The Genesis mission: unifying science and engineering

Design of the Genesis spacecraft mission was derived from top-down flow of a basic and highly challenging science requirement: obtain samples of solar matter of such high quality and low background that they would sustain investigations of chemical and isotopic composition of the solar system for the coming decades, and well into the 21^st Century. Within the framework of several dozen competing mission concepts for planetary exploration under NASA's Discovery program, Genesis needed to perform extremely high quality science (solar collection and sample return) for an affordable yet realistic level of effort. Key issues included preservation of collector cleanliness, avoidance of spacecraft-generated con-tamination, control of collector temperatures, simplicity of long-term operation, ability to efficiently reach the L1 operations point, reliability of avionics and other support systems, return to a specific landing locale on Earth, and provision for soft capture of the descent capsule via mid-air parachute snatch. Genesis is now in the final stages of spacecraft testing and system validation, the culmination of a highly interwoven effort to meet science objectives with innovative solutions that also satisfy engineering challenges for reliability, affordability, rapid development and a comprehensive test program. Genesis is scheduled for launch in February 2001.     

LIFE: Life Investigation For Enceladus A Sample Return Mission Concept in Search for Evidence of Life

Abstract Life Investigation For Enceladus (LIFE) presents a low-cost sample return mission to Enceladus, a body with high astrobiological potential. There is ample evidence that liquid water exists under ice coverage in the form of active geysers in the "tiger stripes" area of the southern Enceladus hemisphere. This active plume consists of gas and ice particles and enables the sampling of fresh materials from the interior that may originate from a liquid water source. The particles consist mostly of water ice and are 1-10?μ in diameter. The plume composition shows H(2)O, CO(2), CH(4), NH(3), Ar, and evidence that more complex organic species might be present. Since life on Earth exists whenever liquid water, organics, and energy coexist, understanding the chemical components of the emanating ice particles could indicate whether life is potentially present on Enceladus. The icy worlds of the outer planets are testing grounds for some of the theories for the origin of life on Earth. The LIFE mission concept is envisioned in two parts: first, to orbit Saturn (in order to achieve lower sampling speeds, approaching 2 km/s, and thus enable a softer sample collection impact than Stardust, and to make possible multiple flybys of Enceladus); second, to sample Enceladus' plume, the E ring of Saturn, and the Titan upper atmosphere. With new findings from these samples, NASA could provide detailed chemical and isotopic and, potentially, biological compositional context of the plume. Since the duration of the Enceladus plume is unpredictable, it is imperative that these samples are captured at the earliest flight opportunity. If LIFE is launched before 2019, it could take advantage of a Jupiter gravity assist, which would thus reduce mission lifetimes and launch vehicle costs. The LIFE concept offers science returns comparable to those of a Flagship mission but at the measurably lower sample return costs of a Discovery-class mission. Key Words: Astrobiology-Habitability-Enceladus-Biosignatures. Astrobiology 12, 730-742.     

Development status of the high-speed reentry system-DASH

Despite huge amount of data collected by the previous interplanetary spacecraft and probes, the origin and evolution of the solar system still remains unveiled due to limited information they brought back. Thus, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan has been given a commitment to pave the way to an asteroid sample return mission: the MUSES-C project. A key to success is considered the reentry with hyperbolic velocity, which has not ever been demonstrated as yet. With this as background, a demonstrator of atmospheric reentry system, DASH, has been designed to demonstrate the high-speed reentry technology as a GTO piggyback mission. The capsule, identical to that of the sample return mission, can experience the targeted level of thermal environment even from the GTO by tracing a specially designed reentry trajectory. After the purpose of the mission was outlined at the last IAF symposium, the final fitting tests have been conducted in the ISAS Sagamihara Campus involving the flight model hardware. Furthermore, a series of rehearsals for recovery have been already executed. The paper describes the current mission status of the project.     

