Space Solar Physics in 2012-2014

The main activities of Chinese space solar physics in 2012–2014 include: to continue studying the mid and long-term(2016–2030) plan of Chinese space solar physics; to arrange a group of pre-study projects of space solar physics; to initiate and continue a few solar mission-level projects.This paper summarizes all these activities briefly.     

Convex optimization of asteroid landing trajectories driven by solar radiation pressure

High-area/mass ratio landers driven by Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) have potential applications for future asteroid landing missions. This paper develops a new convex optimization-based method for planning trajectories driven by SRP. A Minimum Landing Error (MLE) control problem is formulated to enable planning SRP-controlled trajectories with different flight times. It is transformed into Second Order Cone Programming (SOCP) successfully by a series of different convexification technologies. A trust region constraint and a modified MLE objective function are used to guarantee the convergence performance of the optimization algorithm. Thereafter, the SRP-driven trajectory optimal control problem is converted equivalently into a sequence of convex optimal control problems that can be solved effectively. A set of numerical simulation results has verified the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed optimization method.     

蓄热式太阳能热光伏-热推进双模系统换热特性数值模拟研究

本文通过三维数值模拟研究蓄热式太阳能热光伏-热推进双模系统的蓄/释热特性和推进性能。在蓄热式太阳能热推进系统工程模型的基础上,通过射线光学的光路分析验证了聚光器设计的合理性,并获得吸热腔壁面能量分布情况,进一步研究了相变蓄热过程的影响因素。基于场协同原理对热光伏再生冷却结构进行了优化设计,使热光伏具有较好的散热特性,提高发电功率;通过整机流动换热仿真,分析了工质流体在推进器内部的换热情况,计算结果表明,蓄热式热推进器具有达到734s比冲和0.9N推力的推进性能,以及能够满足日蚀区微小卫星的供电和推力需求。     

Fundamental (f) oscillations in a magnetically coupled solar interior-atmosphere system – An analytical approach

Solar fundamental (f) acoustic mode oscillations are investigated analytically in a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model. The model consists of three layers in planar geometry, representing the solar interior, the magnetic atmosphere, and a transitional layer sandwiched between them. Since we focus on the fundamental mode here, we assume the plasma is incompressible. A horizontal, canopy-like, magnetic field is introduced to the atmosphere, in which degenerated slow MHD waves can exist. The global (f-mode) oscillations can couple to local atmospheric Alfvén waves, resulting, e.g., in a frequency shift of the oscillations. The dispersion relation of the global oscillation mode is derived, and is solved analytically for the thin-transitional layer approximation and for the weak-field approximation. Analytical formulae are also provided for the frequency shifts due to the presence of a thin transitional layer and a weak atmospheric magnetic field. The analytical results generally indicate that, compared to the fundamental value ($\omega =\sqrt{\mathit{gk}}$), the mode frequency is reduced by the presence of an atmosphere by a few per cent. A thin transitional layer reduces the eigen-frequencies further by about an additional hundred microhertz. Finally, a weak atmospheric magnetic field can slightly, by a few percent, increase the frequency of the eigen-mode. Stronger magnetic fields, however, can increase the f-mode frequency by even up to ten per cent, which cannot be seen in observed data. The presence of a magnetic atmosphere in the three-layer model also introduces non-permitted propagation windows in the frequency spectrum; here, f-mode oscillations cannot exist with certain values of the harmonic degree. The eigen-frequencies can be sensitive to the background physical parameters, such as an atmospheric density scale-height or the rate of the plasma density drop at the photosphere. Such information, if ever observed with high-resolution instrumentation and inverted, could help to gain further insight into solar magnetic structures by means of solar magneto-seismology, and could provide further insight into the role of magnetism in solar oscillations.     

Observation of a 27-day solar signature in noctilucent cloud altitude

Previous studies have identified solar 27-day signatures in several parameters in the Mesosphere/Lower thermosphere region, including temperature and Noctilucent cloud (NLC) occurrence frequency. In this study we report on a solar 27-day signature in NLC altitude with peak-to-peak variations of about 400?m. We use SCIAMACHY limb-scatter observations from 2002 to 2012 to detect NLCs. The superposed epoch analysis method is applied to extract solar 27-day signatures. A 27-day signature in NLC altitude can be identified in both hemispheres in the SCIAMACHY dataset, but the signature is more pronounced in the northern hemisphere. The solar signature in NLC altitude is found to be in phase with solar activity and temperature for latitudes $?70°$N. We provide a qualitative explanation for the positive correlation between solar activity and NLC altitude based on published model simulations.     

