Modeling and identification of an electro-mechanical system: The LISA grabbing positioning and release mechanism case

In the frame of space missions, mechanisms often constitute critical systems whose functionality and performance need to be tested on ground before the mission launch. The LISA scientific space mission will detect gravitational waves by measuring the relative displacement of pairs of free-floating test masses set into geodesic motion onboard of three spacecrafts. Inside each satellite, the injection of the test masses from the caged configuration into the geodesic trajectory will be performed by the grabbing positioning and release mechanism. To provide a successful injection, the test masses must be dynamically released with a minimal residual velocity against adhesion with the holding device. A parameter that determines the test mass residual velocity is the quickness of the retraction of the holding device. The need arises then to characterize the dynamic response of the release mechanism in order to predict its behaviour in the in-flight conditions. Once a validated model of the mechanism is available, the compliance of the system to the tight requirement on the maximum allowed residual velocity of the test mass may be verified. Starting from an electro-mechanical model of the mechanism dynamics, this paper presents the results of the experimental identification of its relevant parameters.     

In-flight testing of the injection of the LISA Pathfinder test mass into a geodesic

LISA Pathfinder is a technology demonstrator space mission, aimed at testing key technologies for detecting gravitational waves in space. The mission is the precursor of LISA, the first space gravitational waves observatory, whose launch is scheduled for 2034. The LISA Pathfinder scientific payload includes two gravitational reference sensors (GRSs), each one containing a test mass (TM), which is the sensing body of the experiment. A mission critical task is to set each TM into a pure geodesic motion, i.e. guaranteeing an extremely low acceleration noise in the sub-Hertz frequency bandwidth. The grabbing positioning and release mechanism (GPRM), responsible for the injection of the TM into a geodesic trajectory, was widely tested on ground, with the limitations imposed by the 1-g environment. The experiments showed that the mechanism, working in its nominal conditions, is capable of releasing the TM into free-fall fulfilling the very strict constraint imposed on the TM residual velocity, in order to allow its capture on behalf of the electrostatic actuation.However, the first in-flight releases produced unexpected residual velocity components, for both the TMs. Moreover, all the residual velocity components were greater than maximum value set by the requirements. The main suspect is that unexpected contacts took place between the TM and the surroundings bodies. As a consequence, ad hoc manual release procedures had to be adopted for the few following injections performed during the nominal mission. These procedures still resulted in non compliant TM states which were captured only after impacts. However, such procedures seem not practicable for LISA, both for the limited repeatability of the system and for the unmanageable time lag of the telemetry/telecommand signals (about 4400 s). For this reason, at the end of the mission, the GPRM was deeply tested in-flight, performing a large number of releases, according to different strategies. The tests were carried out in order to understand the unexpected dynamics and limit its effects on the final injection. Some risk mitigation maneuvers have been tested aimed at minimizing the vibration of the system at the release and improving the alignment between the mechanism and the TM. However, no overall optimal release strategy to be implemented in LISA could be found, because the two GPRMs behaved differently.     

CME影响下L1点附近等离子体及共生微波爆发的射电辐射机制研究

CME在产生和发展过程中与日冕和行星际介质相互作用并发出不同波长的射电辐射．在研究了无CME时空间等离子体的各种辐射机制基础上,统计分析了1999年2月至1999年8月期间有较大的CME发生情况下,在CME影响下L1拉格朗日点附近等离子体参数发生变化后的射电辐射机制．分析结果表明,其射电辐射机制主要是轫致辐射、微量的回旋辐射和更加微弱的复合辐射．此外,分析讨论了1999年2月至1999年8月期间与CME共生的太阳微波爆发．分析结果表明,与CME共生的是微波逐渐型爆发、尖峰爆发,其辐射机制主要是轫致辐射、回旋共振辐射、等离子体辐射及电子回旋脉泽辐射．     

遥感相机次镜组件等效模型的研究

试验模态分析在航空航天领域结构力学的研究中得到广泛的应用,而且起到相当重要的作用。文章探讨了较易破损或是比较昂贵结构的试验模态分析方法－等效模型法。该方法是基于理论和结构灵敏度分析,研究原型与等效模型材料不同时的等效模型研制方法。这一方法被应用于某遥感相机的次镜组件的模态试验分析,得到了较好的结果。     

空间望远镜成像镜调焦机构改进设计与分析

根据已有的研究工作，对成像镜调焦机构系统做了进一步改进，并对模型进行了环境影响分析和考虑接触时的受力分析．文中详细给出了设计的基本原理及设计方法，该机构通过电机驱动丝杠完成对成像镜的移动．由接触分析结果可以看出，考虑接触约束时所计算得到的结果比较符合实际情况，结构的强度满足要求．     

Finite element reconstruction approach for on-orbit spacecraft breakup dynamics simulation and fragment analysis