美国小行星俘获任务及其启示

小行星俘获(ACR)任务是美国Keck空间研究中心发起的一项深空探测任务。该任务计划选定一颗近地小行星,通过口袋式抓捕系统对其实施抓捕,并于2025年左右将其带回近月空间。文章介绍了ACR任务的内容和系统设计,具体包括:航天器总体构型、抓捕分系统、探测识别分系统和控制与推进分系统;对小行星抓捕的目标探测与识别、旋转匹配、抓捕、消旋、轨道转移等核心操作。基于ACR任务,提出了空间目标俘获技术的需求与应用、抓捕航天器系统设计的启示;基于我国目前的技术研究情况,总结分析了发展空间目标俘获任务所需的关键技术,如大功率柔性太阳翼、长时间大范围轨道机动、目标探测与识别、快速机动、目标抓捕与消旋。     

The deep space 1 extended mission

The primary mission of Deep Space 1 (DS1), the first flight of the New Millennium program, completed successfully in September 1999, having exceeded its objectives of testing new, high-risk technologies important for future space and Earth science missions. DS1 is now in its extended mission, with plans to take advantage of the advanced technologies, including solar electric propulsion, to conduct an encounter with comet 19P/Borrelly in September 2001. During the extended mission, the spacecraft's commercial star tracker failed; this critical loss prevented the spacecraft from achieving three-axis attitude control or knowledge. A two-phase approach to recovering the mission was undertaken. The first involved devising a new method of pointing the high-gain antenna to Earth using the radio signal received at the Deep Space Network as an indicator of spacecraft attitude. The second was the development of new flight software that allowed the spacecraft to return to three-axis operation without substantial ground assistance. The principal new feature of this software is the use of the science camera as an attitude sensor. The differences between the science camera and the star tracker have important implications not only for the design of the new software but also for the methods of operating the spacecraft and conducting the mission. The ambitious rescue was fully successful, and the extended mission is back on track.     

应用于立方星的剪叉式可展开太阳电池阵机构

立方星在轨任务期间的能源供给主要依靠蓄电池或体装太阳能电池阵。随着微小航天器技术的发展,立方星功能密度越来越大,星上载荷对功率的需求越来越高,传统的电池板供能方式已很难满足未来空间任务需求。另外,立方星因其特有的尺寸规范和标准,对电池阵的收纳尺寸和展开机构也有特殊应用需求。基于上述背景和立方星的结构特点,设计了一种展开原理简单、扩展性好、折展比大的一维剪叉式空间可展开机构,进行了原理样机的加工制造和地面展开试验,验证了机构设计的功能可行性以及设计参数的合理性。机构展开后阵列发电功率是传统供能方式的3~5倍,且特殊的几何外形可提供被动重力梯度稳定优势,在提升未来立方星载荷能力方面有重要应用价值。     

An attitude control approach for compensation of satellite drift in elliptic synchronous orbits

This paper explores the possibility of developing a new attitude control method for satellites in elliptic, 24-hour orbits, in order to compensate for the effect of longitudinal periodic drift relative to the ground station. A simple solar attitude control technique has been proposed for achieving the fixed apparent satellite orientation with respect to the ground segment of the space mission. The proposed control approach appears to be quite attractive for various satellite applications as it can substantially overcome the problems created by the continual periodic angular drift as well as undesirable pitching excitation in the elliptic orbits. Generalizing the analytically developed open-loop control policy results in a significant improvement of the controller performance.     

