debris population. National and international space debris mitigation guidelines seek to curtail the accumulation of debris in orbits which penetrate the regions of low Earth orbit and of geosynchronous orbit. The orbital lifetime of objects in GTO can be greatly influenced by the initial values of perigee, inclination, and right ascension of the orbital plane, leading to orbital lifetimes of from less than one month to more than 100 years. An examination of the characteristic GTOs employed by launch vehicles from around the world has been conducted. The consequences of using perigees above 300 km and super-synchronous apogees, typically above 40,000 km, have been identified. In addition, the differences in orbital behavior of launch vehicle stages and mission-related debris in GTOs have been investigated. Greater coordination and cooperation between space launch service providers and spacecraft designers and owners could significantly improve overall compliance with guidelines to mitigate the accumulation of debris in Earth orbit.     

单个航天器对Walker星座中多卫星的近距离接近

通过设计航天器轨道,可使航天器发射入轨后无需机动即实现对Walker星座中非共轨的多颗卫星的快速、近距离接近.给出了该轨道的搜索方法以及基于星座特性的代换法,并给出了仿真示例.      

GNSS-R concept extended by a fine orbit tuning

Small changes in semimajor axis of the orbits selected for the GNSS-R [R as Reflectometry] satellites, so-called fine orbit tuning, known from the ESA’s Gravity and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer mission, can dramatically increase the number of nadir and off-nadir reflecting points and, in turn, can enhance the capability of the concept of bistatic altimetry (GNSS Reflectometry) without additional costs. The application of our suggestion is feasible for a satellite which will be equipped by thrusters for the orbit keeping. During the mission lifetime several orbit tunings are feasible, just to transfer from one to another orbit. Then we can study short-periodic or longer-periodic features, according to scientific goals defined for the mission. The shortest cycles (few days), corresponding to the required revisit time (defined by ESA), may be subcycles of much longer cycles (repeat periods).     

载人月球极地探测定点返回轨道设计

针对载人月球极地探测任务,对定点返回轨道优化设计问题进行了研究。根据月球极地轨道的特性,介绍了三种返回轨道机动方案。结合三脉冲变轨方案,采用了从初步计算到精确计算的串行求解策略,对定点返回轨道进行优化设计。初步计算阶段,建立了基于近月点伪参数的三段二体拼接模型,将三脉冲机动段与月球逃逸段解耦,求解轨道初值;精确计算阶段,提出了两段拼接方法,分别进行逆向和正向高精度数值积分。经过仿真测试,验证了该策略求解的有效性和准确性。最后,通过大量的仿真计算,分析了定点返回轨道的特性。研究结论对未来载人月球极地探测定点返回轨道方案的设计具有重要的参考价值。     

可展桁架天线在轨运行中温度场分析

利用热传导辐射理论,并引入天线所处的轨道条件。可计算可展桁架抛物面天线在轨运行时不同时刻的温度场.利用Fortran语言,编制了基于上述理论的有限元程序,可计算各种轨道条件下不同时刻天线的温度场.还可用于指导天线的热变形分析和热控制设计.      

太阳帆航天器行星际轨道转移优化算法

研究基于遗传算法的太阳帆行星际转移轨道的全局优化问题.通过极小值原理推导了太阳帆全局优化控制律,并以太阳帆飞行时间最短为优化目标函数,运用遗传算法对发射时间、到达时间和协态变量初值进行参数优化设计.为了解决轨道转移这一多约束优化问题,在遗传算法中加入动态罚函数.在此理论基础上作了从地球同步轨道出发到火星同步轨道转移和从地球出发与火星交会两个算例,仿真结果表明了该方法在太阳帆转移轨道全局优化中的有效性.     

Optimal two-impulse rendezvous with terminal tangent burn considering the trajectory constraints

The two-impulse orbital rendezvous problem with a terminal tangent burn between coplanar elliptical orbits is studied by considering a lower bound on perigee radius and an upper bound on apogee radius for the transfer orbit. This problem requires that two spacecraft arrive at the rendezvous point with the same arrival flight-path angle after the same flight time. The admissible range of the final true anomaly that meets the perigee and apogee constraints is obtained in closed form. The revolution number of the transfer orbit is expressed as a function of the true anomaly and the revolution numbers of the initial and final orbits. All the feasible solutions are obtained with a bound on the revolution number of the final orbit. Then, the minimum-fuel one is determined by comparing their costs. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to obtain all the feasible solutions for given initial impulse points and the optimal solution with the initial coasting arc. Numerical results show that the minimum-fuel solution for the terminal tangent burn rendezvous is close to that for the cotangent rendezvous when the rendezvous time is long enough; however, the cotangent rendezvous may not exist when the rendezvous time is short.     

