X-38, CRV and CRV Evolution Program Overview and European Role

The X-38 Project forms part of the “X” prototype vehicle family developed by the United States. Its development was initiated by NASA to prepare the Crew Return Vehicle (CRV). The European participation in the X-38 Program has been significantly extended since the start of the X-38 cooperation in 1997 and is realized by ESA's “Applied Reentry Technology Program” and the German/DLR “Technologies for Future Space Transportation Systems” (TETRA) Project. European contributions to the X-38 Vehicle 201, (V-201) can be found in all technical key areas. The orbital flight and reentry with the X-38 V-201 will conclude the X-38 project in 2002.The CRV will be used from about mid-2005 as ’ambulance‘, ’lifeboat‘ or as alternate return vehicle for the crew of the International Space Station. Recognizing the very productive and mutually beneficial cooperation established on X-38, NASA and ESA have decided to continue this cooperation into the development of the operational CRV. The Phase C/D will be completed shortly after the Critical Design Review, scheduled for August 2002. The CRV production phase will start in October 2002 and will cover production of four CRV vehicles, ending in 2006.Based on the objective to identify a further evolution potential of the CRV towards a Crew Cargo Transfer Vehicle (CCTV), NASA has implemented upgrade studies in the CRV Phase C/D.     

载人航天器密封舱内管路设备维修设计与验证

载人航天器密封舱内配置大量的气、液管路设备,实现管路设备的在轨维修,对于提高长期在轨飞行载人航天器的安全性及使用寿命具有重要意义。文章对某载人航天器再生生保管路设备在轨维修性进行了设计,经地面充分验证后,航天员在轨完成了管路设备维修操作,结果表明本文提出的管路设备在轨维修设计正确、有效,可为载人航天器其他在轨维修设计提供参考。     

Sсheme of rendezvous mission to lunar orbital station by spacecraft launched from Earth

In recent years, great experience has been accumulated in manned flight astronautics for rendezvous in near-Earth orbit. During flights of Apollo spacecraft with crews that landed on the surface of the Moon, the problem of docking a landing module launched from the Moon’s surface with the Apollo spacecraft’s command module in a circumlunar orbit was successfully solved. A return to the Moon declared by leading space agencies requires a scheme for rendezvous of a spacecraft launched from an earth-based cosmodromee with a lunar orbital station. This paper considers some ballistic schemes making it possible to solve this problem with minimum fuel expenditures.     

面向一体化测试与运管的航天器指令技术研究

现有的航天器测试与运管程序通过word文档采用自然语言的方式进行描述，需要人工录入、集成、整合和校验，既浪费人力、时间，又容易因人为原因出错，不利于测试与运管程序在多用户间的快速交互，且存在安全隐患。针对该问题，借鉴NASA及ESA的PLEXIL、PLUTO、Timeliner-TLX、SCL等航天器指令设计经验，研究了面向航天器地面测试与在轨运管的航天器指令技术，该指令架构具备层次化、模块化、抽象化等高级程序特点，且具备对航天器进行工作过程监测与异常状态处置能力，便于航天器测试与运管程序的人机交互、数字化设计、交换共享与解译执行，可作为国内航天器测试与运管程序一体化设计的技术参考。     

A complexity-based risk assessment of low-cost planetary missions: when is a mission too fast and too cheap?

Under constrained budgets and rigid schedules, NASA and industry have greatly increased their utilization of small satellites to conduct low-cost planetary investigations. Recent failed small planetary science spacecraft such as Mars Polar Lander (MPL) and Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO), and impaired missions such as Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) have fueled the ongoing debate on whether NASA's “Faster, Better, Cheaper” (FBC) approach is working. Several noteworthy failures of earth-orbiting missions have occurred as well including Lewis and the Wide-field Infrared Experiment (WIRE). While recent studies have observed that FBC has resulted in lower costs and shorter development times, these benefits may have been achieved at the expense of lowering probability of success. One question remaining to be answered is when is a mission “too fast and too cheap” that it is prone to failure? This paper assesses NASA FBC missions in terms of a complexity index measured against development time and spacecraft cost. A comparison of relative failure rates of recent planetary and earth-orbiting missions are presented, and conclusions regarding dependence on system complexity are drawn.     

