强不规则天体引力场中的动力学研究进展

小行星探测与彗星探测是深空探测的重要方面。一般来说,小行星和彗星因质量都不足以使得万有引力克服应力达到流体静力学平衡,而具有强不规则的外形。研究强不规则天体引力场中的动力学行为及其内在机制,是探测器被不规则天体捕获并对其形成近距离探测轨道的基础。从引力场模型和动力学行为两个方面综述了强不规则天体引力场中动力学的研究进展,在引力场模型的研究方面介绍了强不规则天体引力场建模的球谐函数摄动展开模型、简单特殊体模型及多面体模型的研究现状,在动力学机制的研究方面介绍了强不规则天体引力场中的周期轨道和拟周期轨道、平衡点、流形、分岔与共振以及混沌运动的研究现状,指出了这些方面研究的重点与难点。分析了强不规则体引力场中动力学的研究趋势。     

考虑太阳摄动的小行星附近轨道动力学

本文研究了艳后星(216 Kleopatra)和爱神星(433 Eros)附近的周期轨道,在考虑太阳引力摄动的情况下,发现了以往所遗漏的216 Kleopatra轨道族和环绕433 Eros的12族周期轨道,并且给出了它们的特性。研究结果表明,太阳引力对小行星平衡点位置的影响很小,但是对平衡点上航天器运动的影响较大。同族不稳定轨道中,大Jacobi常数轨道更容易在摄动后保持轨道原来特性,这很好地解释了小行星卫星在较远轨道上长期存在的可能性。     

一种不规则小行星附近周期轨道全局搜索策略

研究不规则小行星附近的自然周期轨道,有助于更好地认识小行星附近的动力学特性。周期轨道的搜索过程需要频繁地进行轨道递推,其中绝大多数的计算时间消耗在不规则小行星附近的引力加速度计算中。为提高加速度计算效率,提出一种不规则小行星引力加速度快速估计方法;在此基础上,通过参数空间内随机化粗略搜索获得周期轨道的初值猜想;利用遗传算法在初值猜想附近区间进行精细搜索,找到周期轨道的初值。通过对不规则小行星433 Eros附近周期轨道的搜索,对其附近不同形状的周期轨道进行了分类,分析周期轨道在小行星附近的分布规律。     

不规则小天体引力场内的广义甩摆轨道

选取具有典型不规则外形的细长形小天体作为研究对象,应用偶极子模型近似其外部引力场分布。针对其引力场内的质点动力学,研究一类特殊的动力学行为--广义甩摆轨道。与传统引力甩摆轨道不同,该类轨道能够在很短的时间内将质点从环绕轨道改变至逃逸轨道,或将逃逸轨道上的质点捕获至小天体引力场内。从轨道能量的变化入手,分析该类轨道的成因并给出仿真算例。     

双小行星系统引力场建模方法研究

针对弱引力双小行星系统的引力场建模问题,本文采用复杂度和精度依次递增的球体–球体模型、椭球体–球体模型和改进的限制性椭球体–椭球体模型来进行引力场建模,并分别采用椭圆积分以及无积分环节、计算效率高的二阶二次球谐函数来表征引力势,从而比较精确地刻画双小行星系统和探测器构成的限制性全三体问题的动力学模型;针对双小行星系统1999KW4,对其不同的引力场模型进行了仿真研究,分别给出了不同模型下的等效势能函数曲面及零速度曲线,比较了不同模型下的平动点位置坐标偏差。结果表明,二阶二次球谐函数计算引力势的椭球体-椭球体模型计算精度高,复杂程度低,计算量更少,计算速度更快,能够较精确的对双小行星系统进行引力场建模。     

小天体着陆动力学参数不确定性影响分析

针对小天体不规则程度高、引力场复杂,且物理参数存在较高不确定性的问题,基于小天体着陆动力学方程线性化近似解析解,对各动力学参数不确定性的影响进行了分析。考虑动力学方程线性化带来的误差,引入线性化误差补偿校正方法,建立了探测器轨迹对动力学参数不确定性的敏感度方程。以小行星Eros 433为例,重点分析了目标小天体质量、自转角速度、引力势函数系数,以及探测器初始状态、推力加速度等动力学参数不确定性对探测器着陆轨迹的影响。数学仿真分析表明,针对本文选取的目标小天体,推力加速度扰动为主要影响因素,探测器初始状态的不确定性为次要影响因素,其他参数扰动的影响较小。     

小行星附近制导与控制研究综述

由于小行星具有引力场不规则、物理参数不确定性大、表面逃逸速度小等因素,使得小行星附近制导和控制极具挑战性。回顾了小行星探测任务的历史、现状和意义;针对小行星附近制导与控制研究的基础即小行星附近动力学,分析了研究现状;针对悬停、绕飞、转移、着陆等任务形式,详细介绍了轨道制导和控制方法方面的热点问题和研究现状;基于研究现状,列举了部分未来可进一步研究的方向和问题。     

基于Terminal滑模的小行星探测器着陆连续控制

针对弱引力场不规则小行星探测器安全下降与着陆,提出了一种基于比例微分(PD,Proportional plus Derivative)及非奇异Terminal滑模的连续控制方法.在着陆点坐标系下推导了探测器的动力学方程,设计了开环燃料次最优多项式标称轨迹制导方法.针对下降和着陆两个不同阶段提出了PD和非奇异Terminal滑模变结构连续控制方法.将PD控制的易操作性与非奇异Terminal滑模控制收敛速度快、调整时间短有效结合,保证了探测器安全着陆.仿真结果表明了提出方法的可行性和有效性.     