Opportunity options for rendezvous,flyby and sample return mission to different spectral-type asteroids for the 2015–2025

The feasible rendezvous, flyby and sample return mission scenario to different spectral-type asteroids for the 2015–2025 are investigated. The emphasis is put on the potential target selection and the design of preliminary interplanetary transfer trajectory in this paper. First, according to different scientific motivations, some potential targets with different spectral-type and physical property are selected. Then, some optimal rendezvous and sample return opportunities for different spectral-type asteroids are presented by using pork-chop plots method and Sequential Quadratic-Programming (SQP) algorithm. In order to reduce the launch energy and total velocity increments for sample return mission, the Earth swingby strategy is used. In addition, the feasible trajectory profiles of flyby and rendezvous with two different spectral-type asteroids in one mission are discussed. A hybrid optimization method combing the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm and SQP algorithm is introduced as a trajectory design method for the mission. Finally, some important parameters of transfer trajectory are analyzed, which would have a direct impact on the design of spacecraft subsystem, such as communication, power and thermal control subsystem.     

The apollo telescope mount on skylab

The Apollo Telescope Mount on Skylab, launched into Earth orbit on May 14, 1973, as the first manned solar observatory in space, has provided a major advance in our knowledge about the Sun. In addition to solar physics research, it explored the advantages and limitations of man as an observer and operator of a major scientific spacecraft, and provided concepts for potential application to future space programs. The ATM contained eight solar telescopes and provided these instruments with the necessary pointing reference and control, electrical power, thermal control, and telemetry and command links. Additionally, the experiments and supporting systems were integrated with the necessary controls and displays to permit complete operation and control by the astronaut crew.The ATM, during the nearly nine-month mission, provided data from the experiments which exceeded the pre-mission expectations in terms of quality, quantity, and the spectrum of observed solar activity. Areas of potentially significant new scientific findings included rapid large scale changes in the corona, flare trigger mechanisms and energy relationships, coronal holes and their relationship to solar wind, and the existence of numerous bright spots in the X-ray corona. Thorough analysis of the vast amount of data returned will require several years, but the indications to date are that the mission has provided extremely valuable scientific information which will probably result in significant changes to the currently accepted solar model.     

Photonic spin control for solar wind electric sail

The electric solar wind sail (E-sail) is a novel, efficient propellantless propulsion concept which utilises the natural solar wind for spacecraft propulsion with the help of long centrifugally stretched charged tethers. The E-sail requires auxiliary propulsion applied to the tips of the main tethers for creating the initial angular momentum and possibly for modifying the spinrate later during flight to counteract the orbital Coriolis effect and possibly for mission specific reasons. We introduce the possibility of implementing the required auxiliary propulsion by small photonic blades (small radiation pressure solar sails). The blades would be stretched centrifugally. We look into two concepts, one with and one without auxiliary tethers. The use of small photonic sails has the benefit of providing sufficient spin modification capability for any E-sail mission while keeping the technology fully propellantless. We conclude that small photonic sails appear to be a feasible and attractive solution to E-sail spinrate control.     

Overcoming Genesis mission design challenges

Genesis is the fifth mission selected as part of NASA's Discovery Program. The objective of Genesis is to collect solar wind samples for a period of approximately 2 years while in a halo orbit about the Sun–Earth colinear libration point, L1, located between the Sun and Earth. At the end of this period, the spacecraft follows a free-return trajectory with the samples delivered to a specific recovery point on the Earth for subsequent analysis. This type of sample return has never been attempted before and presents a formidable challenge, particularly with regard to planning and execution of propulsive maneuvers. Moreover, since the original inception, additional challenges have arisen as a result of emerging spacecraft design concerns and operational constraints. This paper will describe how these challenges have been met to date in the context of the better-faster-cheaper paradigm. [This paper addresses an earlier mission design, as of May 2000.]     