Status of CHIPS: A NASA university explorer astronomy mission

In the age of `Faster, Better, Cheaper', NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has been looking for a way to implement university based world class science missions for significantly less money. The University Explorer (UNEX) program is the result. UNEX missions are designed for rapid turnaround with fixed budgets in the $10 million US dollar range. The CHIPS project was selected in 1998. The CHIPS mission has passed the Concept Study and Confirmation Reviews. Many lessons have already been learned from the CHIPS UNEX project. This paper will discuss the early issues surrounding the use of commercial satellite constellations as the bus and the politics of small satellites using foreign launchers. The difficulties of finding a spacecraft in the UNEX price range will be highlighted. The advantages of utilizing Internet technologies from the earliest phases of the project through to communications with the spacecraft on orbit will be discussed. The current state of the program, as of July 2001, will be summarized and the project's plans for the future will be charted.     

FY-4 Meteorological Satellite

FY-4 is the second generation of Chinese geostationary satellite for quantitative remote sensing meteorological application. The detection efficiency, spectral bands, spatial and time resolution have been greatly improved with respect to those of first generation, as well as the radiometric calibration and sensitivity. The combination of multichannel detection and vertical sounding was first realized on FY-4, because both the Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager(AGRI) and Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder(GIIRS) are on the same spacecraft. The main performance of the payloads including AGRI, GIIRS and Lightning Mapping Imager, and the spacecraft bus are presented, the performance being equivalent to the level of the third generation meteorological satellites in Europe and USA. The acquiring methods of remote sensing data including multichannel and high precision quantitative observing, imaging collection of the ground and cloud, vertical observation of atmospheric temperature and moisture, lightning imaging observation and space environment detection are shown. Several innovative technologies including high accuracy rotation angle detection and scanning control, high precision calibration, micro vibration suppression, unified reference of platform and payload and on-orbit measurement, real-time image navigation and registration on-orbit were applied in FY-4.     

A study of on-orbit spacecraft failures

Even though spacecraft are carefully designed and tested to meet their mission lifetime, many suffer unrecoverable on-orbit failures very early. Other spacecraft, despite severe failures, are able to exceed their expected lifetime when effective failure recovery procedures are applied. In 2005, a study of on-orbit spacecraft failures was undertaken which resulted in identifying 156 failures occurring from 1980 to 2005 on civil and military spacecraft. These failures were analyzed to compare different spacecraft subsystems and estimate their impact on the mission. Although there is no perfect system that could prevent any failure, the lessons learned from the past years show that adequate testing, redundancy and flexibility are the keys to a reliable spacecraft failure recovery system.     

利用改进TW-API方法在轨辨识挠性航天器时变模态参数

考虑大型挠性部件运动导致的在轨航天器模态参数时变特性,提出一种改进的截断窗逼近幂迭代（TW-API）追踪方法。针对传统TW-API方法计算量较大的问题,改进的方法简化了数据处理中的矩阵递推过程,显著减少了在轨辨识过程的计算量和计算时间。还将该方法与经典投影估计子空间跟踪（PAST）方法和逼近幂迭代（API）递推方法进行了计算量对比与分析。为检验四种方法用于航天器模态参数辨识的效果,选取ETS-VIII卫星为对象进行数值仿真。通过实际计算时间的比较,校验了改进TW-API方法在大型挠性航天器时变模态参数在轨辨识方面的有效性。     

