一种新的卫星超高速撞击解体阈值模型研究

为定量描述卫星在超高速撞击下的解体阈值与解体程度,本文提出了一种新的卫星解体阈值模型,即用能量密度em(来袭物动能与卫星在撞击通道内的质量之比)的大小来判断卫星是否发生解体,用卫星解体后碎片累积质量统计曲线中平滑无突变部分的碎片质量与碎片总质量之比μc来描述卫星的解体程度,μc越大,卫星解体程度越高。采用数值仿真方法获得了卫星最小解体撞击能量密度阈值为3.62×102J/g,研究了不同em和不同η(卫星在撞击通道内的质量与卫星总质量之比)条件下卫星解体碎片的统计规律,建立了μc与em和η之间的函数关系,初步完成了这种新的卫星超高速撞击解体阈值模型的构建。     

CAST空间碎片超高速撞击试验研究进展

超高速撞击试验是开展载人航天器及大型应用卫星空间碎片超高速撞击风险评估和防护设计的基础,作为我国航天器环境效应和可靠性工程验证部门的北京卫星环境工程研究所在这个领域做了大量的工作。文章介绍了二级轻气炮超高速撞击地面模拟试验技术、典型防护结构防护性能的超高速撞击试验验证、载人航天器外露材料超高速撞击特性、毫米级弹丸7 km/s以上超高速稳定发射技术探索、高性能防护结构研究等方面的若干近期进展。展望了我国空间碎片防护需求和地面超高速撞击试验研究的发展方向。     

弹丸超高速撞击单层和多层板结构的碎片特征研究

针对空间碎片撞击航天器典型结构形成的碎片特征问题,开展了单层板和多层板在4.4～5.8 km／s速度下的超高速撞击试验,利用激光阴影照相技术和碎片软回收方法获得了不同试验状态下碎片尺寸及质量分布等信息,同时采用数值仿真方法分析了碎片的形成机理。研究结果表明,碎片数量随弹丸及靶材尺度的增大、撞击速度的提高而增加,且随碎片尺寸的减小呈指数关系增长。碎片尺寸与其形成机理有关,小碎片主要是在应变率较高的冲击加载和相变作用下形成,对撞击速度的变化更为敏感;大碎片则是在较低应变率下,因靶材的穿孔损伤造成局部强度下降,在冲击作用下材料沿薄弱处撕裂并脱落而形成。     

利用等离子体加速器发射超高速 微小空间碎片的研究

文章介绍了国内外微小空间碎片超高速撞击地面模拟实验研究的现状,描述了国内等离子体微小空间碎片加速器的研制进展和初步实验结果,分析了该加速器在空间碎片防护研究工作中的应用。在初步调试阶段,在系统设计满负荷储能6%和35%的条件下,分别将100 ?m和200 ?m的玻璃微粒加速至5.5 km/s和9.3 km/s。利用该加速器可以模拟研究10～1 000 ?m的微小空间碎片对卫星功能材料的撞击损伤特性,可以加速模拟研究卫星关键部件或分系统在大量微小空间碎片撞击下的失效机理和失效模式,为卫星防护微小空间碎片的设计提供技术支持。该加速器还能为国内发展星载空间微小碎片探测仪器的设计和标定提供模拟实验条件。     

球形弹丸超高速斜撞击薄板的碎片云和侵彻特征仿真分析

低地球轨道航天器易受到微流星体及空间碎片的超高速撞击。相较于正撞击,斜撞击现象更加普遍、更具研究价值。文章采用Autodyn-3D数值模拟软件,利用光滑粒子流体动力学（smooth particle hydrodynamics, SPH）方法,模拟Al2017-T4球形弹丸超高速斜撞击Al2A12薄板的过程,开展弹丸撞击速度为3～6 km/s、撞击角度为0°～60°时的撞击特征仿真分析。结果表明:撞击角度对碎片云形貌与几何尺寸,以及穿孔大小和形状特征有显著影响;当撞击角度为30°～45°时会发生滑弹反溅现象,造成弹丸侵彻能力下降。研究结果可为超高速撞击防护结构的设计和改进提供支持。     

圆柱体弹丸超高速斜撞击薄板的碎片云特征仿真分析

为研究圆柱体弹丸超高速撞击薄板的碎片云特征,基于仿真软件AUTODYN-3D的光滑粒子流体动力学（SPH）方法,模拟圆柱体弹丸不同长径比、不同攻角条件下超高速撞击薄板的过程。设圆柱体弹丸撞击速度为5 km/s,长径比分别为0.5、1.0、2.0、4.0,攻角为15°～75°,数值模拟结果分析表明:圆柱体弹丸超高速斜撞击薄板形成的碎片云中,大部分是小质量碎片;大碎片的质量和动能占比较大,是造成后墙损伤的主要原因。同时,当弹丸长径比为0.5和1.0时,15°攻角下的碎片云侵彻能力最弱;长径比为2.0和4.0时,75°攻角下的碎片云侵彻能力最弱。研究结果可为航天器防护结构设计优化提供参考。     

