地基雷达探测中的空间碎片微弱信号检测技术概况

空间碎片的日益增多。已对航天活动构成严峻威胁。空间碎片的精确监测是对航天员和飞行器实施安全防护的重要前提,也对空间微小碎片探测能力提出了更高要求。文章对国外地基雷达探测空间碎片现状,以及对在雷达微弱信号检测技术方面比较常用的以信号处理为基础的长时间积累检测技术和基于时频分析的雷达微弱信号检测技术研究现状进行了综述。     

天基空间碎片光学探测影响因素分析及仿真

光学手段在天基空间碎片探测中被广泛应用,但容易受到杂光等因素影响。结合在轨试验数据,从探测器和碎片两方面分析了影响天基空间碎片光学探测的因素。影响探测器探测效果的因素包括太阳光、月光、地气光、大气辉光等杂光及南大西洋异常区辐射等;影响碎片可见性的因素包括地球遮挡、地影及反射的太阳光等。分别给出了上述影响因素涉及的特征量及规避影响的计算方法。基于某天基探测设备的仿真结果表明,上述影响在自然交会及姿态机动模式下均可能发生,在试验设计时需被充分考虑。最后,针对某天基空间碎片探测任务进行了规划。文章对天基光学探测试验设计具有一定的指导意义。     

空间碎片偏振光谱成像探测技术研究

随着太空探索活动的逐年增多,人类对空间碎片的探测显得越发重要。文章首先介绍了探测空间碎片的意义及其常规的光电探测方法,并分析了探测空间碎片的主要难点;在此基础上,结合空间碎片的具体特征,提出一种对空间碎片进行探测与识别的新方法,即将成像、光谱、偏振三个光学基本量同时使用,通过多元特征融合等识别技术,实现对空间暗、弱、小碎片的高效探测,并对新方法中的关键技术进行了分解和可行性分析。     

空间探测用半导体温差发电系统

核热半导体温差发电器是目前空间探测器常用的电源系统,特别是对于那些远离太阳的空间探测器,这种装置是目前唯一实用的供电系统。它作为空间探测器不可缺少的关键部分,以及在可以预见的未来空间探测中起着的重要作用,一直是美国航空航天局(NASA)空间计划中的一个重要研究项目。文章将介绍这种电源系统的基本结构、主要特点及其应用。     

空间探索

编者按:从1958年美国和苏联启动探月计划开始,一些航天大国都先后开展了多种类型的深空探测活动,成为人类了解地球、太阳系和宇宙的一个重要手段。1959年1月2日苏联成功发射了世界上第一个空间探测器—月球-1以来,人类已相继发射了拜访月球、太阳系各大行星以及小行星和彗星等多种空间探测器,有的空间探测器甚至还飞到太阳系以外去揭示更遥远的深空奥秘。通过深空探测,可以帮助人类了解太阳     

GEANT程序在空间粒子探测器优化设计中的应用

在众多的蒙特卡罗模拟程序中,介绍了其中的一种程序——GEANT程序．首先对蒙特卡罗方法的产生和基本思想作了解释,对GEANT程序的主要模块和基本结构以及粒子在程序中的传输过程作了描述．在程序中,GEANT程序应用了先进的ZEBRA存储管理器,使各个模块之间的联系更为方便．在空间粒子探测中,利用GEANT程序,可以计算空间粒子在探测器中的能量损失,在不同材料中的射程以及产生的次级粒子的数量,最后利用GEANT程序可以模拟出各种粒子在不同材料中的LET值,本文还进一步表明了蒙特卡罗方法对空间粒子探测的重要意义．     

2016年国外空间探测发展回顾

全球空间探测活动经历半个世纪的发展,正日益步入稳步和快速发展阶段.2016年主要航天国家继续在空间探测技术和科学研究方面取得新的突破和成就,全球共进行了2次新的空间探测器发射,另有1个空间探测器结束任务使命.目前,全球共有32个空间探测器在轨工作或在飞行之中.按照探测目标的不同,分别是火星探测器8个、月球探测器4个、小行星探测器5个、金星探测器1个、木星探测器1个、土星探测器1个、冥王星探测器1个、太阳探测器6个、行星际探测器2个、深空技术试验器1个以及地球以远深空望远镜2个.按所属国家划分,32个在轨飞行的空间探测器分别是美国20个、欧洲5个、日本4个、中国2个和印度1个.     

