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.     

30kN上面级液氧甲烷发动机方案

上面级是介于运载火箭与航天器之间的相对独立的一级,具备轨道转移能力,可将有效载荷精确送入预定轨道。上面级是提高火箭运载能力和提升任务适应性的有效途径,上面级发动机是实现该目标的关键。长期在轨的高性能上面级,要求主动力具备比冲高、空间可长期贮存和高可靠性等能力。针对此技术需求,对比分析了上面级发动机的系统方案;设计了采用泵压膨胀循环、双涡轮泵串联的30 kN上面级发动机系统方案;重点介绍了推力室、涡轮泵和发动机总装集成等关键组件的研究进展。研究表明:液氧甲烷推进剂非常适用于长期在轨上面级发动机;闭式膨胀循环发动机系统是长期在轨上面级动力系统方案的首选;推力室和涡轮泵等组件的研制结果,初步证明了发动机系统及组件方案的可行性;发动机总装和演示试验方案设计工作,为深入开展发动机系统技术研究打下了良好基础。     

基于差动气动增压装置的多次启动一体化动力系统特性

高性能、轻质量、小尺寸的上面级动力系统可以为整个任务节省更多的质量和空间,从而增加有效载荷的质量。提出了一种基于差动气动增压装置的多次启动姿轨控一体化动力系统,动力系统由主发动机系统、姿控发动机系统、一体化供应系统等组成。该动力系统的系统级试验验证结果表明:姿控发动机与主发动机可通过共用贮箱实现推进剂的一体化供应; 主...     

ICAN: A novel laser architecture for space debris removal

The development of a fiber based laser architecture will enable novel applications in environments which have hitherto been impossible due to size, efficiency and power of traditional systems. Such a new architecture has been developed by the International Coherent Amplification Network (ICAN) project. Here we present an analysis of utilizing an ICAN laser for the purpose of tracking and de-orbiting hyper-velocity space debris. With an increasing number of new debris from collisions of active, derelict and new payloads in orbit, there is a growing danger of runaway debris impacts. Due to its compactness and efficiency, it is shown that space-based operation would be possible. For different design parameters such as fiber array size, it is shown that the kHz repetition rate and kW average power of ICAN would be sufficient to de-orbit small 1–10 cm debris within a single instance via laser ablation.     

MPT在探月中的应用方案初探

借鉴“东方红3号”卫星的推进系统组成和“SMART-1”探月器的飞行轨道,提出了2种微波等离子体推力器(MPT)应用于月球探测器的推进系统方案(即复合推进方案和统一推进方案),分析计算了MPT用于姿态控制时对推进剂耗量的影响及用于主推进变轨时推进剂耗量和飞行时间的变化,并讨论了MPT的电源系统带来的附加质量。结果表明,在付出一定飞行时间代价的条件下,MPT的引入将大大增加有效载荷质量。     

光敏推进剂激光烧蚀过程建模与仿真

相较于传统大卫星,微小卫星具有结构紧凑、质量轻便和成本低廉的特点。然而,受功率和质量负载的限制,微小卫星一般不装备推进系统,其航线也局限于近地轨道。为扩展微小卫星的功能,满足日益复杂的任务需求,需给其配备合适的微推进系统。固体推进系统具有结构简单、寿命长、可靠性高的优点,但无法重复启动。为得到可重复启动的固体微推进系统,设计了一种非自持燃烧的光敏推进剂,采用激光控制其燃烧。在背压为大气压的环境下,利用高速摄像机拍摄燃烧过程并记录燃速。之后,对光敏推进剂的激光烧蚀过程进行建模。分析结果表明:激光可控制光敏推进剂的燃烧,燃速与激光强度成线性关系;该光敏推进剂的最小激光点火强度为0.28 W/mm~2;燃速计算值与实测值的误差在10%以内,证明该数学模型具备工程应用价值。     