CAST激光驱动微小飞片及其超高速撞击效应研究进展

激光驱动飞片技术(LDFT)在模拟微米级空间碎片对航天器的超高速撞击效应方面具有独特的优势。文章全面介绍了北京卫星环境工程研究所在激光驱动飞片技术与微米级空间碎片超高速撞击效应地面模拟研究中取得的若干进展,包括激光驱动飞片的理论计算、超高速飞片的稳定发射技术、超高速飞片速度瞬态测量技术、航天器外露表面的超高速撞击特性、超高速撞击累积损伤评价方法,以及微米级空间碎片超高速撞击防护技术探索等研究。同时,展望了激光驱动飞片技术以及微米级空间碎片累积撞击实验研究的发展方向。     

地球静止轨道卫星撞击解体的数值模拟

分析了地球静止轨道（GE0）环内的物体现状,引入美国家航空航天局（NASA）的标准解体模型,给出了卫星撞击解体算法,编写了数值仿真软件,仿真研究了GEO卫星撞击解体形成碎片的特征及其轨道分布。结果表明：撞击会产生大量碎片,对空间环境造成长期的严重危害。研究结果对分析卫星撞击解体特性、保护空间环境有一定的参考价值。     

用于验证数值仿真的Whipple屏超高速撞击试验结果

为提供验证超高速撞击数值仿真所需的试验结果,给出了在中国空气动力研究与发展中心超高速所进行的铝质Whipple屏超高速撞击试验部分结果。试验中,球形弹丸均为LY12铝合金材料,直径为0.4~0.5cm;靶材为间距10cm、厚0.192cm的LY12板材。撞击速度为4.47~6.15km/s,撞击角为0°和45°。给出的试验结果包括弹丸和靶材参数、撞击速度、撞击角、弹孔尺寸、后墙损伤情况和碎片云激光阴影照片等。实验结果表明,撞击速度越高,Whipple屏的防护效果越好,而斜撞击比正向撞击造成的破坏更严重。     

数字全息测量超高速撞击碎片云实验研究

在中国空气动力研究与发展中心(CARDC)超高速碰撞中心(HIRC)7.6 mm超高速碰撞设备的基础上，搭建纳秒级脉冲激光数字全息系统。提出滤波片和衰减片组合布置，减弱超高速碰撞等离子体自发光、提高信噪比的方法。实验获得了2.25 mm铝球弹丸以4.0 km/s的速度撞击0.5 mm厚铝板形成碎片云的全息图。采用小波变换算法对碎片云全息图进行重建，得到超高速撞击碎片云的三维结构和碎片大小。碎片云的轮廓呈椭球型，分为碎片云的前端、核心和外壳，碎片主要分布在弹丸破碎形成的碎片云核心，存在大碎片，且分布较集中，对后板的损伤也严重     

Debris area distribution of spacecraft under hypervelocity impact

Cross-sectional area is an important parameter for spacecraft breakup debris as it is the directly measured data in space observation. It is significant for observing and analysing the spacecraft breakup event to accurately modelling the area distribution of the breakup debris. In this paper, experimental study has been performed on debris area distribution characteristics of spacecraft under hypervelocity impact. The tests are carried out at the ballistic ranges of CARDC. Aluminium projectiles are launched to normally impact the simulated spacecrafts at about 3.0 km/s. The simulated spacecrafts are made up of aluminium plates, filled with some simulated electronics boxes, each of which was installed with a circuit board. “Soft-catch” devices are used to recover the breakup fragments. The test results show that: 1) the relationship between the cross-sectional area and the characteristic length of debris, which can be obtained in the logarithmic coordinates by linear fitting, represents the debris shape characteristic in a certain extent; 2) the area-to-mass ratios of fragments show normal distributions in the logarithmic coordinates; 3) debris made of different materials can be distinguished by different peaks on the distribution curves; 4) the area-to-mass ratio distributions can be expressed by a linear superimposition of several normal functions which represent the main materials of the spacecraft.     

Developing a Low-Velocity Collision Model Based on the Nasa Standard Breakup Model

We have conducted a series of low-velocity impact experiments to understand the dispersion properties of fragments newly created by low-velocity impacts possible in space, especially in geostationary Earth orbit. The test results are utilized to establish a mathematical prediction model to be used in debris generation and propagation codes. Since the expected collision velocity between catalogued objects in geostationary Earth orbit shows a peak at a few hundreds meters per second, these impact experiments were conducted at a velocity range lower than 300m/s. As a typical structure of satellites in geostationary Earth orbit, thin aluminum honeycomb sandwich panels with carbon fiber reinforced plastics face sheets were prepared, while the projectile was a stainless steel ball of 9mm diameter. The data collected through these impact experiments have been re-analyzed based on the method used in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) standard breakup model 1998 revision. The results indicate that the NASA standard breakup model derived from hypervelocity impacts could be applied to low-velocity collision possible in geostationary Earth orbit with some modifications.     

