An inversion approach for lunar regolith layer thickness using optical albedo data and microwave emission simulation

An approach to inversion of the lunar regolith layer thickness by using multi-channel brightness temperature observation in passive microwave remote sensing is developed. To first make simulation of brightness temperature from the lunar layered media, the lunar regolith layer thickness (d) is proposed being constructed by available lunar DEM (digital elevation mapping) and on site measurements. The physical temperature distribution (T) over the lunar surface is also empirically assumed as a monotonic function of the latitude. Optical albedo of the lunar nearside from the telescopic observation is employed to construct the spatial distribution of the FeO+TiO₂ content (S) in the lunar regolith layer. A statistic relationship between the DEM and S of the lunar nearside is further extended to construction of S of the lunar farside. Thus, the dielectric permittivity (ε) of global lunar regolith layer can then be determined. Based on all these conditions (d,T,ε), brightness temperature of the lunar regolith layer in passive microwave remote sensing, which is planned for China's Chang-E lunar project, is numerically simulated by a parallel layering model using the strong fluctuation theory of random media.Then, taking these simulations with random noise as observations, an inversion method of the lunar regolith layer thickness is developed by using three- or two-channels brightness temperatures. When the S is low, and the four channels brightness temperatures in China's Chang-E project are well distinguishable, the regolith layer thickness and physical temperature of the underlying lunar rock media can be inverted by the three-channels approach. When the S becomes high that the brightness temperature at high frequency channels such as 19.35, 37 GHz are saturated, the regolith layer thickness is alternatively inverted only by the two-channels approach.Numerical simulation and inversion approach in this paper make an evaluation of the performance for lunar passive microwave remote sensing, and for future data calibration and validation.     

Heat storage and electricity generation in the Moon during the lunar night

One of the biggest challenges of the exploration of the Moon is the survival of the crew and the lunar assets during the lunar night. The environmental conditions on the lunar surface and its cycle, with long periods of darkness, make any long mission in need of specific amounts of heat and electricity to be successful. We have analyzed two different systems to produce heat and electricity on the Moon's surface. The first system consists of Thermal Wadis, sources of thermal power that can be used to supply heat to protect the exploration systems from the extreme cold during periods of darkness. Previous results showed that Wadis can supply enough heat to keep lunar devices such as rovers above their minimum operating temperature (approximately 243 K). The second system studied here is the Thermal Energy Storage (TES), which is able to run a heat engine during the lunar night to produce electricity. When the Sun is shining on the Moon's surface, the system can run the engine directly using the solar power and simultaneously heat a thermal mass. This thermal mass is used as a high temperature source to run the heat engine during the night. We present analytical and numerical calculations for the determination of an appropriate thermal mass for the TES system.     

月尘累积对太阳电池阵电帘除尘效率影响的实验研究

月尘在月球探测器太阳电池阵表面的累积将会导致其输出功率下降甚至功能失效。近年来,电帘除尘方法被认为是月尘清除防护的有效手段。文章实验研究了月尘累积对三结砷化镓太阳电池性能影响,拟合得到了月尘累积质量与太阳电池相对输出功率的数学模型;利用电帘除尘装置,研究了不同月尘累积质量下电帘的除尘效率。研究结果表明,6 mg/cm2月尘累积质量是太阳电池阵电帘除尘装置启动的最佳工作条件。该研究成果可为开发具有自适应除尘能力的太阳电池阵提供技术支持。     

Experimental investigations of the 10 N catalytic hydrazine thruster

Experimental investigations of the 10 N catalytic hydrazine thruster are reported. These thrusters find applications in orbit raising functions of a spacecraft. The hardware was realized and tested in a vacuum chamber (10^?3 mbar vacuum) for its performance. When tested at the design propellant supply pressure of 21.5 bar the thruster developed 10.25 N thrust at an operating chamber pressure of 16.4 bar. The thruster was also tested for off-design conditions (24, 18 and 14.5 bar propellant supply pressures) of operation to determine the steady-state performance. The chamber pressure and vacuum thrust follow more or less a linear law with the propellant-supply pressure. The thruster was also tested for its response characteristics for short (100 ms) firing durations at various propellant-supply pressures (15.5, 18.8, 22.5, 25.6 and 29.5 bar) and the experimental results are reported and discussed. The hydrazine was injected at the room temperature (300^±5 K).     