一种基于非线性回归的载人航天器密封舱内在轨噪声分析方法

文章提出一种载人航天器密封舱内噪声非线性回归通用分析方法,可基于地面噪声试验测得的数量较多的数据样本和在轨噪声测试获取的少量数据样本,建立密封舱内位置–在轨噪声的数学模型。经验证该模型能够较为准确地拟合密封舱内在轨噪声水平,从而为开展载人航天器的降噪设计、优化噪声仿真模型和验证降噪措施效果提供数据支持。     

The overredundant spacecraft—A competitive approach to future telecommunication satellites

Present operational space telecommunication systems are based on simultaneous availability of more than one satellite on orbit, mainly a spare satellite in addition to the operational one.Considering the costs associated to the delivery of extra flight models and to extra launchers, the question is asked whether it would not be advantageous to launch a very limited number of “overredundant” spacecraft instead of several standard satellites.The paper gives main conditions of reliability, size and redundancy concept under which an “overredundant” spacecraft could be a competitive approach to future operational systems.     

面向航天器在轨加注的地面模拟技术

文章结合近年来航天器在轨加注的相关研究,着重对其地面模拟试验技术进行了探讨。首先对国外相关地面模拟技术进行了综述,其次对一种新型地面模拟系统进行了详细介绍。该系统由气浮平台、航天器模拟器、光学测量系统、地面控制系统、自主对接和流体加注机构等组成,不仅能演示航天器在轨加注任务的全过程,而且能完整演示自主对接与分离、流体传输与控制、导引测量与推进等在轨加注关键技术。     

基于深度学习的语义分割算法综述

图像的语义分割是对图像中的每个像素标注其所属的类别。在航天领域,语义分割技术可用于定位航天器及其零部件,为航天器故障排除、部件维修、太空垃圾清理等在轨服务创造条件。近几年,全部或部分使用深度学习时,语义分割的效果获得了很大的提升。本文对基于深度学习的语义分割算法进行综述。首先介绍常用的数据集和通用的深度神经网络,随后对两类具有重大实用意义的分割算法:编码器-解码器算法和整合上下文信息算法进行总结。最后对语义分割的发展进行了展望。     

MDO approach for early design of aerobraking orbital transfer vehicles

This paper presents a new multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) methodology for preliminary design of an aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle (AOTV) performing a two-way transfer between a low-Earth “parking” orbit and a high-energy orbit. This work has been performed in the frame of Onera's CENTOR [N. Bérend, C. Jolly, F. Jouhaud, D. Lazaro, Y. Mauriot, C. Monjaret, J.M. Moschetta, M. Parlier, J.L. Pastre, Y. Servouze, J.L. Vérant, Project CENTOR: Preparing the design of future orbital transfer vehicles; IAC-07-D.2.3.07, in: 58th International Astronautical Congress, 24–28/09/2007, Hyderabad, India] project whose objective is to prepare tools and methodology for studying and designing future space transportation systems for new kinds of missions such as on-orbit servicing (OOS), payload ferrying, or in-situ observation of space-debris. Using simplified models and an appropriate low-dimension formulation for the optimization problem the method makes possible to obtain rapidly and easily a global view of the trade-off between the payload mass and the total mass. It also makes possible to discuss the feasibility of the vehicle with regard to different multidisciplinary constraints and technology hypotheses for the heat shield. This approach is illustrated by eight different AOTV design studies, considering two different missions (LEO–MEO and LEO–GEO), two different propulsion technologies (LOX-LH2 and LOX-CH4) and two different thermal protection system (TPS) characteristics. In each case, we discuss the feasibility and characteristics of the lightest vehicle carrying a prescribed 100 kg payload, and, conversely, a heavy vehicle with a prescribed 18 ton total mass, carrying the heaviest possible payload.     