2013年世界空间探测回顾

2013年,美国、印度、中国先后发射了各自的空间探测器。美国先后把“月球大气与尘埃环境探测器”（LADEE）、“火星大气与挥发物演变”（MAVEN）探测器送上太空,用于探测月球和火星上的气体;印度第一个火星探测器“曼加里安”（Mangalyaan）经过一番周折已进入地火转移轨道,其目的是成为亚洲第一个成功探测火星的国家;中国嫦娥-3任务取得圆满成功,从而成为世界上第一个同时开展就位探测、巡视探测的国家,以及第二个掌握无人月球探测车技术的国家。     

基于在轨组装维护的模块化深空探测器技术进展与应用研究

在轨组装与维护是航天器在轨服务技术的基本内容,而模块化设计则是实现航天器在轨组装与维护的一项主要支撑技术。调研总结了国外深空探测领域模块化航天器设计以及在轨组装与在轨维护实施的技术进展,主要包括模块化地外行星着陆探测器、大型在轨组装深空探测器、布置于SEL2(Sun-Earth Libration 2)等轨道的超大型在轨组装空间望远镜系统等,分析了深空探测器领域应用模块化设计实现在轨组装与维护的关键技术要素。针对深空探测航天器长寿命、高可靠、特殊推进系统及其设备配套等技术特点与需求,提出一种应用在轨组装与维护技术的火星多任务探测器系统设想,介绍了探测器系统的任务架构、基本组成、轨道策略等,为我国深空探测技术发展以及新型深空探测器研制提供参考。     

基于空间矢量天线的太阳低频射电爆发探测研究

目前已有空间探测器对太阳的甚低频射电爆发进行的探测主要是频谱观测,针对太阳低频射电爆发的成像观测仍然是空白,利用空间矢量天线可以对太阳低频射电爆发(包括Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型暴)进行空间定位和一定的成像观测。研究针对空间(甚)低频射电探测器对太阳射电爆发的探测,提出了利用三极子矢量天线对太阳爆发进行定位的算法;基于部分空间甚低频设备的观测数据,在不同条件下对算法进行了仿真,同时针对"嫦娥四号"上的甚低频射电探测器(同样采用了三极子矢量天线),分析了其探测太阳低频射电爆发的能力。结果表明:当信号的信噪比达到10 dB以上时,矢量天线可以实现度量级的定位精度,并进一步分析了空间低频探测器探测太阳低频射电爆发的能力。     

Applications of PVDF dust sensor systems in space

The advantages of ruggedness, no bias requirement, ease of large area sensor construction, high counting rate capability, and space reliability inherent in the Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) dust sensors which have been under development at the University of Chicago over the last decade have led to PVDF flux/mass/velocity/trajectory systems which have advantages over other systems and are well suited for a variety of dust studies in space. The thermal stability characteristics and flux/mass/velocity/trajectory determining characteristics of PVDF and Vinylidene Fluoride/Trifluoroethylene (PVDF copolymer) dust sensors are described. We summarize the objectives and designs of our earlier VEGA- comet Halley instruments, a PVDF velocity/trajectory dust instrument for launch on the Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS) in January 1996, and a PVDF high flux dust instrument for launch on the CASSINI spacecraft to Saturn in October 1997.     

Analysis of space debris impact source localization based on PVDF piezoelectric film

As the pace of human exploration and utilization of space continues to accelerate, space debris gradually becomes an inevitable problem affecting and threatening human space activities. When space debris strikes the spacecraft bulkhead, determining the impact source location timely and accurately is the foundation of the repair damage, and is also of great importance for the safety of astronauts' life. This paper analyzed the wave propagation law in thin plates, established a lightweight sensor array using PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) circular thin-film sensors, and used a two-stage light-gas gun loading system to conduct hypervelocity collision localization experiments on impacting 2A12 aluminum plates to study the effects of sensor array radius and sensor size on localization results. The results show that the smaller the radius of the PVDF sensor array is, the more accurate the positioning result is under the premise of the same size of the PVDF circular film sensor array. On the premise of the same PVDF sensor array arrangement, the larger the PVDF circular membrane sensor is, the more accurate the positioning result is. ABAQUS finite element software is used to study the stress wave propagation of aluminum ball impacting aluminum plate at high speed, simulating space debris impacting spacecraft. The stress waveform obtained from the simulation is in good agreement with the experiment, which shows the accuracy of the numerical simulation method.     