Breakup model is the key area of space debris environment modeling. NASA standard breakup model is currently the most widely used for general-purpose. It is a statistical model found based on space surveillance data and a few ground-based test data. NASA model takes the mass, impact velocity magnitude for input and provides the fragment size, area-to-mass ratio, velocity magnitude distributions for output. A more precise approach for spacecraft disintegration fragment analysis is presented in this paper. This approach is based on hypervelocity impact dynamics and takes the shape, material, internal structure and impact location etc. of spacecraft and impactor, which might greatly affect the fragment distribution, into consideration. The approach is a combination of finite element and particle methods, entitled finite element reconstruction (FER). By reconstructing elements from the particle debris cloud, reliable individual fragments are identified. Fragment distribution is generated with undirected graph conversion and connected component analysis. Ground-based test from literature is introduced for verification. In the simulation satellite targets and impactors are modeled in detail including the shape, material, internal structure and so on. FER output includes the total number of fragments and the mass, size and velocity vector of each fragment. The reported fragment distribution of FER shows good agreement with the test, and has good accuracy for small fragments.     

航天器对接接触过程撞击动力学分析

空间对接接触撞击过程动力学特性是载人航天空间对接机构研究设计的基础．本文针对先进而复杂的异体同构周边式对接机构,运用矢量力学方法和粘弹性理论,建立了航天器空间对接接触撞击过程动力学模型,给出了接触撞击载荷显示表达式,并结合工程问题算例进行了初步打靶计算和统计分析,取得了较为满意的统计结果．     

The determination for ideal release point of test masses in drag-free satellites for the detection of gravitational waves

Gravitational waves are ripples in space–time predicted by Albert Einstein's general relativity and provide a new way to understand the universe. Space-borne detectors of gravitational waves, extending to very large scales, can effectively detect the middle and low-frequency gravitational wave source with the frequency band of 0.1 mHz–1 Hz. The test masses are used to make an inertial reference point in the detection of gravitational waves. Currently, there are few studies concerning the ideal release position for the test masses in the detection of gravitational waves. In this study, we give a general solution for test mass release points to minimize the relative motion between the test mass and the satellite mass center. Moreover, we discuss the situation when the release point equation is not satisfied, and the ideal release point of the along-track. Finally, we report on simulations that verify the accuracy of the theoretical derivation.     

天基微小空间碎片探测研究

随着空间碎片数量的不断增多,天基微小空间碎片探测已经成为一个热点．首先介绍了空间碎片在低地球轨道上的分布情况以及它对于航天器的危害,然后介绍了国外微小碎片探测器的基本情况,并在这些探测结果的基础上提出了一个探测器方案．这种探测器的传感器采用了新型的压电材料聚偏二氟乙稀(PVDF),使用了飞行时间法(TOF)准确测定空间碎片的飞行速度,以及快脉冲分析系统分析碎片的质量．     

空间光学遥感器主镜展开机构重复定位精度分析

提出了基于赫兹接触理论的空间光学遥感器主镜展开机构重复定位精度分析方法,利用该方法分别对Boyes支承和Kelvin支承在两种典型布置方式下进行重复定位误差分析。分析结果表明:Boyes支承的重复定位误差受锁紧力不一致性的影响比Kelvin支承要小;增大定位球直径可以减小因锁紧力不一致性而引起的重复定位误差(绝对值),并且减小的趋势逐渐变缓;在对接面内与旁瓣转轴方向相垂直的方向上,重复定位误差对锁紧力位置误差最为敏感。     

Object injection in geodesic conditions: In-flight and on-ground testing issues

In absence of forces, any object moves along the straightest possible path in space–time, called geodesic. The presence of a gravity field generates a space–time distortion that reflects on a curvature of the geodesics. Outer space yields a privileged environment to achieve high levels of geodesic purity, thanks to the absence of many non-gravitational force disturbances typical of the Earth, mainly due to the atmosphere, micro-seismic activity, stray electro-magnetic fields, etc. Many experiments in the field of Fundamental Physics, General Relativity and Earth Observation are performed through space missions, in which objects are either set in geodesic conditions or their deviation from a geodesic is measured. In both cases, stray non-gravitational forces acting on them must be reduced to a negligible level.     

空间对接机构碰撞试验系统的开发研究

为研究空间对接机构在对接过程中的碰撞现象,研制了碰撞试验系统.探讨了试验系统方案;依据Hertz弹性接触理论,仿真计算了加速度频率特性,确定了加速度传感器的选择原则;利用该系统开展了低速碰撞试验.试验结果表明,该系统能够满足测量对接碰撞力的要求.      

