Progress in Space Debris Research

During recent years, A de-orbit disposal of SinoSat 2 satellite and the depletion of the residual propellant after SC/LV separation for all LM-4 series launch vehicles were carried out. Stuffed Whipple Shields based on hypervelocity impact particles were developed. Routine observation and collision avoidance were performed. The main progress in space debris research will be introduced from three aspects: mitigation, spacecraft protection, observation and collision avoidance.      

Simulation of launch and re-entry acceleration profiles for testing of shuttle and unmanned microgravity research payloads

Microgravity experiments designed for execution in Get-Away Special canisters, Hitchhiker modules, and Reusable Re-entry Satellites will be subjected to launch and re-entry accelerations. Crew-dependent provisions for preventing acceleration damage to equipment or products will not be available for these payloads during flight; therefore, the effects of launch and re-entry accelerations on all aspects of such payloads must be evaluated prior to flight. A procedure was developed for conveniently simulating the launch and re-entry acceleration profiles of the Space Shuttle (3.3 and 1.7 × g maximum, respectively) and of two versions of NASA's proposed materials research Re-usable Re-entry Satellite (8 × g maximum in one case and 4 × g in the other). By using the 7 m centrifuge of the Gravitational Plant Physiology Laboratory in Philadelphia it was found possible to simulate the time dependence of these 5 different acceleration episodes for payload masses up to 59 kg. A commercial low-cost payload device, the “Materials Dispersion Apparatus” of Instrumentation Technology Associates was tested for (1) integrity of mechanical function, (2) retention of fluid in its compartments, and (3) integrity of products under simulated re-entry g-loads. In particular, the sharp rise from 1 g to maximum g-loading that occurs during re-entry in various unmanned vehicles was successfully simulated, conditions were established for reliable functioning of the MDA, and crystals of 5 proteins suspended in compartments filled with mother liquor were subjected to this acceleration load.     

基于预测校正方法的RLV再入制导律设计

针对高超声速可重复运载器RLV(Reusable Launch Vehicles)的再入飞行问题,利用数值预测校正方法与准平衡滑翔条QEGC(Quasi-Equilibrium Glide Condition)相结合的方法在线设计同时满足热流、法向过载和动压等轨迹约束与末端精度要求的倾侧角制导律.建立三自由度动力学方程,确定初始条件、末端精度要求和轨迹约束要求;然后详细阐述预测校正方法和准平衡滑翔条件的原理,再利用预测校正方法设计制导律,用QEGC把约束转换为对倾侧角制导律的上界,通过限制倾侧角的幅值来限制约束.最后在计算机上进行制导仿真,并考虑初始条件不确定性,进行蒙特卡洛仿真,通过分析仿真结果,证明利用预测校正方法结合准平衡滑翔条件可以快速的设计出满足末端精度要求和轨迹约束的制导律,并对初始条件不确定性有较好的鲁棒性.     

A lunar laboratory

An international research laboratory can be established on the Moon in the early years of the 21st Century. It can be built using the transportation system now envisioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which includes a space station for Earth orbital logistics and orbital transfer vehicles for Earth-Moon transportation. A scientific laboratory on the Moon would permit extended surface and subsurface geological exploration; long-duration experiments defining the lunar environment and its modification by surface activity; new classes of observations in astronomy; space plasma and fundamental physics experiments; and lunar resource development. The discovery of a lunar source for propellants may reduce the cost of constructing large facilities in space and enhance other space programs such as Mars exploration.     