一种空间超大型可展开柔性聚光器

面向空间太阳能电站（SSPS）对大口径太阳能聚光器的应用需求,提出一种超大型、轻量化、高精度的空间可展开柔性聚光器的新构型。采取理论建模、计算仿真、优化设计相结合的方法对其抛物面构型原理、展开机构折展原理、展开态结构稳定性、动态聚焦精度等问题进行研究,并完成大口径可展开柔性聚光器的设计。提出了基于多层弹性花瓣镜体复合结构的大口径柔性聚光器优化创新设计方法。由于采用薄板柔索结构,本聚光器具有精度高、展收体积比大、质量轻、在线控制简单等优点,为空间太阳能电站千米级聚光器提供一种创新设计方法。     

Attitude determination of planetary exploration rovers using solar panels characteristics and accelerometer

In this study, we propose a new attitude determination system, which we call Irradiance-based Attitude Determination (IRAD). IRAD employs the characteristics and geometry of solar panels. First, the sun vector is estimated using data from solar panels including current, voltage, temperature, and the normal vectors of each solar panel. Because these values are obtained using internal sensors, it is easy for rovers to provide redundancy for IRAD. The normal vectors are used to apply to various shapes of rovers. Second, using the gravity vector obtained from an accelerometer, the attitude of a rover is estimated using a three-axis attitude determination method. The effectiveness of IRAD is verified through numerical simulations and experiments that show IRAD can estimate all the attitude angles (roll, pitch, and yaw) within a few degrees of accuracy, which is adequate for planetary explorations.     

姿态角幅值约束下的太阳帆Lissajous轨道保持控制

太阳帆航天器以两姿态角作为轨道控制输入时, 其轨道动力学方程具有非仿射非线性特性. 通过人工平动点处线性化获得的线性系统可完成太阳帆航天器轨道保持控制器的分析与设计. 由于线性近似模型为有误差模型, 存在近似有效范围约束, 表现为轨道高度约束和姿态角幅值约束. 本文研究了姿态角幅值约束对线性近似模型有效性的影响, 通过计算给出满足近似误差要求的姿态角幅值约束. 当控制输入存在幅值约束时, 控制器轨道修正能力受到束缚. 通过研究姿态角幅值约束下的最大允许入轨误差, 设计了最大允许入轨误差下线性二次型调节器(LQR)用于轨道保持控制, 并将控制器应用于太阳帆日地三体系统非线性模型中, 实现了日地人工L₁点Lissajous轨道最大允许入轨误差的控制收敛和良好精度下的轨道保持控制.      

Optimal nodal flyby with near-Earth asteroids using electric sail

The aim of this paper is to quantify the performance of an Electric Solar Wind Sail for accomplishing flyby missions toward one of the two orbital nodes of a near-Earth asteroid. Assuming a simplified, two-dimensional mission scenario, a preliminary mission analysis has been conducted involving the whole known population of those asteroids at the beginning of the 2013 year. The analysis of each mission scenario has been performed within an optimal framework, by calculating the minimum-time trajectory required to reach each orbital node of the target asteroid. A considerable amount of simulation data have been collected, using the spacecraft characteristic acceleration as a parameter to quantify the Electric Solar Wind Sail propulsive performance. The minimum time trajectory exhibits a different structure, which may or may not include a solar wind assist maneuver, depending both on the Sun-node distance and the value of the spacecraft characteristic acceleration. Simulations show that over 60% of near-Earth asteroids can be reached with a total mission time less than 100 days, whereas the entire population can be reached in less than 10 months with a spacecraft characteristic acceleration of 1 mm/s².     

Artificial equilibrium points for a solar balloon in the α Centauri system

This paper discusses the generation, stability, and control of artificial equilibrium points for a solar balloon spacecraft in the α Centauri A and B binary star system. The continuous propulsive acceleration provided by a solar balloon is shown to be able to modify the position of the (classical) Lagrangian equilibrium points of the three-body system on a locus whose geometrical form is known analytically. A linear stability analysis reveals that the new generated equilibrium points are usually unstable, but part of them can be stabilized with a simple feedback control logic.