Design concepts for the first 40 km a key step for the space elevator

The Marine Node for the Space Elevator Infrastructure is the base for all activities to load and unload the cargo and climbers. As the basic design of the space elevator power system is solar power only, the first 40 km is hazardous to operations and demands enclosed packaging of fragile tether climbers. A significant question is: how do we place a full-up tether climber, driven by solar power, above the atmosphere? Two approaches, starting at the Marine Node, allow the tether climber to initiate the climb with solar energy above the atmosphere. The third viable approach is to provide a platform at altitude for initiation of tether climb. These approaches would enable solar power to be the source of energy for climbing. The three approaches are:     

The new debate on the working methods of the UNCOPUOS Legal Subcommittee

The 2014 session of the Legal Subcommittee (LSC) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) saw a particularly extensive and thorough debate on the working methods of this forum, which has the status of the highest body in space law making. By discussing the working methods it also became apparent how delegations actually regard the LSC and what expectations they have from it. In a time of considerable changes in space activities and space diplomacy alike, it was only a matter of time that such a comprehensive discussion arose. And while it did not immediately lead to decisions, it provided numerous signals for the future of the LSC.     

Analysis and experiments for delay compensation in attitude control of flexible spacecraft

Space vehicles are often characterized by highly flexible appendages, with low natural frequencies which can generate coupling phenomena during orbital maneuvering. The stability and delay margins of the controlled system are deeply affected by the presence of bodies with different elastic properties, assembled to form a complex multibody system. As a consequence, unstable behavior can arise. In this paper the problem is first faced from a numerical point of view, developing accurate multibody mathematical models, as well as relevant navigation and control algorithms. One of the main causes of instability is identified with the unavoidable presence of time delays in the GNC loop. A strategy to compensate for these delays is elaborated and tested using the simulation tool, and finally validated by means of a free floating platform, replicating the flexible spacecraft attitude dynamics (single axis rotation). The platform is equipped with thrusters commanded according to the on–off modulation of the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) control law. The LQR is based on the estimate of the full state vector, i.e. including both rigid – attitude – and elastic variables, that is possible thanks to the on line measurement of the flexible displacements, realized by processing the images acquired by a dedicated camera. The accurate mathematical model of the system and the rigid and elastic measurements enable a prediction of the state, so that the control is evaluated taking the predicted state relevant to a delayed time into account. Both the simulations and the experimental campaign demonstrate that by compensating in this way the time delay, the instability is eliminated, and the maneuver is performed accurately.     

Reliability analysis and utilization of PEMs in space application

More and more plastic encapsulated microcircuits (PEMs) are used in space missions to achieve high performance. Since PEMs are designed for use in terrestrial operating conditions, the successful usage of PEMs in space harsh environment is closely related to reliability issues, which should be considered firstly. However, there is no ready-made methodology for PEMs in space applications. This paper discusses the reliability for the usage of PEMs in space. This reliability analysis can be divided into five categories: radiation test, radiation hardness, screening test, reliability calculation and reliability assessment. One case study is also presented to illuminate the details of the process, in which a PEM part is used in a joint space program Double-Star Project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and China. The influence of environmental constrains including radiation, humidity, temperature and mechanics on the PEM part has been considered. Both Double-Star Project satellites are still running well in space now.     

数据通信微小卫星星座系统的发展及应用

随着数据应用的发展,用户对数据传输的精确性、时效性、广域性提出了更高的要求.文章介绍了ORBC()MM、Argos、Aprize等几个国外典型数据微小卫星星座的发展情况,阐述了发展数据微小卫星系统的意义及必要性,从灾害监测、环境保护和商业应用等方面列举了系统的应用需求,分析了实时转发和储存转发两种业务发展模式,给出了系...     

Analytical and semi-analytical investigations of geosynchronous space debris with high area-to-mass ratios

This paper provides a Hamiltonian formulation of the averaged equations of motion with respect to short periods (1 day) of a space debris subjected to direct solar radiation pressure and orbiting near the geostationary ring. This theory is based on a semi-analytical theory of order 1 regarding the averaging process, formulated using canonical and non-singular elements for eccentricity and inclination. The analysis is based on an expansion in powers of the eccentricity and of the inclination, truncated at an arbitrary high order.     

A ballistic limit equation for hypervelocity impacts on composite honeycomb sandwich panel satellite structures

During a recent experimental test campaign performed in the framework of ESA Contract 16721, the ballistic performance of multiple satellite-representative Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)/Aluminium honeycomb sandwich panel structural configurations (GOCE, Radarsat-2, Herschel/Planck, BeppoSax) was investigated using the two-stage light-gas guns at EMI. The experimental results were used to develop and validate a new empirical Ballistic Limit Equation (BLE), which was derived from an existing Whipple-shield BLE. This new BLE provided a good level of accuracy in predicting the ballistic performance of stand-alone sandwich panel structures. Additionally, the equation is capable of predicting the ballistic limit of a thin Al plate located at a standoff behind the sandwich panel structure. This thin plate is the representative of internal satellite systems, e.g. an Al electronic box cover, a wall of a metallic vessel, etc. Good agreement was achieved with both the experimental test campaign results and additional test data from the literature for the vast majority of set-ups investigated. For some experiments, the ballistic limit was conservatively predicted, a result attributed to shortcomings in correctly accounting for the presence of high surface density multi-layer insulation on the outer facesheet. Four existing BLEs commonly applied for application with stand-alone sandwich panels were reviewed using the new impact test data. It was found that a number of these common approaches provided non-conservative predictions for sandwich panels with CFRP facesheets.     

大型结冰风洞云雾场适航应用符合性验证

结冰风洞云雾场符合性是大型结冰风洞适航应用的基础。为验证3 m×2 m结冰风洞云雾场符合性，发展了基于SAE ARP5905的结冰风洞云雾场符合性验证方法，针对主试验段构型，开展了结冰云雾场符合性验证试验，获得了试验段内液滴尺寸和液态水含量拟合关系，考察了喷嘴水压、液滴尺寸、试验段气流速度和喷嘴数量对试验段液态水含量的影响，形成了主试验段结冰云雾控制包线。结果表明：主试验段内液滴尺寸分布具有显著的单峰分布特征，体积中值直径（MVD）模拟范围近似在10~75 μm之间；试验段中心处液态水含量随着喷嘴水压和MVD的增大而增大，同时近似与试验段气流速度成反比，与喷嘴数量成正比；增大喷嘴水压和喷嘴数量会提高试验段内云雾液态水含量空间均匀性，但是增大气流速度却会减弱试验段内云雾空间均匀性；3 m×2 m结冰风洞主试验段结冰云雾控制包线可以覆盖大部分适航条例25部附录C结冰气象条件，但对低液态水含量结冰条件的模拟仍存在局限。     

托业桥英语测试的SWOT分析——以高职高专院校为例

借助SWOT分析法,对引入托业桥英语职业资格考试的优势、劣势、机遇和威胁四个方面进行可行性分析。从而提高高职高专院校英语职业能力,改善高职高专英语教学状况,促进现阶段高职高专院校英语教学的改革。     

空间实验室的风险识别与控制方法

以天宫一号空间实验室风险识别与控制技术需求为牵引，对风险识别与控制方法的分阶段应用提出建议。针对空间实验室的重要风险和组合体特性，提出了的相对风险识别法和降级重构风险控制法，从相对风险的角度对空间实验室重大风险进行识别，在天宫一号无法对组合体实施控制时，用载人飞船接替天宫一号对空间实验室组合体进行控制。规避了风险识别结果波动过大的问题，在不增加设备冗余和其它舱段的前提下降低了系统风险。