我国航天运输系统成就与展望

我国运载火箭起步于20世纪60年代,经过半个世纪的发展,共经历了5个阶段,研制了4代17种运载火箭。具备发射低、中、高不同轨道,不同有效载荷的能力。本文对我国航天运输系统发展历程和成就进行了总结,并基于发展成果和未来发展需求,对航天运输系统未来发展规划进行了展望。     

Integration of In-Situ Resource Utilization into lunar/Mars exploration through field analogs

The ability to extract and process resources at the site of exploration into useful products such as propellants, life support and power system consumables, and radiation and rocket exhaust plume debris shielding, known as In-Situ Resource Utilization or ISRU, has the potential to significantly reduce the launch mass, risk, and cost of robotic and human exploration of space. The incorporation of ISRU into missions can also significantly influence technology selection and system development in other areas such as power, life support, and propulsion. For example, the ability to extract or produce large amounts of oxygen and/or water in-situ could minimize the need to completely close life support air and water processing system cycles, change thermal and radiation protection of habitats, and influence propellant selection for ascent vehicles and surface propulsive hoppers. While concepts and even laboratory work on evaluating and developing ISRU techniques such as oxygen extraction from lunar regolith have been going on since before the Apollo 11 Moon landing, no ISRU system has ever flown in space, and only recently have ISRU technologies been developed at a scale and at a system level that is relevant to actual robotic and human mission applications. Because ISRU hardware and systems have never been demonstrated or utilized before on robotic or human missions, architecture and mission planners and surface system hardware developers are hesitant to rely on ISRU products and services that are critical to mission and system implementation success. To build confidence in ISRU systems for future missions and assess how ISRU systems can best influence and integrate with other surface system elements, NASA, with international partners, are performing analog field tests to understand how to take advantage of ISRU capabilities and benefits with the minimum of risk associated with introducing this game-changing approach to exploration. This paper will describe and review the results of four analog field tests (Moses Lake in 6/08, Mauna Kea in 11/08, Flagstaff in 9/09, and Mauna Kea in 1/10) that have begun the process of integrating ISRU into robotic and human exploration systems and missions, and propose future ISRU-related analog field test activities that can be performed in collaboration with non-US space agencies.     

Attitude control actuator scaling laws for orbiting solar reflectors

The rapid evolution of in-orbit manufacturing will enable the fabrication of low-cost, large-scale space structures. In particular, the use of 3D printing technologies will remove traditional payload constraints associated with launch vehicles, due to fairing size and launch loads, thus allowing the construction of larger and lighter structures, such as orbiting solar reflectors. These structures will require efficient attitude control systems, able to provide the necessary torque for maneuvers and to counteract perturbations, such as gravity gradient and solar radiation pressure. In this paper, a top-level overview of actuator performances for orbiting solar reflectors is provided, and scaling laws associated with the required actuator mass and input power are developed. For each class of actuator, upper bounds on the maximum size of the structure which can be effectively controlled are presented. The results can also be extended to other classes of large planar Earth-pointing structures such as solar power satellites, solar sails, or large antennae.     

可重复使用运载器递归积分滑模姿态控制方法

针对存在模型不确定和外部干扰的可重复使用运载器再入段姿态控制问题,提出了一种基于自适应滑模干扰观测器的递归积分滑模控制方法。首先,基于可重复使用运载器再入段姿态运动模型,建立了面向控制的模型;其次,设计了自适应滑模干扰观测器,以精准估计和补偿由模型不确定和外部干扰构成的复合干扰;然后,基于递归思想设计了一种新型递归积分滑模控制器,利用Lyapunov稳定性理论证明了闭环系统的有限时间稳定性;最后,数值仿真结果验证了该方法具有较强的鲁棒性和较快的收敛速度。     

Planetary penetrators: Their origins,history and future

Penetrators, which emplace scientific instrumentation by high-speed impact into a planetary surface, have been advocated as an alternative to soft-landers for some four decades. However, such vehicles have yet to fly successfully. This paper reviews in detail, the origins of penetrators in the military arena, and the various planetary penetrator mission concepts that have been proposed, built and flown. From the very limited data available, penetrator developments alone (without delivery to the planet) have required ∼$30M: extensive analytical instrumentation may easily double this. Because the success of emplacement and operation depends inevitably on uncontrollable aspects of the target environment, unattractive failure probabilities for individual vehicles must be tolerated that are higher than the typical ‘3-sigma’ (99.5%) values typical for spacecraft. The two pathways to programmatic success, neither of which are likely in an austere financial environment, are a lucky flight as a ‘piggyback’ mission or technology demonstration, or with a substantial and unprecedented investment to launch a scientific (e.g. seismic) network mission with a large number of vehicles such that a number of terrain-induced failures can be tolerated.     