Laser measurements to space debris from Graz SLR station

In order to test laser ranging possibilities to space debris objects, the Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) Station Graz installed a frequency doubled Nd:YAG pulse laser with a 1 kHz repetition rate, a pulse width of 10 ns, and a pulse energy of 25 mJ at 532 nm (on loan from German Aerospace Center Stuttgart – DLR). We developed and built low-noise single-photon detection units to enable laser ranging to targets with inaccurate orbit predictions, and adapted our standard SLR software to include a few hundred space debris targets. With this configuration, we successfully tracked – within 13 early-evening sessions of each about 1.5 h – 85 passes of 43 different space debris targets, in distances between 600 km and up to more than 2500 km, with radar cross sections from >15 m² down to <0.3 m², and measured their distances with an average precision of about 0.7 m RMS.     

The MAGO experiment for dust environment monitoring on the Martian surface

Among the main directions identified for future Martian exploration, the study of the properties of dust dispersed in the atmosphere, its cycle and the impact on climate are considered of primary relevance. Dust storms, dust devils and the dust “cycle” have been identified and studied by past remote and in situ experiments, but little quantitative information is available on these processes, so far. The airborne dust contributes to the determination of the dynamic and thermodynamic evolution of the atmosphere, including the large-scale circulation processes and its impact on the climate of Mars. Moreover, aeolian erosion, redistribution of dust on the surface and weathering processes are mostly known only qualitatively. In order to improve our knowledge of the airborne dust evolution and other atmospheric processes, it is mandatory to measure the amount, mass-size distribution and dynamical properties of solid particles in the Martian atmosphere as a function of time. In this context, there is clearly a need for the implementation of experiments dedicated to study directly atmospheric dust. The Martian atmospheric grain observer (MAGO) experiment is aimed at providing direct quantitative measurements of mass and size distributions of dust particles, a goal that has never been fully achieved so far. The instrument design combines three types of sensors to monitor in situ the dust mass flux (micro balance system, MBS) and single grain properties (grain detection system, GDS + impact sensor, IS). Technical solutions and science capabilities are discussed in this paper.     

Cosmic dust and orbital debris: Collection on MIR space station

Upon the last joint Soviet-French mission on the MIR Space Station, on December 1988, an experiment devoted to the collection and detection of cosmic dust and space debris has been deployed in space during 13 months.

A variety of sensors and collecting devices has make possible the study of effects and distribution of cosmic particles after recovery of exposed material. Remnants of particles, suitable for chemical identification are expected to be found within the stacked foil detectors. Discrimination between true cosmic particles and man-made orbital debris is expected.

Some preliminary results are presented here.     

First laser measurements to space debris in Poland

The Borowiec Satellite Laser Ranging station (BORL 7811, Borowiec) being a part of the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS) went through modernization in 2014–2015. One of the main tasks of the modernization was the installation of a high-energy laser module dedicated to space debris tracking. Surelite III by Continuum is a Nd:YAG pulse laser with 10?Hz repetition rate, a pulse width of 3–5?ns and a pulse energy of 450?mJ for green (532?nm). This new laser unit was integrated with the SLR system at Borowiec performing standard satellite tracking. In 2016 BORL 7811 participated actively to the observational campaigns related to the space debris targets from LEO region managed by the Space Debris Study Group (SDSG) of the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS).Currently, Borowiec station regularly tracks 36 space debris from the LEO regime, including typical rocket bodies (Russian/Chinese) and cooperative targets like the inactive TOPEX/Poseidon, ENVISAT, OICETS and others. In this paper the first results of space debris laser measurements obtained by the Borowiec station in period August 2016 – January 2017 are presented. The results gained by the SRC PAS Borowiec station confirm the rotation of the defunct TOPEX/Poseidon satellite which spins with a period of approximately 10?s. The novelty of this work is the presentation of the sample results of the Chinese CZ-2C R/B target (NORAD catalogue number 31114) which is equipped (probably) with retroreflectors. Laser measurements to space debris is a very desirable topic for the next years, especially in the context of the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) activity. Some targets are very easy to track like defunct ENVISAT or TOPEX/Poseidon. On the other hand, there is a big population of different LEO targets with different orbital and physical parameters, which are challenging for laser ranging like small irregular debris and rocket boosters.     