登月舱用深度变推下降级发动机系统方案研究

在我国的载人登月技术方案中,为实现软着陆,登月舱需要一种大推力、高性能、多次起动,能够大范围变推力的泵压式发动机.通过研究国外登月用下降级发动机技术发展现状和趋势,基于我国氢氧发动机和低温推进剂空间贮存水平,进行了深度变推发动机的系统方案研究;通过分析比对燃气发生器循环和膨胀循环系统优缺点,确定发动机系统方案为涡轮串联闭式膨胀循环;采用空间可长时间贮存的液氧/甲烷推进剂组合,可满足任务周期要求;根据推力深度调节时对各组合件性能要求,确定喷注器燃烧稳定技术和燃烧室身部传热技术是深度变推发动机研制的核心关键技术.     

国外单组元变推力发动机应用与关键技术

介绍了国外单组元变推力发动机的应用现状,阐释了单组元变推力发动机的结构和设计原理,总结了研制和改进过程中的关键技术,主要包括径向双层夹套催化床设计、径向喷注器设计、流量稳定调节技术和催化床空穴控制技术等。美国为火星软着陆研制的MR-80和MR-80B无水肼单组元变推力发动机分别应用于“海盗”号和“好奇”号着陆器下降级推进系统。MR-80发动机可实现275~2835 N变推力调节,推力变比为10∶1,比冲为205 s,呈120°均布于“海盗”号着陆器三角形基座的长边。“好奇”号下降级推进系统由2个高压氦气瓶、3个推进剂贮箱、8台单组元变推力发动机、8台单组元250 N姿控发动机、1个压力控制组件和3个推进剂控制组件组成,MR-80B发动机可产生31~3603 N的真空推力,推力变比达到100∶1,比冲范围为204~223 s。     

轨道机动过程中推力加速度的实时最小方差估计

飞行器轨道机动过程中，为跟踪、定位机动目标和干预机动控制过程，需要统计处理离散的雷达观测量实时估计推进发动机的推力，进而确定飞行器的瞬时轨道参数。本文所述算法是该工程问题的探讨和解决方案。文章建立了轨道机动过程中连续变质量运动模型和离散雷达量测模型，推进发动机的质量秒耗量作为表征推力加速度的一个近似常量，应用扩展卡尔曼滤波对离散的雷达测量数据进行顺序统计处理给出秒耗量的最小方差估计；文章详细地推导了线性化量模型的变分方程和观测矩阵；仿真结果表明该算法能快速、准确地估计推进发动机的质量秒耗量和向机动目标施加的实际推力。     

MIC - a self deploying magnetically inflated cable system for large scale space structures

A new approach, termed MIC (Magnetically Inflated Cable) that enables large, lightweight very strong and rigid space structures is described. MIC would be launched as a compact package of coiled superconducting (SC) cables. After reaching orbit, the cables would be cryogenically cooled and electrically energized by a small power source. The resultant repulsion magnetic forces between the DC currents in the SC cables automatically cause the coiled launch package to self deploy into the final large space structure. The SC cables are held in place by a distributed network of high tensile strength tethers (e.g., Spectra material), creating a very stiff, rigid truss structure that strongly resists bending and torsional, etc. movements, without the need for gravity gradient stabilization. A linear quadrupole (LQ) MIC configuration is described that is suitable for large solar power satellites, space stations, space hotels, propellant tanks, manned Mars spacecraft, etc. The LQ has 2 long SC dipole loops, of horizontal width W, length L, and opposite magnetic polarity, which are vertically separated by distance W, producing a long truss structure of square cross-section (width W) with the 4 SC cables at the corners of the square. The SC currents are opposite in adjacent cables, yielding an outwardly directed net radial force on each cable. The ends of each SC loop experience outwards longitudinal forces. The magnetic forces are very strong, even for modest supercurrents. For example, a 4 meter square truss with I = 250 kiloamp has an outwards radial force of 220 kg per meter of cable. and 5250 kg outwards longitudinal force at the ends of each SC loop. The network of restraining tensile lines can support lightweight structures, including solar panels, propellant tankage, habitat modules, power transmission lines, etc. The design of a 1 kilometer long, 4 meter square cross section MIC truss for solar power satellites is described. The MIC launch package fits within the length/weight constraints of the shuttle bay, and includes all of the helium coolant lines, thermal insulation, and refrigeration equipment required.     