Strategic Priority Program on Space Science

In 1957, the launch of the first artificial satellite ushered in a new era for modern space science.The past 50 years' developments in China's space science have witnessed many major missions, and substantial progress has been achieved in space science study, exploration technology as well as experiment technology. Strategic Priority Program on Space Science was officially started in 2011. Through both self-developed space science missions and those with international cooperation,it is expected that the innovative breakthroughs will be realized, leapfrog development of related high-tech will be achieved to establish the important strategic status of space science in national development. To sum up, the implementation of the Strategic Priority Program on Space Science will definitely promote the rapid development of China's space science endeavor, making contributions to China's development and the progress of human civilization.      

捆绑火箭气动载荷分布不确定性分析

针对带捆绑火箭气动载荷分布受飞行状态及本身外形参数变化影响存在波动的现象,提出了依据多项式混沌理论对捆绑火箭气动载荷分布特征进行全局灵敏度分析及不确定性量化的方法,并以两助推构型火箭为例对所提方法进行验证。首先,提出了捆绑火箭气动载荷分布不确定性分析的方法,并给出仿真分析流程。其次,以两助推构型火箭为例对所提方法进行验证,建立火箭气动外形参数化模型,验证气动特性分析结果。最后,对该模型开展影响因素灵敏度分析及载荷分布不确定性分析,得到了不同因素的影响程度,以及气动轴力和法向力的不确定性分布形式,分析了流场流动情况及气动载荷波动的主要原因。分析结果为捆绑火箭气动载荷波动控制提供了一定参考,通过定量描述气动载荷分布不确定性,可以有效降低安全系数冗余,为开展精确结构设计提供依据。      

垂直返回重复使用运载火箭弹道特性分析和优化设计

针对重复使用弹道设计中上升段弹道与返回段弹道之间相互耦合的问题，本文提出一种简化总体弹道优化设计的方法，首先根据影响返回段设计的一子级射程关键约束，进行上升段的弹道设计，经分析在同样的一子级射程约束情况下，上升段存在两组分离点参数，其次分析了在不同的分离点情况下，上升段和返回段在前场和原场两种返回模式下的运载能力损失情况，并对相关弹道特性进行了分析，得出在前场返回情况下优选低弹道方案，原场返回情况下，优选高弹道方案，该结果可为垂直返回重复使用运载火箭的弹道设计提供参考。     

载人火星和小行星探测任务初步分析

载人火星和小行星探测是未来深空探测的重要发展方向,以美国为代表的航天强国正在积极开展相关方案论证和技术攻关。由于任务规模庞大,受制于目前以化学推进为主的运输系统能力限制,要进行火星、小行星探测,必须发展重型运载火箭、轨道转移级等运载工具。从载人火星、小行星探测任务规划的角度出发,对总体任务进行了初步分析,提出了初步的系统方案。     

伺服动力电源技术发展概述

近年来，机电伺服系统在航空、航天领域得到了广泛应用，逐渐形成了新的推力矢量控制和舵面控制实现方式，并推动了伺服动力电源的多样性发展。研究了国外运载火箭、导弹及飞机伺服动力电源技术的发展现状，梳理了各类场景中伺服动力电源的应用特点及未来需求，对比了常见的热电池、锌银电池、锂离子电池及涡轮发电等各类伺服动力电源的技术特点，并提出了高电压、高比功率、高比容量（新型电池，涡轮发电）、一体化/智能化/高可靠等伺服动力电源技术的未来发展方向。     