天基轻气炮发射清除低轨碎片方案及关键技术分析

文章分析了现有的空间碎片清除方式,并以800~1200 km低地球轨道高度上1~10 cm量级的空间碎片为清除目标,提出了天基轻气炮清除碎片的新方法。首先分析了轻气炮有效载荷在典型参数下的弹丸加速能力;之后根据将碎片降轨使其坠入大气层烧毁的设想,提出天基轻气炮共面清除碎片的方式,并选择轨道高度800 km的圆轨道作为碎片运行轨道进行可行性分析。计算表明,对半径10 cm、厚度1 cm的铝合金圆板碎片(质量211.95 g),使用初速1 km/s、重10 g的黏性弹丸可按任务方案达到清除效果。此外,计算出该参数弹丸对轨道高度800~1200 km的圆轨道上可清除的最大碎片质量为500~825 g,证明轻气炮弹丸对1~10 cm的碎片具有较强的清除能力。最后,分析了以轻气炮为有效载荷的航天器在完成清除碎片任务时的关键技术。     

Estimation of debris dispersion due to a space vehicle breakup during reentry

This paper studies the problem of the estimation of the extent of the airspace containing falling debris due to a space vehicle breakup. A precise propagation of debris to the ground is not practical for many reasons. There is insufficient knowledge of the initial state vector, ambient wind conditions, and the key parameters including the ballistic coefficients. In addition, propagation of all debris pieces to the ground would require extensive computer time. In this paper, a covariance propagation method is introduced for the estimation of debris dispersion due to a space vehicle breakup. The falling debris is simulated, and the data are analyzed to derive the probability of debris evolution in different altitude layers over time. The concept of positional probability ellipsoids is employed for the visualization of the results. Through a case study, it is shown that while the results of the covariance propagation method are in close agreement with those of the Monte Carlo method, the covariance propagation method is much more computationally efficient than the Monte Carlo method.     

A space based radar on a micro-satellite for in-situ detection of small orbital debris

The increase in the number of satellites in the Near Earth Orbit is exponential. The consequent increase in pollution of the orbital environment is of growing concern to the international community. There are currently only two observation systems available for measurement of orbital debris. Ground based radar and telescopes can detect objects larger than about 7 cm. Passive space based systems provide an accurate statistical estimation of flux for debris smaller than about 0.1 mm in size. Consequently, there is no way of obtaining information about debris in the millimeter-size range. Considering that the relative speed between objects in space is commonly in the km/s range, millimeter sized debris carry enough energy to be deadly to astronauts or to totally destroy the functioning of any satellite. Then National space agencies have recommended launching orbital spacecraft carrying debris detection experiments for gaining a better understanding of small debris.CNES (the French Space Agency) is developing a new family of micro-satellites, that will make possible to put into orbit a totally new system of radar that could measure in-situ flux of debris. We present results of this system analysis, which would cumulate the advantages of both ground-based radar and in orbit passive experiments.The proposed method for detection is quite original and allows the radar to act like a band-pass filter with respect to the debris diameter. The optimum frequency is shown to be in the Ka-band. Two points are critical in the definition of the radar: the average power available and the false alarm probability in the detection criterion. Therefore, we present a special receiver chain in order to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. The estimate of the radial velocity through Doppler frequency measurement may be used to discriminate orbital debris from meteoroids. This system could be built today using an existing Continuous Wave amplifier. Several hundreds of objects per year could be detected yielding an accurate statistical estimation.The orbital debris radar would be a major contribution to our knowledge of millimeter sized debris. This experiment would contribute to making the current models more accurate at all inclinations. The micro-satellite concept would make the orbital debris radar mission cheap enough for considering a constellation of such satellites.     

Orbital evolution of the first upper stages used for the new European and Chinese navigation satellite systems

The solutions adopted for the disposal of the upper stages used to put in orbit the first satellites of the new European (Galileo) and Chinese (Beidou) navigation constellations were analyzed. The orbit evolution of the rocket bodies was modeled for 200 years, taking into account all relevant perturbations, and the chosen disposal options were evaluated in terms of their long-term consequences for the debris environment. The results obtained, when applicable, were also discussed in the context of the eccentricity instability problem, pointed out in previous studies. In addition, the long-term evolution of the fragments resulting from a Beidou rocket body breakup, and of simulated high area-to-mass ratio objects released in the disposal orbits of the first two Galileo upper stages, was investigated.Eight out of ten Beidou upper stages were found to have an orbital lifetime <25 years and the other two resulted in a dwell time of approximately 6 years below 2000 km. It was also found that the perigee heights of the two upper stages used to deploy the first Galileo test spacecraft will remain more than 169 km above the constellation nominal altitude, never crossing the existing or planned navigation systems. In spite of an inclination resonance possibly leading to the exponential growth of the eccentricity over several decades, the optimal choice of the disposal orbital elements was able to prevent such an outcome, by maintaining the orbit nearly circular. Therefore, the upper stage disposal strategies used so far for Beidou and Galileo have generally been quite successful in averting the long-term interference of such rocket bodies with the navigation constellations, provided that accidental breakups are prevented.