近圆轨道控制的分析方法

应用卫星绝大部分都是近圆轨道的卫星 ,其中又有很多是需要进行轨道控制的。在航天工程的实践中由于各种误差影响 ,实际的轨道控制过程并不是而且也没有必要基于精确的轨道动力学方程来执行。对于近圆轨道控制所用的动力学模型可以按圆轨道进行近似 ,得到一种非常简单的形式 ,基于这种简化的模型可以获得非常有用的分析解。为了从理论上证明这种简化的有效性 ,文中对动力学模型简化过程中所产生的各项误差进行了理论估计。     

地月L2点周期轨道的月球背面覆盖分析

地月L2点附近轨道具备独特的动力学和运动学特性,是月球背面探测任务的中继卫星首选布设位置。面向未来月球背面探测任务的中继通信需求,分析并研究了地月L2点周期轨道(halo轨道)对月球背面的覆盖。在圆型限制性三体问题模型下,研究并给出了halo轨道族延拓计算方法,基于延拓法设计了地月系大范围南北halo轨道族;给出了中继卫星的月球背面覆盖计算模型,定义了相应的时间覆盖因子;数值仿真了地月系南北halo轨道族的月球背面覆盖情况。研究结果表明:地月L2点周期轨道幅值和类型决定其对月面的覆盖性,幅值较小的轨道的月面整体覆盖性较好,幅值较大的轨道对月球南北极覆盖较好,南北族轨道分别有利于月球南北半球的覆盖。文章研究可为我国"嫦娥4号"月球背面探测任务的中继星轨道设计提供有益参考和借鉴。     

多级固体运载火箭分级多学科设计优化

为了解决固体运载火箭总体优化过程中学科耦合性强、计算复杂、设计效率低等问题,建立了多级固体运载火箭的几何外形、质量、气动、推进、弹道/制导等学科模型,将多级运载火箭分成若干个子级火箭,并通过级间飞行状态连续性条件连接到一起,形成系统级和子系统级的框架。设计了并行方式和串行方式2种子系统的优化流程,以起飞总重最小为目标进行了多学科设计优化(MDO)。结果显示,这2种分级优化的方法与多学科可行(MDF)方法相比能减小优化过程中的迭代次数,得到更好的优化结果,从而验证了分级优化方法在多级固体运载火箭MDO的可行性与优越性。      

基于测速定轨的轨道参数精度分析

利用误差传播关系,比较了测速体制下逐点定轨算法和多项式定轨算法的精度,为多项式和样条算法在测速定轨体制中的应用提供理论依据。利用逐点及多项式算法对两条典型轨道进行性能计算,结果表明:多项式算法能获得比逐点算法更高精度的轨道参数,且该算法数据结构简单、具有一定的实时性。     

近地轨道运载火箭轨迹／总体参数一体化优化设计

在运载火箭概念设计阶段 ,总体参数的确定结合轨迹优化设计能最大程度地提高设计性能。从工程实际要求出发 ,建立了运载火箭轨迹 /总体参数一体化优化设计数学模型。确定了近地轨道的发射轨道优化设计方法 ,采用多重参数化法将轨迹最优控制问题转化为参数优化问题。针对一体化设计问题的求解要求提出了相应的组合优化算法。结果表明 ,经过一体化优化设计 ,衡量运载火箭性能的一个重要指标———起飞总质量减少了约3 5 %。该优化模型及其求解软件已经被成功地应用到工程设计中     

返回式航天器轨道周期变率确定及预报的数值方法

对返回式航天器进行变轨控制计算时要用到平均轨道周期变率,而数值法定轨通常求解的是大气阻力系数,无法直接得到平均轨道周期变率。文章通过建立航天器精密动力学模型、数值积分器、瞬时轨道根数到平均轨道根数的转换算法和平均周期序列多项式拟合算法,提出了一种基于数值法精密轨道确定和预报计算平均轨道周期变率的数值方法。     

Bayesian linking of geosynchronous orbital debris tracks as seen by the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

We describe a Bayesian sampling model for linking and constraining orbit models from angular observations of “streaks” in optical telescope images. Our algorithm is particularly suited to situations where the observation times are small fractions of the orbital periods of the observed objects or when there is significant confusion of objects in the observation field. We use Markov Chain Monte Carlo to sample from the joint posterior distribution of the parameters of multiple orbit models (up to the number of observed tracks) and parameters describing which tracks are linked with which orbit models. Using this algorithm, we forecast the constraints on geosynchronous (GEO) debris orbits achievable with the planned Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Because of the short 15 s exposure times, preliminary orbit determinations of GEO objects from LSST will have large and degenerate errors on the orbital elements. Combined with the expected crowded fields of GEO debris it will be challenging to reliably link orbital tracks in LSST observations given the currently planned observing cadence.     

Hierarchical approach for fast searching optimal launch opportunity in a wide range

Launch opportunity search is crucial for preliminary design of interplanetary trajectories. However, it is difficult to obtain the optimum solution efficiently when the range of search is wide. In this paper, a new fast search algorithm based on a modified hierarchical approach is proposed. At the top level, a simplified Pork-Chop diagram is plotted by sampling interpolation to delimit the candidate regions of the optimal solution. Each candidate region contains only one optimal solution, which fundamentally avoids the local optimal problem of genetic algorithms. At the bottom level, a hybrid optimization approach combining the genetic algorithm and the conjugate directions method is used to solve the accurate optimal solution of each candidate region and obtain the global optimal launch opportunity in the whole wide range of search. Simulation results show that the proposed hierarchical approach can quickly and robustly find the global optimal launch opportunity in a wide search space.     

基于混杂系统的空间飞行器悬停控制

基于空间飞行器的轨道动力学原理,利用混杂系统模型研究了悬停轨道问题,建立了悬停轨道的混杂系统模型;借此模型,针对目标星轨道为椭圆的情况,提出了等距离悬停轨道控制和椭圆悬停轨道控制两种方案,分别推导出在这两种方案下对悬停星所施加的控制力。数值仿真结果表明,分别对悬停星施加相应的控制力,能够实现对目标星的悬停。