Combining solar science and asteroid science with the space weather observation network (SWON)

The peculiarity of space weather for Earth orbiting satellites, air traffic and power grids on Earth and especially the financial and operational risks posed by damage due to space weather, underline the necessity of space weather observation. The importance of such observations is even more increasing due to the impending solar maximum. In recognition of this importance we propose a mission architecture for solar observation as an alternative to already published mission plans like Solar Probe (NASA) or Solar Orbiter (ESA). Based upon a Concurrent Evaluation session in the Concurrent Engineering Facility of the German Aerospace Center, we suggest using several spacecraft in an observation network. Instead of placing such spacecraft in a solar orbit, we propose landing on several asteroids, which are in opposition to Earth during the course of the mission and thus allow observation of the Sun's far side. Observation of the far side is especially advantageous as it improves the warning time with regard to solar events by about 2 weeks. Landing on Inner Earth Object (IEO) asteroids for observation of the Sun has several benefits over traditional mission architectures. Exploiting shadowing effects of the asteroids reduces thermal stress on the spacecraft, while it is possible to approach the Sun closer than with an orbiter. The closeness to the Sun improves observation quality and solar power generation, which is intended to be achieved with a solar dynamic system. Furthermore landers can execute experiments and measurements with regard to asteroid science, further increasing the scientific output of such a mission. Placing the spacecraft in a network would also benefit the communication contact times of the network and Earth. Concluding we present a first draft of a spacecraft layout, mission objectives and requirements as well as an initial mission analysis calculation.     

The Aurora project: Estimation of the optical sail parameters

The thrust model for computing a sailcraft trajectory contains thermo-optical parameters that are averages over the spectrum of the incident photons, namely, with respect to energy, intensity and polarization. These parameters are not observables and could change considerably from a sail to sail for a number of practical reasons. The mission analysis for a sailcraft is a progressive task from a simple trajectory propagator to the orbit determination. Aurora sailcraft mission analysis has advanced another step forward by processing experimental data related to aluminium. Once appropriate fitting functions have been selected, differential specular and diffused reflectance and differential absorptance have been averaged over incident solar spectrum, assumed a Planckian here. The result has been to get incident-angle-dependent optical parameters more reliable than mere literature values. The procedure has entailed the computation of grids of complicated definite integrals. They are particularly important during the trajectory optimization of the Aurora solar flyby, a very sensitive profile that would allow the sailcraft to achieve cruise speeds ranging from 12 to 20 AU/yr.     

电动帆轨迹优化及其性能分析

电动帆是一种新兴的无推进剂损耗的推进方式,利用太阳风的动能冲力飞行。电动帆由数百根长而细的金属链所组成,这些金属链通过空间飞行器自旋展开,太阳能电子枪向外喷射电子,使金属链始终保持在高度的正电位,这些带电的金属链会排斥太阳风质子,利用太阳风的动能冲力推动空间飞行器驶向目标方向。针对电动帆轨迹优化问题,提出采用Gauss伪谱法进行轨迹优化,克服了间接法对协态变量初值敏感的缺点。考虑在太阳风暴等原因造成特征加速度改变的情况,基于Gauss伪谱法实现电动帆在线轨迹重新规划,提高电动帆对太阳风不确定性的适应能力。最后以太阳系外探测任务为例,对电动帆和太阳帆的性能进行对比,仿真结果表明电动帆在星际远航任务中所用时间较短。     

Europa Lander

A Europa Lander mission has been assigned high priority for the post-2005 time frame in NASA's Space Science Enterprise Strategic Plan. Europa is one of the most scientifically interesting objects in the solar system because of the strong possibility that a liquid water ocean exists underneath its ice-covered surface. The primary scientific goals of the proposed Europa Lander mission are to characterize the surface material from a recent outflow and look for evidence of pre-biotic and possibly biotic chemistry. The baseline mission concept involves landing a single spacecraft on the surface of Europa with the capability to acquire samples of material, perform detailed chemical analysis of the samples, and transmit the results to Earth. This paper provides a discussion of the benefits and status of the key spacecraft and instrument technologies needed to accomplish the science objectives. Also described are variations on the baseline concept including the addition of small auxiliary probes and an experimental ice penetration probe.     