Passive optical detection of submillimeter and millimeter size space debris in low Earth orbit

Understanding of the space debris environment and accuracy of its observation-validated models are essential for optimal design and safe operation of satellite systems. Existing ground-based optical telescopes and radars are not capable of observing debris smaller than several millimeters in size. A new experimental and instrumental approach – the space-based Local Orbital Debris Environment (LODE) detector – aims at in situ measuring of debris with sizes from 0.2–10 mm near the satellite orbit. The LODE concept relies on a passive optical photon-counting time-tagging imaging system detecting solar photons (in the visible spectral range) reflected by debris crossing the sensor field of view. In contrast, prior feasibility studies of space-based optical sensors considered frame detectors in the focal plane. The article describes the new experimental concept, discusses top-level system parameters and design tradeoffs, outlines an approach to identifying and extracting rare debris detection events from the background, and presents an example of performance characteristics of a LODE sensor with a 6-cm diameter aperture. The article concludes with a discussion of possible sensor applications on satellites.     

Analytical solutions for the relative motion of spacecraft subject to Lorentz-force perturbations

A spacecraft capable of producing higher-than-natural electrostatic charges may achieve propellantless orbital maneuvering via the Lorentz-force interaction with a planetary magnetic field. Development of maneuver strategies for these propellantless vehicles is complicated by the fact that the perturbative Lorentz force acts along only a single line of action at any instant. Relative-motion dynamical models are developed that lead to approximate analytical solutions for the motion of charged spacecraft subject to the Lorentz force. These solutions indicate that the principal effects of the Lorentz force on a spacecraft in a circular orbit are to change the intrack position and to change the orbit plane. A rendezvous example is presented in which a spacecraft with a specific charge of ?3.81 $\times$ 10^?4 C/kg reaches a target vehicle initially 10 km away (on the same equatorial low-Earth orbit) in 1 day. Fly-around maneuvers may be achieved in low-Earth orbit with specific charges on the order of 0.001 C/kg.     

基于微波等离子推力器的地球同步轨道卫星任务优化计算

将微波等离子推力器（MPT）应用于“东方红三号”（DFH-3）卫星的推进子系统，完成其轨道转移和南-北位置保持任务。建立了卫星任务和系统优化计算模型，采用遗传算法对卫星轨道转移和位置保持任务进行优化模拟计算，讨论了推力弧段和推力等对卫星变轨时间、MPT累积工作时间、卫星干质量和有效载荷的影响，结果表明，采用MPT可大大减少推进剂工质消耗，增加有效载荷，变轨时间明显大于化学推进，但小于相同电功率的其他电推进。     

Asteroidal resources for space manufacturing

Earth-approaching asteroids (Apollos and Amors) may be competitive candidates as raw materials for space manufacturing. The total energy per unit mass required to transfer material from some of these bodies to high Earth orbit is comparable to that for lunar material. Recent optical studies suggest ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite compositions for these asteroids, with some containing large quantities of metallic iron and nickel, and others, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Discoveries of several new candidate asteroids over the next few years will allow for a better selection of materials and mission possibilities. Material from one of these asteroids, either in raw or manufactured form, could be returned to the vicinity of the Earth by a solar-powered mass-driver reaction engine. With a requirement of ～60 shuttle flights, and with minimal development costs, an automated mission to a 200-m dia. (10⁷ ton) metal-rich asteroid could be carried out by a mass-driver tug assembled in low Earth orbit using shuttle tankage as reaction mass. Such a tug could, within a few years, move the asteroid into high Earth orbit for the manufacturing of ～ 20 satellite power stations using a portion of the asteroid itself as reaction mass. In the next few years over 100 asteroids in this size range could be discovered, orbits determined and composition types classified using existing earthbased and spaceborne search techniques.     