小行星远距离抵近轨道

讨论了小行星引力一阶项可被忽略情况下的小行星远距离轨道设计及动力学。此时,航天器的运动受太阳引力和太阳光压的影响。航天器和小行星的加速度之差在这两者之间形成的独特的相对动力学,为航天器在小行星附近停驻与观测提供特定轨道。完整解决了小行星处于圆形日心轨道这一较简单情况,也考虑和阐述了椭圆轨道情况,并取得了一些初步结果。     

小行星探测器缪斯―C

□□2003年5月9日,日本发射了小行星探测器缪斯-C(MUSES-C)。它是由日本宇宙科学研究所(ISAS)研制、用M-5火箭发射的第3个探测器。此前,日本在1990年发射了月球探测器MUSES-A,在1999年发射了电波天文卫星MUSES-B。MUSES-C采用三轴控制方式,配备了氙离子发动机。该发动机在MUSES-C发射3周后开始工作,用约2年时间将探测器送入距小行星1998SF36约10km的圆轨道。MUSES-C将在这一轨道上完成5个月的观测以及样品采集工作;还利用投放到小行星表面的跳跃式机器人(ISAS研制)对小行星进行考察、拍照,以获取地形、地貌和地质结构等…     

On tethered sample and mooring systems near irregular asteroids

A tethered asteroid sample and mooring system is investigated in this paper. In this system the spacecraft is moored to the surface of an irregular asteroid such as 216 Kleopatra by using a rocket-propelled anchor with a cable. The rocket-propelled anchor is a kind of space penetrator, which can inject into asteroids at high speeds generated by its own rocket engine. It can be used to explore the interior structure of asteroids, and it can also be used as a sample collector. When the sampling mission is done, the sample can be pulled back to the spacecraft with the anchor. Using this method, the spacecraft can be kept in a safe region in which it cannot be trapped by the gravitational field of the asteroid. This work is concerned with the dynamics of the tethered system near irregular asteroids. First, a shape model and gravitational field model of irregular asteroids are built. Then, the configuration and the stability of the tethered system are investigated, and the quasi-periodic motion near the equilibrium point of the tethered system is analyzed. Finally, the non-uniform density distribution of the asteroids is considered. The deployment process and the oscillation of the tethered system in the uncertain asteroid gravity field are simulated using the Monte Carlo method. The feasibility of the tethered asteroid sample and mooring system is proved.     

潜在威胁小行星碰撞防御的计算与分析

研究了采用碰撞的方式进行小行星防御的动力学问题。采用多面体模型来建立小行星的外形模型,以碎石堆模型来建立小行星的结构模型,计算了小行星受到与其密度和材质相同的球体高速碰撞过程和碰撞后的碎石分布。计算过程在考虑了小行星与碰撞球体的接触形变以及小行星内部组成碎石堆的接触形变条件下,计算了碎石堆内部的相互引力、法向接触力、切向静摩擦力、切向动摩擦力和滚动摩擦力矩。以小行星101955 Bennu(中文名贝努)为对象计算了潜在威胁小行星的碰撞防御过程的动力学行为。结果显示:采用高速碰撞的方法进行小行星防御可以有效地将小行星撞成大量碎小的石块,且该方法具有核爆的方法不可比拟的优势,即对空间环境无污染。     

Some comments on the F ring-Prometheus–Pandora environment

The system formed by the F ring and two close satellites, Prometheus and Pandora, has been analysed since the time that Voyager visited the planet Saturn. During the ring plane crossing in 1995 the satellites were found in different positions as predicted by the Voyager data. Besides the mutual effects of Prometheus and Pandora, they are also disturbed by a massive F ring. Showalter et al. [Icarus 100 (1992) 394] proposed that, the core of the ring has a mass which corresponds to a moonlet varying in size from 15 to 70 km in radius which can prevent the ring from spreading due to dissipative forces, such as Poynting–Robertson drag and collisions. We have divided this work into two parts. Firstly we analysed the secular interactions between Prometheus–Pandora and a massive F ring using the secular theory. Our results show the variation in eccentricity and inclination of the satellites and the F ring taking into account a massive ring corresponding to a moonlet of different sizes. There is also a population of dust particles in the ring in the company of moonlets at different sizes [Icarus 109 (1997) 304]. We also analysed the behaviour of these particles under the effects of the Poynting–Robertson drag and radiation pressure. Our results show that the time scale proposed for a dust particle to leave the ring is much shorter than predicted before even in the presence of a coorbital moonlet. This result does not agree with the confinement model proposed by Dermott et al. [Nature 284 (1980) 309]. In 2004, Cassini mission will perform repeated observations of the whole system, including observations of the satellites and the F ring environment. These data will help us to better understand this system.     

