载人小行星探测的任务特点与实施途径探讨

介绍了载人小行星探测的发展现状,对目前美国基于"猎户座"飞船的载人小行星探测的概要方案进行了描述,包括探测器系统组成、运载火箭和飞行方案等内容。从速度增量、目标星引力等方面,分析了载人小行星探测的任务特点,并与载人火星探测、载人月球探测以及无人小行星探测的任务特点进行了比较。给出了载人小行星探测的实施途径建议,包括目标星选择、载人飞船系统设计等。讨论了其所涉及的推进、星际飞行安全保障、小行星表面行走等关键技术。研究结果可为我国开展载人深空探测提供参考。     

载人近地小行星探测器系统质量减小途径探讨

为减小载人近地小行星探测器的系统质量,提出采用先期运送部分推进舱至小行星、可伸缩式舱体、发展核推进技术的3种技术途径。介绍了国内已有的载人近地小行星探测器的系统组成及其质量估算方法。在此基础上,结合一个载人登陆探测近地小行星的算例,给出了采用上述3种减小质量途径的载人探测器系统质量估算结果。对3种技术途径的探测器总质量减小效果进行了对比,对各技术途径的特点和难点进行了讨论。结果表明:3种技术途径均可有效地减小载人探测器系统的总质量,有助于提高载人近地小行星探测任务的可行性。     

载人小行星探测飞行模式研究

小行星是载人深空探测的重要可选目的地之一,其丰富的探测与利用价值近年来备受各国的广泛关注。分析了载人小行星探测的任务特点,开展了近地组装发射、日地L2点停泊、地月平动点停泊的载人小行星探测飞行模式研究。载人小行星探测任务可选目标星多、任务周期长、飞行距离远,选择具有较好适应性的飞行模式是任务实施的先决条件。文章对不同飞行模式下的速度增量、任务时间、飞行器系统规模和推进剂选择进行了分析,最后进行了最优飞行模式选择。     

载人小行星着陆探测模式设想

基于目前小行星探测技术特点,综述了当前国内外空间活动中两种典型探测模式,针对未来载人小行星着陆探测需求,提出了爬行式和基于小型机动操作载人飞船的两种探测模式,并对两种模式进行评价比较,基于小型机动操作载人飞船的探测模式具有机动性强、探测范围广、安全性高及对航天员操作能力要求低等特点,可为我国未来载人深空探测任务中微重力环境下星体表面作业方案设计提供参考。     

我国小行星探测发展思路及关键技术探讨

介绍了国外小行星探测的发展状况,指出小行星探测正从飞越和伴飞探测向表面软着陆取样返回探测发展,从无人探测向载人探测发展,向多目标探测以及与新技术验证相结合的发展趋势和特点。提出我国小行星探测应分4步走的发展规划和发展思路建议,并论述了小行星探测包括载人小行星探测需要解决的轨道设计、自主采样等关键技术。以上建议和研究可为我国制定小行星深空探测战略规划提供参考。     

小行星环境特性分析与研究现状

小行星环境特性不仅是小行星科学研究的基础,也是在设计小行星工程任务时所要综合考虑的关键因素。文章通过对现有的研究资料进行总结,从空间环境、表面环境和内部环境3个方面阐述了小行星的环境特性;最后,对中国国家航天局公布的我国首次小行星探测任务的探测目标——近地小行星(469219)2016HO3和主带彗星133P/Elst-Pizarro的特点进行了简要介绍。     

深空探测器总体技术

提出了深空探测器的总体设计要点,分析了总体设计约束,以及深空探测任务对探测器需求特点。基于技术的继承性和衔接性,提出了未来我国火星、小行星、金星以及木星等深空探测器的总体方案构想,讨论了任务目标、总体指标、构型和飞行过程等。研究对我国未来深空探测任务的方案设计有一定的参考价值。     

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。     

小行星探测最优两脉冲交会轨道设计与分析

小行星探测已经成为新世纪深空探测的一个新热点和未来世界航天发展的一个新方向。转移轨道的设计和探测目标可接近性的分析是小行星探测的关键技术之一。现利用了任意两个非共面非共轴椭圆轨道之间的最优两脉冲转移方法，对我国提出的探测Ivar小行星的交会转移轨道进行了设计与分析，给出了全局最优两脉冲交会轨道的设计参数，并利用此方法对近地小行星的可接近性进行了分析和排序，给出了可接近性较好的40颗近地小行星的转移轨道设计参数。这些研究结果对于近地小行星探测任务的目标选择和发射机会的预测都有重要的参考价值。     

多目标多任务深空探测技术初探

在火星上探测水的存在与否,以及在彗星和小行星等小天体中寻找太阳系最早的起源信息是目前国际上深空探测的两个热点。该文分析了我国开展火星水探测和小天体探测研究的必要性,提出了适合同时探测火星及彗星/小行星的多目标多任务深空探测器的初步设想,并对其关键技术进行了初步分析。根据我国的国力和科学探测需要,结合我国未来20年内的主要深空探测发展方向,实施多目标多任务的深空探测任务不仅可以节省发射费用,而且实施结合新技术验证的多目标深空探测活动,可以获得较高的效益。     

凝视成像型光谱仪特点及其小行星探测应用前景（英文）

Compared with traditional ground asteroid observations, deep space exploration is an important way to explore and comprehensively understand the characteristics of asteroids. Imaging spectrometer integrates morphological measurement and spectral measurement, and has the ability to acquire image and spectral data simultaneously. By combining morphometry and spectrometry, it is possible to achieve efficient identification and quantitative analysis of the chemical components of the exploration target, and has the strong advantage in the field of asteroid exploration. This paper analyzes the principle of the staring imaging spectrometer and the technological progress in various countries. Based on the requirements of light, small payloads and the space characteristics of spectroscopic devices, the application of staring imaging spectrometer is discussed. Then, this paper introduces the conceptual design of an acousto-optic staring imaging spectrometer, combined with the technical characteristics of its area array stare frame imaging and fast electronic control spectrum selection. An experimental verification is carried out, which provides a reference for the feasibility of this type of instrument in asteroid exploration.     