一种校准空间蓄电池在不同加速度状态下电特性的装置CSCD

在飞行器发射升空之前,需对空间蓄电池进行一系列的测试。而地球上的环境和在太空中的环境存在很大的不同,尤其是太空的失重环境,在地球上很难长时间的模拟,以达到测试的目的。这样在地面上的测试数据可能与实际工作所得有所偏差。针对这种情况,文章提出了一种校准空间蓄电池在不同加速状态下电特性的装置。     

Reconciling space object observed and solar pressure albedo-areas via astrometric and photometric data fusion

There are many Resident Space Objects (RSOs) in the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) regime, both operational and debris. The primary non-gravitational force acting on these RSOs is Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP), which is sensitive to the RSO’s area-to-mass ratio. Sparse observation data and mismodeling of non-gravitational forces has constrained the state of practice in tracking and characterizing RSOs. Accurate identification, characterization, tracking, and motion prediction of RSOs is a high priority research issue as it shall aid in assessing collision probabilities in the GEO regime, and orbital safety writ large. Previous work in characterizing RSOs has taken a preliminary step in exploiting fused astrometric and photometric data to estimate the RSO mass, shape, attitude, and size. This works, in theory, since angles data are sensitive to SRP albedo-area-to-mass ratio, and photometric data are sensitive to shape, attitude, and observed albedo-area. By fusing these two data types, mass and albedo-area both become observable parameters and can be estimated as independent quantities. However, previous work in mass and albedo-area estimation has not quantified and assessed the fundamental physical link between SRP albedo-area and observed albedo-area. The observed albedo-area is always a function of the SRP albedo-area along the line of sight of the observer. This is the physical relationship that this current research exploits. It is shown through simulation that due to this physical link, and through the fusion of astrometric and photometric data, it is possible to observe the mass of a space object when the area is not known. Results for data from 100 trajectories generated from randomly sampled initial conditions are shown. It is seen that even when the area of the object is not known, the uncertainty in mass can be lowered from an initial value of 800?kg to the range 500–700?kg for 72% of the samples, 200–500?kg for 13% of the samples, and 0–200?kg for 15% of the samples. It is further shown that although the uncertainties are large, the actual errors in mass are much lower, with the error RMS being less than 100?kg for 30% of the samples, between 100 and 200?kg for another 30%, and between 200 and 300?kg for 24% of the samples.     

NAEV图为3—自中心图的充分必要条件及计算机判定

本文证明了一个非邻接离心点(NAEV)图G是3-自中心图,当且仅当G是一个块并且G的每个顶点都有长度为6的最长局部测地圈。本文还给出判定一个图是否为自中心图的算法,以及求出3-NAEV自中心图每个顶点的长度6的局部测地圈算法。     

微重力环境中的气体质量流量控制器研究

提出了一种高可靠气体质量流量控制器设计. 介绍了该流量控制器的原理和结构. 通过比较不同的气体流量传感器和阀门, 选择了可满足空间科学实验设备可靠性要求的MEMS传感器和针阀. MEMS质量流量计的输出电压(代表实际气体流量), 经过减法电路放大和A/D采样之后, 与设定电压(代表设定的气流流量)进行比较, 差值信号输入给PID控制器, 由其输出步进电机的控制脉冲数和方向, 步进电机驱动器驱动电机调节流过针阀的气体流量, 使之与设定流量相等. 给出了利用该气体质量流量控制器控制氧气流量的实验结果. 该系统可实现流量的灵活调节, 并具备空间科学实验设备所要求的性能, 为未来在空间利用气体流量连续可调的质量流量控制计进行燃烧科学实验奠定了基础.      

伺服机构负载模拟系统设计与动态特性分析

针对火箭发动机喷管伺服机构的负载模拟问题,采用机械的方式,设计了一种可对伺服机构的惯性负载、摩擦力矩负载、弹性力矩负载、安装刚度以及发动机喷管柔性特征进行模拟的负载模拟器,并建立了模拟器和伺服机构数学模型。仿真分析了惯性负载、弹性力矩以及喷管柔性对伺服机构负载多自由度特性的影响。通过对伺服机构扫频实验,负载模拟器中的负载在一定范围内调节,可复现伺服机构实际工作中的动态特性。说明该负载模拟器结构设计合理,从而为具有多自由度特性的火箭伺服机构的负载模拟系统设计提供参考。该系统已经得到实际应用。     

空间计量中长度单位和距离测量

长度单位定义是建立在光直线传播、光速在真空中为常数,以及光速各向同性的理论基础上,二维球面上的直线,在三维空间中是弯曲的测地线;三维空间的直线,在四维时空中也是弯曲的测地线。长度单位的定义是否适用四维时空呢？SI秒和SI米的定义适用于全域时空,但使用它们必需明确原时和坐标时的区别。爱因斯坦的狭义相对论以及光速不变原理只适用于惯性系,不适用于非惯性系。本文以转盘上的非惯性坐标系为例,利用广义相对论的坐标变换和时空度规运算,揭示了非惯性坐标系上的时空弯曲和光的非直线传播现象。计算了非惯性坐标系上Sagnac效应对卫星和地面站双向测距的影响,初步研究表明空间测量范围从局域推广到全域的话,诸如引力红移、相对速度效应、Sagnac效应等将会成为空间长度测量不确定度的影响因素,因此空间计量理论必须建立在广义相对论基础之上,用四维时空观念理解空间距离测量问题。