Attitude stability and periodic attitudes of rigid spacecrafts on the stationary orbits around asteroid 216 Kleopatra

In this work, equilibrium attitude configurations, attitude stability and periodic attitude families are investigated for rigid spacecrafts moving on stationary orbits around asteroid 216 Kleopatra. The polyhedral approach is adopted to formulate the equations of rotational motion. In this dynamical model, six equilibrium attitude configurations with non-zero Euler angles are identified for a spacecraft moving on each stationary orbit. Then the linearized equations of attitude motion at equilibrium attitudes are derived. Based on the linear system, the necessary conditions of stability of equilibrium attitudes are provided, and stability domains on the spacecraft’s characteristic plane are obtained. It is found that the stability domains are distributed in the first and third quadrants of the characteristic plane and the stability domain in the third quadrant is separated into two regions by an unstable belt. Subsequently, we present the linear solution around a stable equilibrium attitude point, indicating that there are three types of elemental periodic attitudes. By means of numerical approaches, three fundamental families of periodic solutions are determined in the full attitude model.     

Synergistic approach of asteroid exploitation and planetary protection

The asteroid and cometary impact hazard has long been recognised as an important issue requiring risk assessment and contingency planning. At the same time asteroids have also been acknowledged as possible sources of raw materials for future large-scale space engineering ventures. This paper explores possible synergies between these two apparently opposed views; planetary protection and space resource exploitation. In particular, the paper assumes a 5 tonne low-thrust spacecraft as a baseline for asteroid deflection and capture (or resource transport) missions. The system is assumed to land on the asteroid and provide a continuous thrust able to modify the orbit of the asteroid according to the mission objective. The paper analyses the capability of such a near-term system to provide both planetary protection and asteroid resources to Earth. Results show that a 5 tonne spacecraft could provide a high level of protection for modest impact hazards: airburst and local damage events (caused by 15–170 m diameter objects). At the same time, the same spacecraft could also be used to transport to bound Earth orbits significant quantities of material through judicious use of orbital dynamics and passively safe aero-capture manoeuvres or low energy ballistic capture. As will be shown, a 5 tonne low-thrust spacecraft could potentially transport between 12 and 350 times its own mass of asteroid resources by means of ballistic capture or aero-capture trajectories that pose very low dynamical pressures on the object.     

A small mission for in situ exploration of a primitive binary near-Earth asteroid

We present a concept for a challenging in situ science mission to a primitive, binary near-Earth asteroid. A sub-400-kg spacecraft would use solar electric propulsion to rendezvous with the C-class binary asteroid (175706) 1996 FG3. A campaign of remote observations of both worlds would be followed by landing on the ∼1 km diameter primary to perform in situ measurements. The total available payload mass would be around 34 kg, allowing a wide range of measurement objectives to be addressed. This mission arose during 2004 from the activities of the ad-hoc Small Bodies Group of the DLR-led Planetary Lander Initiative. Although the particular mission scenario proposed here was not studied further per se, the experience was carried over to subsequent European asteroid mission studies, including first LEONARD and now the Marco Polo near-Earth asteroid sample return proposal for ESA’s Cosmic Vision programme. This paper may thus be of interest as much for insight into the life cycle of mission proposals as for the concept itself.     

The dynamical environments analysis of surface particles for different shaped asteroids

Asteroids are coming to be a popular topic in the areas of astrophysical studies and deep space exploration recently. However, surface dynamics of asteroids is still a difficult problem. This paper aims at the motion analysis of surface particles for different asteroids. The dynamical analysis method of particles’ movement is given for three parts: global motion trend, local motion trend and static analysis. A dimensionless parameter ζ is defined to distinguish the predominant term to determine the distribution of effective potential. Three kinds of common asteroids: spheroidal asteroid, spindle-shaped asteroid and dumbbell-shaped asteroid are all discussed for those three parts with different parameter ζ. The motion trend of particles on the surface of each kind of asteroid is given. The static analysis of surface particles for different asteroids is also illustrated. Based on them, some common rules for different shaped asteroids are revealed. This paper could not only provide a reference for asteroid exploration missions but also be meaningful for the research of morphologic evolution of asteroids.     

小行星与陨石的光谱联系

Bus-DeMeo光谱分类系统中有24种小行星光谱类型以及约27种陨石矿物学类型。小行星和陨石之间的光谱联系在质量和可靠性上差异很大原因主要是某些矿物学中缺乏诊断特征和空间风化作用。将回顾从可见光和近红外光谱中远程获取的小行星矿物学信息,讨论如何从地质学家的角度理解小行星的光谱辨识。