Estimation of the Probability of Radiation Failures and Single Particle Upsets of Integrated Microcircuits onboard the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fobos-Grunt</Emphasis> Spacecraft

When designing the radio-electronic equipment for long-term operation in a space environment, one of the most important problems is a correct estimation of radiation stability of its electric and radio components (ERC) against radiation-stimulated doze failures and one-particle effects (upsets). These problems are solved in this paper for the integrated microcircuits (IMC) of various types that are to be installed onboard the Fobos-Grunt spacecraft designed at the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Lavochkin Research and Production Association.” The launching of this spacecraft is planned for 2009.__________Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 43, No. 3, 2005, pp. 237–239.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuznetsov, Popov, Khamidullina.     

航天器在轨释放安全性分析与仿真研究

针对航天器舱内在轨释放任务,文章建立了大型航天器与伴随卫星的动力学模型和运动学模型,并分析了影响释放安全性的主要因素;从保证航天器在轨安全的角度,得到描述释放安全性的最小相对距离计算方法,并利用ADAMS软件对航天器在轨释放过程进行了仿真研究。     

基于飞轮控制的空间机器人质量参数辨识

针对空间机器人进行在轨辨识时存在精度不高、燃料消耗较大等问题,提出了基于飞轮控制的在轨辨识方法,可以有效地解决辨识时存在的问题。该方法采用飞轮控制作为激励方式,通过改变机械臂的构型使整个空间机器人系统的质量分布发生变化,分别测量构型改变后的角速度和线加速度,以计算出基座本体的质量、质心和转动惯量。此外,分析了机械臂与本体的质量比对辨识精度的影响。仿真结果表明,本文的方法可操作性强、精度较高,燃料消耗较小,可以应用于空间机器人的在轨辨识中。     

The navigational experiments on microgravitational space platform “FOTON-M2”

This paper presents the review of results of the navigating experiments which have been carried out during flight of microgravitational space platform (MSP) Foton-M2 in May–June 2005. The brief characteristic of the created MIRAGE–M equipment consisting from magnitometric system and satellite radionavigation receiver is given. The measurements have allowed to restore unguided MSP movement and to estimate a level of microaccelerations (microgravitations) onboard during flight, and have provided precision time-position binding of the research experiments. The data from the equipments transmitted on the telemetering channel have allowed testing the information technologies of virtual support of experiments in space. Flight testing of the equipment has allowed make a conclusion on usefulness of accommodation onboard the small-sized auxiliary navigating system focused for work with users of research experiments. The experiments on MSP Foton-M2 are the development of experiments with MIRAGE equipment carried out in 1999 during flight time of MSP Foton-12 [N.D. Semkin, V.V. Ivanov, V.I. Abrushkin, V.L. Balakin, I.V. Belokonov, K.E. Voronov, The experiments with magnetic fields formed by technical equipment inside Foton-12 spacecraft: the results of the MIRAGE experiments, in: Proceedings of International Conference “Scientific and Technological Experiments on Russian Foton/Bion Recoverable Satellites: Results, Problems and Outlooks”, 25–30 June 2000, pp. 116–122; V.L. Balakin, I.V. Belokonov, V.V. Ivanov, “Determination of motion of spacecraft Foton-12 as a result of magnetic fields measurement in MIRAGE experiment”, pp. 231–238 (published in the same place)].Paper is executed within the framework of the grant of the Russian Fund of Fundamental Researches 06-08-00244.     

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。     

Lessons learned from Mir--a payload perspective

Among the principal objectives of the Phase 1 NASA/Mir program were for the United States to gain experience working with an international partner, to gain working experience in long-duration space flight, and to gain working experience in planning for and executing research on a long-duration space platform. The Phase 1 program was to provide the US early experience prior to the construction and operation of the International Space Station (Phase 2 and 3). While it can be argued that Mir and ISS are different platforms and that programmatically Phase 1 and ISS are organized differently, it is also clear that many aspects of operating a long-duration research program are platform independent. This can be demonstrated by a review of lessons learned from Skylab, a US space station program of the mid-1970s, many of which were again “learned” on Mir and are being “learned” on ISS. Among these are optimum crew training strategies, on-orbit crew operations, ground support, medical operations and crew psychological support, and safety certification processes.