In orbit performance of butane propulsion system

The present work focuses on the determination of the in orbit performance of the Alsat-1 microsatellite propulsion system. The satellite mass is 90 kg, of which 6.2 kg is the propulsion system dry mass. The system is a butane propulsion system using low power resistojet thruster with 2.3 kg of propellant. The liquefied butane gas was selected due to its higher storage density and safety compared to the other propellants used for microsatellites. The purpose of this paper is the analysis of the firings performed after the launch of the satellite and to evaluate the system specific impulse and thrust level during the system lifetime. A total of 273 firings were performed on the Alsat-1 propulsion system in the period between the end of 2002 and mid 2009, the cumulated firing time is more than 12 h 49 min. The analysis of all the propulsion telemetry data shows that the system provides a total mission delta V of 25.3 m/s which is more than the 10 m/s specified for this mission. Furthermore, the mission average specific impulse and thrust are respectively 99.9 s and 48.8 mN.     

Status of the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope Project

The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) is China's first X-ray (1-250 keV) astronomical satellite officially approved in 2011. It will scan the Galactic plane to detect new transient sources and do pointed observations of X-ray sources to study their spectra and multiwavelength temporal properties. Now the flight model of the satellite is in the final testing stage, and the expected launch date is in late 2016.      

Comprehensive comparison of VHR 3D spatial data acquired from IKONOS and TerraSAR-X imagery

With the launch of very high resolution (VHR) optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellites such as IKONOS and TerraSAR-X, a new era has begun in 3D spatial data acquirement. IKONOS provided the first VHR data is still being preferred for many remote sensing applications. TerraSAR-X is considered as a revolution in SAR imaging as a result of 1 m resolution imaging capability. The imaging principles of these satellites are quite different and include advantages and disadvantages that have considerable effects on the quality of acquired 3D spatial data.     

多级固体运载火箭分级多学科设计优化

为了解决固体运载火箭总体优化过程中学科耦合性强、计算复杂、设计效率低等问题,建立了多级固体运载火箭的几何外形、质量、气动、推进、弹道/制导等学科模型,将多级运载火箭分成若干个子级火箭,并通过级间飞行状态连续性条件连接到一起,形成系统级和子系统级的框架。设计了并行方式和串行方式2种子系统的优化流程,以起飞总重最小为目标进行了多学科设计优化(MDO)。结果显示,这2种分级优化的方法与多学科可行(MDF)方法相比能减小优化过程中的迭代次数,得到更好的优化结果,从而验证了分级优化方法在多级固体运载火箭MDO的可行性与优越性。      

Stability analysis of explicit guidance laws for space launch vehicles with varying thrust integrals

In this study, a stability analysis of the explicit guidance laws for space launch vehicles is performed with consideration of varying thrust integrals. Among various forms of explicit guidance, linear tangent guidance in its general form is selected and six different acceleration profiles are considered for this numerical experiment. A linear system modeling which includes all of the significant dynamic elements of a space launcher is performed to analyze the effect of the characteristics of thrust integrals on stability margins. Numerical results show that in an aspect of guidance stability, it is advantageous to have thrust integrals derived from increasing acceleration profiles, such as constant thrust case, which may be considered in the development of propulsion systems. Finally, time-domain simulation with the original nonlinear models is performed to verify the approach and the result shows that the nonlinear dynamics of the system is conserved well in the linear model.     

Orbit Design for Responsive Space Using Multiple-objective Evolutionary Computation

Responsive orbits have exhibited advantages in emergencies for their excellent responsiveness and coverage to targets. Generally, there are several conflicting metrics to trade in the orbit design for responsive space. A special multiple-objective genetic algorithm, namely the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ (NSGAⅡ), is used to design responsive orbits. This algorithm has considered the conflicting metrics of orbits to achieve the optimal solution, including the orbital elements and launch programs of responsive vehicles. Low-Earth fast access orbits and low-Earth repeat coverage orbits, two subtypes of responsive orbits, can be designed using NSGAⅡ under given metric tradeoffs, number of vehicles, and launch mode. By selecting the optimal solution from the obtained Pareto fronts, a designer can process the metric tradeoffs conveniently in orbit design. Recurring to the flexibility of the algorithm, the NSGAⅡ promotes the responsive orbit design further.