A Partially Orthogonal EnKF approach to atmospheric density estimation using orbital debris

A key requirement for accurate trajectory prediction and space situational awareness is knowledge of how non-conservative forces affect space object motion. These forces vary temporally and spatially, and are driven by the underlying behavior of space weather particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Existing trajectory prediction algorithms adjust space weather models based on calibration satellite observations. However, lack of sufficient data and mismodeling of non-conservative forces cause inaccuracies in space object motion prediction, especially for uncontrolled debris objects. The uncontrolled nature of debris objects makes them particularly sensitive to the variations in space weather. Our research takes advantage of this behavior by utilizing observations of debris objects to infer the space environment parameters influencing their motion.The hypothesis of this research is that it is possible to utilize debris objects as passive, indirect sensors of the space environment. We focus on estimating atmospheric density and its spatial variability to allow for more precise prediction of LEO object motion. The estimated density is parameterized as a grid of values, distributed by latitude and local sidereal time over a spherical shell encompassing Earth at a fixed altitude of 400 km. The position and velocity of each debris object are also estimated. A Partially Orthogonal Ensemble Kalman Filter (POEnKF) is used for assimilation of space object measurements to estimate density.For performance comparison, the scenario characteristics (number of objects, measurement cadence, etc.) are based on a sensor tasking campaign executed for the High Accuracy Satellite Drag Model project. The POEnKF analysis details spatial comparisons between the true and estimated density fields, and quantifies the improved accuracy in debris object motion predictions due to more accurate drag force models from density estimates. It is shown that there is an advantage to utilizing multiple debris objects instead of just one object. Although the work presented here explores the POEnKF performance when using information from only 16 debris objects, the research vision is to utilize information from all routinely observed debris objects. Overall, the filter demonstrates the ability to estimate density to within a threshold of accuracy dependent on measurement/sensor error. In the case of a geomagnetic storm, the filter is able to track the storm and provide more accurate density estimates than would be achieved using a simple exponential atmospheric density model or MSIS Atmospheric Model (when calm conditions are assumed).     

空间碎片环境近况

根据国际上近年来对空间碎片跟踪、观测、统计分析以及对从轨道上回收的试验装置和样品的分析研究,介绍了地球周围空间环境中存在的空间碎片的数量、质量及其分布的最新状况。     

星载多光谱遥感器太阳定标技术的进展

星载多光谱遥感器的太阳定标器一般选择太阳作为基准光源 ,通过它将太阳辐射引入星载遥感器并调节到星载遥感器的动态范围内 ,对星载遥感器进行绝对辐射定标 ,也可对星载遥感器性能变化进行监测和校正。文章介绍一些最具代表性的星载多光谱遥感器的太阳定标器 ,并进行了分析 ,以反映太阳定标技术的现状与发展。目前采用太阳漫射器的星上定标方法可以实现全视场、全孔径、端点到端点的定标。这一方法的严重缺点是漫射器反射比随时间变化。为了解决这一问题 ,设计一种比辐射计或反射比标定装置来监测漫射器的辐亮度、反射比以及太阳常数。因此这种定标方法是很有前途的 ,在现代一些先进的星载多光谱遥感器上获得应用。通过对此方法的分析 ,提出了在太阳漫射器研制中的一些关键技术。     

Space Debris Mitigation in France,Germany, Italy and United Kingdom

The Space systems today provide growing benefits to enhance the quality of humankind. However, as a by-product, the orbiting objects inevitably leaves some debris which after 50 years of space activities represent a concern for all space agencies and manufacturers and operators. Since last year no international agreement was in place to mitigate the growing population of space debris objects. The successful result obtained at UN-COPUOS in 2007 and available in the OOSA web site, now gives to the public, a set of voluntary international guidelines that could, if adopted by each space fairing Country, help in maintaining the present space environment. More further steps are necessary in the future to define a legal and normative framework. The paper will present the seven established UN Space Debris guidelines as well as examples of the minimum steps to be carried out at national level to enable the UN-COPUOS to start the discussion of the legal aspect associated with the space debris issue.