月球表面及月壤内温度分布特征的数值模拟

文章建立了月表辐射与月壤内二维非稳态导热的耦合传热模型,采用控制容积法数值模拟月壤内的温度分布,主要研究了月表、月壤内温度的分布和变化规律及探测器对局部月表温度的影响。计算结果表明一昼夜期间月壤内存在明显的温差:浅层月壤处的昼夜温差较大且受纬度的影响明显;随着深度的增加,月壤昼夜温差降低并趋于稳定,且受纬度的影响较小。探测器的存在遮挡了月表接受的太阳辐射,导致其阴影区域内月表温度发生突变,新的平衡温度接近探测器底面温度,且受探测器驻留时间的影响较小;当探测器移开,月表温度又迅速恢复到原有的变化规律。     

月球表面热环境数值分析

月球表面热环境的研究对探月活动有重要意义,本文用数值方法分析了月球表面的热环境.首先计算了不同纬度地区地表辐射平衡温度的周期波动,然后建立了月球地表土壤的一维非稳态热传导模型,用此模型计算了不同纬度地区地表温度的波动、月壤温度的波动及恒温层温度和深度,并讨论了月壤热物性对温度波动的影响.结果表明白天的地表温度主要取决于地表的辐射平衡温度,而夜晚的地表温度受到月壤热物性的影响.     

极端温度下含隙铰柔性帆板展开位置精度分析

以自主研发的月球车重复可展帆板为研究对象，分析月表极端温度对其展开末端位置可靠性的影响。构建极端温度与帆板材料、铰链结构间的关系函数，基于运动弹性动力学，建立极端温度下可展帆板间隙-柔性耦合动力学模型。以帆板展开末端位置误差为评价指标，将BP神经网络算法与一次二阶矩法相结合，利用应 力- 强度理论建立帆板展开末端位置可靠性模型，通过算例分析对比不同极端温度下的可靠性指标。用经典MC法计算进行对比验证，确定神经网络方法的可行性、高效性。结果表明，极端温度条件下，铰间隙对于位置可靠性的影响显著，温度区间在-30 ℃~20 ℃时，机构展开末端位置可靠性最优。     

遮挡阴影对月球探测器热设计的影响分析

月球探测器遮挡形成的阴影是探测器着陆月面之后热设计需要考虑的重要因素,文章从理论上分析了月球探测器着陆于平坦月面地区之后形成的阴影对探测器侧面和底面的影响,并通过建模计算对理论分析结果进行了验证,从而为月球探测器在侧面和底面开设散热面的可能性提供理论依据。     

月球极区水冰钻取模拟试验系统研究

探测并利用月球极区的水资源一直是月球探测的研究热点。针对钻取及凝华装置开展系统级真空低温试验的需要，建立月球极区水冰钻取模拟试验系统，根据水的三相转化关系设计了2个阶段的试验流程，试验中混合物容器中的水可保持固态。初步试验结果表明，所建立的试验系统能够满足现阶段开展月球极区真空低温试验的需求，为验证产品性能、优化产品工况、促进月球极区水冰获取工程技术的发展提供条件。     

月面热环境的反演研究

以嫦娥三号巡视器月面日食期间非稳态的温度遥测数据为基础，通过建立月壤及巡视器的传热模型，反演了日食期间月面温度的变化，并给出了符合巡视器温度遥测的月壤热物性参数取值范围。在此基础上，对月面热环境进行了分析研究。结果表明，本文反演的月壤平均导热系数大于常见取值，而比热却明显小于常见取值。采用反演的热物性值计算的月表温度与之前认识相符，但对月壤内部热环境有新发现，其温度梯度相对减小而恒温层厚度则明显增大。     

月面钻取采样回转齿轮副啮合生热试验研究

针对月面钻取采样装置的回转齿轮副啮合热进行理论分析,依据辐射换热定律建立了理论温升模型;模拟实际月面真空、带载工况并开展试验研究。分析了啮合热在月面高真空环境的制约条件下,向机体外传播的方式、传热途径以及散发不畅时的积聚作用对附近运动副工作特性的影响。研究结果表明：回转齿轮副作为钻具驱动单元动力传递的中间环节,在20Nm负载转矩工况下持续运行40分钟,理论预测最大温升28.66℃,与试验测量的最大温升结果28℃相吻合,充分验证了钻进驱动单元热设计的正确性,准确地识别出回转齿轮副啮合热积聚的潜在风险。     

基于叶脉仿生的散热均热板性能研究

为了解决航空电子芯片持续高强度工作下的集成散热问题,从而保证电子热表面均温无噪声,受植物叶片蒸腾作用的启发,设计了配备有树状分叉叶脉仿生分形结构吸液芯的均热板,并探究分形结构类型、分形级数、分形角度、入口流速和输入功率等参数对新型吸液芯内流体流动性能的影响;深入研究叶脉仿生均热板的传热特性,对比H型和Y型结构吸液芯在不同入口流速下的温度分布情况以及相对出口速度偏差值。数值模拟结果表明,在低热流密度下,Y型结构冷却效果明显好于H型结构;当热流密度较大时,分叉路口的紊流增强换热,使得H型结构冷却效率高于Y型结构。实验发现,Y型结构蒸发底板具有优越的传热性能,而H型结构和平面型蒸发底板在高功率工况下传热趋于稳定和良好。     