Locally Optimal Laws of Control of a Spacecraft Motion with an Electrodynamic Engine at Circumterrestrial Orbits

The motion of a spacecraft under the action of Ampére force is investigated. This force arises as a result of the interaction of the current in a rigid rod, at whose ends the devices which close the electric circuit through the circumterrestrial plasma are located, with the magnetic field of the Earth. The locally optimal laws of control by this rod orientation are found, when one of the elements of the orbit gains the maximum increment under the action of this engine. Numerical estimates of the gained increments are obtained, and it is demonstrated that this engine is a promising tool for the execution of light spacecraft maneuvers at low circumterrestrial orbits.     

小推力推进系统起动过程的分析

本文对小推力推进系统各部件建立了数学模型，并对此系统进行了数值计算。计算结果表明，在燃烧时滞较大时，该系统响应较慢，发动机参数的超调量较大，达到稳态所需的时间较长；轨控发动机与姿控发动机共用同一个供应系统时，姿控发动机受燃烧时滞的影响更大。减小燃烧时滞有利于提高发动机在起动过程的响应能力和稳定性。在起动阶段，高室压推进系统比低室压推进系统响应快，高室压轨控发动机的参数能较快地稳定下来，但其超调量较大；高室压姿控发动机虽然响应快，但其超调量大，达到稳态所需的时间长于低室压姿控发动机。本文所得结论为提高小推力推进系统在起动过程的响应能力提供了参考。     

Magnetobraking for Mars return vehicles

It is proposed that magnetobraking may be used to dissipate hyperbolic excess velocity from a spacecraft returning from Mars to Earth orbit. In magnetobraking, an electrodynamic tether is deployed from the spacecraft. The Earth's magnetic field produces a force on electrical current in the tether, which can be used to either brake or accelerate the spacecraft without expenditure of reaction mass. The peak acceleration on the Mars return is 0.007 m/s², and the amount of braking possible is dependent on the density and current-carrying capacity of the tether, but is independent of length. Since energy is produced as the spacecraft velocity decreases, no on-board power source is required. As the spacecraft approaches the Earth, the magnetic field increases and the power produced by the tether increases, reaching a maximum of about 800 W per kg of spacecraft mass at closest approach.     

低温推进剂集成管理技术的发展与启示

低温推进剂集成管理技术(IVF)是实现上面级等航天器长期在轨的新技术思路。通过将液氢液氧长期在轨产生的蒸汽与内燃机技术结合,实现贮箱增压、排气、姿控、沉底、发电功能一体化,减小航天器系统质量,增强任务灵活性。回顾了IVF模块设计的发展过程,探讨了IVF的技术优势,与燃料电池技术、蒸发量控制技术对比分析了IVF技术的使用范围及不足,提出了研究气氢气氧内燃机技术、IVF模块方案设计、系统仿真等关键技术的建议,并展望了其应用前景。     

Fuel-optimal eccentricities for precise formation keeping of spacecraft on Keplerian orbits

In this paper, the problem of precise relative position keeping associated with the formation flying of two spacecraft is discussed. Taking into account of the applications to astronomic observation, the relative position of spacecraft is controlled to be precisely retained on a part of an orbit rather than on the entire orbit; moreover, the relative position is retained in the inertial coordinates rather than in the local vertical local horizontal coordinates. The fuel-optimal eccentricities are computed for each length of control time. Then, it is shown that the fuel-optimal eccentricity is close to 1 when the control time is shorter than approximately 90% of the orbit period; on the contrary, the fuel-optimal eccentricity is in the neighborhood of 0 when the control time is close to the orbit period. Moreover, several analytic expressions including the propellant consumptions at the eccentricities of 0 and 1 are obtained.