多体回收小型返回舱

把有些航天器(如空间站和侦察卫星等)上的物品返回地面,有两种方法可选用:一种是搭载天地往返运输系统返回,另一种是利用航天器上设置的专用返回舱返回。TAURUS和FAST是德国在80年代末设想的两种多体回收小型返回舱。它们预先装在空间站的贮存库中,需要时即可携带待返物品离开空间站、再入大气层并返回地面。文中主要介绍TAURUS返回舱的运行程序及主要构件(有效载荷舱、弹射装置及辅助设施等)。     

Flux and isotopic composition of helium in the ancient solar wind

The isotopic composition and concentrations of helium are investigated in 9 samples taken from different depths of a soil column delivered by the Luna-24 mission. It is demonstrated that, with allowance made for random errors, the isotopic composition of helium remains invariable. The concentrations of helium are subject to considerable variations, the increases and decreases relative to the average value reaching a factor of 1.5–2. Assuming that the full length of the soil column was formed due to long-term accumulation of lunar clastic rocks (regolith), based on measurements of cosmogenic isotopes, a method of determining the rate of regolith accumulation has been developed, as well as a method of determining the age of the column soil samples. It is found that the rate of regolith accumulation is variable, and it changes over the column length within the limits (0.2–0.8 cm)/10⁶ years. The range of the time for formation of the investigated part of the column is 100–600 million years. The observed decreases of concentration (at 250 and 600 million years) can be associated with both solar and lunar processes. In particular, a possibility of diffusion losses of helium due to the mechanism of jump-like diffusion is discussed, and diffusion parameters are found. A comparison of time periods of the observed variations in the solar wind with paleontological epochs and periods is made.     

太阳帆日心定点悬浮转移轨道设计

研究了太阳帆航天器日心定点悬浮轨道(HFDO)的转移轨道设计问题,以球坐标形式建立了太阳帆的动力学模型,基于该模型给出在日心悬浮轨道基础上实现定点悬浮的条件,提出了一种实现日心定点悬浮的转移轨道设计方法。首先,确定定点悬浮的位置;然后,设计经过该位置的绕日极轨轨道;最后,实施轨道减速实现定点悬浮,并给出了解析形式的轨道控制律。结合太阳极地观测任务,设计了定点悬浮在太阳北极1AU处的太阳帆转移轨道。仿真结果表明:该轨道转移方案总耗时3.5年,太阳帆定点到黄北极距日心1AU处,此后只要保持太阳光垂直照射帆面,即可维持稳定的悬浮状态。     

太阳系边际探测飞行任务规划

针对太阳系边际探测任务，开展了星际多目标飞越的任务规划，采用小推力混合优化设计方法完成了基于借力飞行及电推进技术的行星际转移轨道联合优化设计，对比研究了面向日球层鼻尖和尾部探测的星际多目标探测飞行方案。研究表明，探测器在2024-2025年发射，可飞抵日球层鼻尖区域，在2027-2030年发射可飞抵日球层尾部区域，并可在2049年1月1日前飞离日心100 AU，实现太阳系边际空间的科学探测。其中日球层鼻尖探测任务探测器飞抵100 AU的位置位于鼻尖中心区域，可与旅行者1号、2号探测器形成有效互补。文章所用任务规划方法，可为太阳系边际探测的自主任务规划技术提供基础，相关研究成果能够为未来中国首次太阳系边际探测任务的实施提供有价值的参考。     

空间太阳能阵列光照的建模仿真及优化

针对空间救援飞行器在无控模式下，固定的太阳能阵列可能受到光线照射面积不足的问题，提出采用建模仿真及优化阵列布局的方法来提高任意光照角度下的受光面积。通过建立参数化驱动的空间飞行器外形几何模型、任意角度下的光线投射模型和考虑自身结构阴影遮挡的光照模型，研究空间任意光照角度下太阳能阵列接收光线照射的有效面积，并得到最低受光面积。基于建立的光照模型，采用遗传算法，对影响太阳能阵列布局的关键参数进行优化。可视化仿真结果校验了模型的有效性，优化结果显示算法收敛且获得了最优结果，满足空间无控飞行任务要求。