月食过程月表太阳辐照和温度变化模拟

月食对月球轨道探测器的温度有重要的影响,分析月食时月表的太阳辐照和温度,具有重要意义。文章给出了通用的月表温度模型和月食时月表太阳辐照模型,根据某次月食的天文参数,用太阳辐照模型可求出月表任一点在月食时的太阳直接辐照变化过程,代入温度模型可求出任一点的温度变化过程。此模型和方法可用于对任何一次月食的分析,并以2007年8月28日的月食为例,模拟了该次月食的表面太阳直接辐照和温度的变化过程。     

“嫦娥三号”巡视器热试验月面姿态模拟装置研制

月面巡视器在月表移动的过程中,月面起伏和月球(1/6)g重力会对巡视器的热控系统产生不利影响,因此需要在地面试验时对巡视器的热控系统的功能进行验证。文章通过对运动机构在真空低温环境下的适应性研究,研制了一套可以满足"嫦娥三号"巡视器真空热试验中使用的月表姿态模拟装置,该模拟装置通过2套螺旋升降机构实现了巡视器的俯仰和滚动模拟,并经过初样、正样热试验的2次大型试验的使用验证,圆满完成了试验任务,也为以后热试验中运动工装的设计奠定了基础。     

月尘对热控系统的退化影响

月尘对热控系统的退化影响直接威胁到探测器在月面的生存,是探测器热控系统设计时所必须考虑的技术重点和难点之一。随着我国探月工程的深入,急需开展月尘对热控系统影响程度的研究,文章在调研的基础上,阐述了目前国内外在月尘的特性、危害性和防护方面的研究现状,并探讨了针对月面探测器设计上的一些可行的防尘措施。     

“嫦娥三号”探测器月尘环境分析及试验要求

"嫦娥三号"是我国首个成功实施地外天体表面就位探测的航天器,在其研制过程中充分考虑了月面环境对探测器的影响,开展了针对性设计及地面验证工作。文章综述了探测器针对月尘环境方面的设计因素,总结了月面月尘激扬的因素及其相关数值分析工作,对月尘验证试验的设计及条件制定进行了说明。相关结果或工作思路可为后续月面探测器及火星表面探测器的研制提供参考。     

月面和近月空间环境及其影响

月球探测器所经历的月面和近月空间环境主要包括：月面低重力、月面温度、近月空间辐射、月壤、月尘、月面地形地貌、月面静电等。文章在对月面和近月空间环境研究的基础上,结合国外月球探测器在月球环境方面的研究成果,分析了我国月球探测器所经历的月面和近月空间环境特点及其影响效应,并提出相应的改进措施或必要的试验验证,可为月球探测器的研制提供参考。     

月面着陆动力下降段最优轨迹序列凸优化方法

针对月面着陆器动力下降制导过程中,时变惯性加速度和重力加速度难以估计与补偿等问题,提出一种基于序列凸优化的在线制导算法。在考虑月面曲率及月球自转的着陆器动力学建模基础上,首先对模型及约束条件进行凸化,得到一个二阶锥规划(SOCP)问题;然后对经典序列凸优化进行了改进,对时变加速度剖面予以实时估计和补偿,提升了现有优化算法的性能,使着陆器在尽可能节约燃料的前提下实现高精度着陆。仿真结果表明,与经典的显式制导律相比,所提出的算法在动力下降段燃料消耗更少。由多种位置偏差下的打靶分析结果可知,所提出的算法均能满足性能指标要求;即使起始位置存在±2500 m的较大波动时,仍能以高精度的速度、位置完成动力下降制导。     

Diurnal change of MW and IR thermal emissions from lunar craters with relevance to rock abundance

Abnormal “hot spots” during a total eclipse on the lunar surface were revealed by using a ground based infrared (IR) scanner and visible telescope in the early 1960s, which turned out to be “cold spots” on the microwave (MW) brightness temperature distribution at night according to the Chang'E (CE)-1 radiometer's observations. In this paper, a theoretical analysis of radiative transfer is presented to explain this abnormal phenomenon of diurnal changes. Two typical craters, representing the abnormal fresh craters rich in rock abundance and an old one almost free of rocks located at similar latitudes are chosen for comparison of the diurnal temperature change. Using the measurements of CE-1 multi-channel microwave radiometer, brightness temperatures from these two craters are presented and applied to inversions of the physical temperatures of lunar regolith media, based on a three-layer radiative transfer model. The correlation between the diurnal MW and IR thermal changes of the lunar surface and the rock abundance is discussed.     

面向载人月球探测的月面环境模拟试验关键技术分析

文章针对未来有人参与的月球探测任务,首先开展了月球表面环境地面模拟试验验证需求分析,归纳总结了国内外技术发展现状。然后,提出并分析了载人月球探测地面模拟试验需重点研究的关键技术:真空热环境下月面移动式多体低重力模拟技术;复杂月面环境高精度热流模拟技术;大容量布尘条件下超高真空获得与保持技术;月面辐射与月尘环境模拟技术;月尘防护效能量化评估技术;月面综合环境试验验证技术等。最后,给出了面向载人月球探测的月面环境模拟试验技术研究总体方案,并对月面环境模拟试验技术的发展目标进行了展望。