Human exploration of near earth asteroids: Mission analysis for chemical and electric propulsion

This paper presents a mission analysis comparison of human missions to asteroids using two distinct architectures. The objective is to determine if either architecture can reduce launch mass with respect to the other, while not sacrificing other performance metrics such as mission duration. One architecture relies on chemical propulsion, the traditional workhorse of space exploration. The second combines chemical and electric propulsion into a hybrid architecture that attempts to utilize the strengths of each, namely the short flight times of chemical propulsion and the propellant efficiency of electric propulsion. The architectures are thoroughly detailed, and accessibility of the known asteroid population is determined for both. The most accessible asteroids are discussed in detail. Aspects such as mission abort scenarios and vehicle reusability are also discussed. Ultimately, it is determined that launch mass can be greatly reduced with the hybrid architecture, without a notable increase in mission duration. This demonstrates that significant performance improvements can be introduced to the next step of human space exploration with realistic electric propulsion system capabilities. This leads to immediate cost savings for human exploration and simultaneously opens a path of technology development that leads to technologies enabling access to even further destinations in the future.     

MarcoPolo-R: Near-Earth Asteroid sample return mission selected for the assessment study phase of the ESA program cosmic vision

This paper presents the sample return mission to a primitive Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) MarcoPolo-R proposed to the European Space Agency in December 2010. MarcoPolo-R was selected in February 2011 with three other missions addressing different science objectives for the two-year Assessment Phase of the Medium-Class mission competition of the Cosmic Vision 2 program for launch in 2022. The baseline target of MarcoPolo-R is the binary NEA (175706) 1996 FG3, which offers an efficient operational and technical mission profile. A binary target also provides enhanced science return. The choice of a binary target allows several scientific investigations to occur more easily than through a single object, in particular regarding the fascinating geology and geophysics of asteroids. MarcoPolo-R will rendezvous with a primitive, organic-rich NEA, scientifically characterize it at multiple scales, and return a bulk sample to Earth for laboratory analyses. The MarcoPolo-R sample will provide a representative sample from the surface of a known asteroid with known geologic context, and will contribute to the inventory of primitive material that is probably missing from the meteorite collection. The MarcoPolo-R samples will thus contribute to the exploration of the origin of planetary materials and initial stages of habitable planet formation, to the identification and characterization of the organics and volatiles in a primitive asteroid and to the understanding of the unique geomorphology, dynamics and evolution of a binary asteroid that belongs to the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) population.     

有人月球基地构建方案设想

有人月球基地的建设能将人类的活动区域扩展到月球,实现月球资源的深度开发和利用,服务于人类社会发展。中国开展月球基地建设,在技术上是空间站工程和载人登月工程的有效结合,也有利于其载人航天工程的可持续发展。文章针对有人月球基地的构建,将有人月球基地构建的基本途径分为刚性舱组装、柔性舱组装和月面建筑式三大类,并指出在月球基地发展的不同阶段构建途径的选择原则,再结合中国国情,提出了中国在有人月球基地发展初期的构建方案,最后对有人月球基地构建中的一些关键问题进行了分析总结。     

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.     

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.     

气球型深空探测器技术研究进展

气球型深空探测器能够大大提高深空探测的机动能力,它不仅可以获取区域范围内的高分辨率观测数据,而且还可实现不同高度大气的原位测量。文章针对气球型深空探测器按技术特征进行了分类,并简述了各类气球探测器的原理和特点,重点总结了各类气球探测器在金星、火星和土卫六上应用的研究现状。针对我国未来的气球型深空探测器技术发展,提出首先以火星热气球为发展方向,与地球临近空间浮空器技术的发展彼此借鉴,促进关键技术领域的技术突破等建议,可为我国未来深空探测提供参考。     

Rosetta: The ESA comet rendezvous mission

Rosetta was selected in November 1993 for the ESA Cornerstone 3 mission, to be launched in 2003, dedicated to the exploration of the small bodies of the solar system (asteroids and comets). Following this selection, the Rosetta mission and its spacecraft have been completely reviewed: this paper presents the studies performed the proposed mission and the resulting spacecraft design.

Three mission opportunities have been identified in 2003–2004, allowing rendezvous with a comet. From a single Ariane 5 launch, the transfer to the comet orbit will be supported by planetary gravity assists (two from Earth, one from Venus or Mars); during the transfer sequence, two asteroid fly-bys will occur, allowing first mission science phases. The comet rendezvous will occur 8–9 years after launch; Rosetta will orbit around the comet and the main science mission phase will take place up to the comet perihelion (1–2 years duration).

The spacecraft design is driven (i) by the communication scenario with the Earth and its equipment, (ii) by the autonomy requirements for the long cruise phases which are not supported by the ground stations, (iii) by the solar cells solar array for the electrical power supply and (iv) by the navigation scenario and sensors for cruise, target approach and rendezvous phases. These requirements will be developed and the satellite design will be presented.     

深空探测器间通信技术发展概述

器间通信技术能够确保遥控指令可靠到达探测器，并将探测器的科学探测数据回传给地面，在深空探测中发挥着重要作用。介绍了美国和中国的月球探测、火星探测工程中器间通信技术发展现状和工程应用情况，分析总结了深空探测器间通信技术的主要特点，并针对未来深空探测器间通信需求，提出了需要迫切解决的关键技术，为我国后续深空探测工程的实施提供支持。