Contingency and recovery options for the European Student Moon Orbiter

This paper presents an overview of the analysis performed on the lunar orbit and some of the possible contingencies for the European Student Moon Orbiter (ESMO). Originally scheduled for launch in 2014 –2015 as a piggyback payload, it was the only ESA planned mission to the Moon. By way of a weak stability boundary transfer, ESMO is inserted into an orbit around the Moon. Propellant use is at a premium, so the operational orbit is selected to be highly eccentric. In addition, an optimization is presented to achieve an orbit that is stable for 6 months without requiring orbit maintenance. A parameter study is undertaken to study the sensitivity of the lunar orbit insertion. A database of transfer solutions across 2014 and 2015 is used to study the relation between the robustness of weak capture and the planetary geometry at lunar arrival. A number of example recovery scenarios, where the orbit insertion maneuver partially or completely fails, are also considered.     

Control system design of the Korean lunar lander demonstrator

In preparation for the lunar exploration program scheduled to be launched during the early 2020s in Korea, a lunar lander demonstrator, which will be used for developing and demonstrating lunar landing technologies, is being developed. The control configuration of the lunar lander demonstrator is determined with the consideration of available technologies and flight requirements. It is suggested that altitude control be achieved by clustering five 200 N monopropellant thrusters and attitude control with eight 3 N thrusters. A control algorithm designed to follow a predefined trajectory is developed using quaternion feedback. Control system configuration and control logic are verified by using computer simulations. Simulation results show that a soft landing with a touchdown velocity of less than 3 m/s is achieved. Attitude control performance is also verified using computer simulations. The developed control configuration will be further tested by hardware in the loop simulations and ground based firing tests during the next phase of the study.     

Developing the global exploration roadmap: An example using the humans to the lunar surface theme

The development of the Global Exploration Roadmap (GER) by 12 space agencies participating in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group broadly outlines a pathway to send humans beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since Apollo. Three themes have emerged: Exploration of a Near-Earth Asteroid, Extended Duration Crew Missions, and Humans to the Lunar Surface. The lack of detail within each of these themes could mean that realizing the goals of the GER would be significantly delayed. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that many of the details needed to fully define and evaluate these themes in terms of scientific rationale, economic viability, and technical feasibility already exist and need to be mapped to the GER. Here, we use the Humans to the Lunar Surface theme as an example to illustrate how this process could work. By mapping documents from a variety of international stakeholders, this process can be used to cement buy-in from the current partners and attract new ones to this effort.     

一种基于概率路线图的月球巡航车路径规划算法

为提高月球巡航车自主探测时的安全，提出一种基于概率路线图(Probabilistic Roadmap, PRM)的改进路径规划算法.该算法基于距离变换地图，改善PRM算法的采样方式，控制采样点远离障碍物，使规划的路径远离障碍物，避免紧贴障碍物前进的危险情况，提高了月球巡航车自主探测过程中的安全程度.为评估路径的安全性，提出安全警戒系数和最小安全警戒系数两个安全指标，并在月球表面仿真环境下对A*，PRM和改进的PRM算法生成的路径进行安全评估.结果表明改进的PRM算法相较于A*算法，安全警戒系数和最小安全警戒系数分别提升了2.20 m，1.00 m；相较于PRM算法，安全警戒系数和最小安全警戒系数分别提升了1.68 m，1.00 m.改进的PRM算法不局限于月球巡航车的路径规划，还可以应用于对路径安全性要求较高的探索机器人和自动驾驶汽车.     

行星车视觉导航与自主控制进展与展望

以视觉为主的行星车自主地形感知、导航、规划与控制系统是其安全高效探测的重要保障。本文通过对已成功开展和计划中的系列行星车任务导航与控制系统进行汇总，重点梳理了行星车多源地形感知、自主全局和局部导航、自主路径规划与控制等若干关键问题的进展情况，展望了未来自主化、智能化的发展趋势，并结合任务需求构建了行星车视觉导航与自主控制研究框架设想。     

Sulfur “concrete” for lunar applications – Sublimation concerns

Melting sulfur and mixing it with an aggregate to form “concrete” is commercially well established and constitutes a material that is particularly well-suited for use in corrosive environments. Discovery of the mineral troilite (FeS) on the moon poses the question of extracting the sulfur for use as a lunar construction material. This would be an attractive alternative to conventional concrete as it does not require water. However, the viability of sulfur concrete in a lunar environment, which is characterized by lack of an atmosphere and extreme temperatures, is not well understood. Here it is assumed that the lunar ore can be mined, refined, and the raw sulfur melded with appropriate lunar regolith to form, for example, bricks. This study evaluates pure sulfur and two sets of small sulfur concrete samples that have been prepared using JSC-1 lunar stimulant and SiO₂ powder as aggregate additions. Each set was subjected to extended periods in a vacuum environment to evaluate sublimation issues. Results from these experiments are presented and discussed within the context of the lunar environment.     

利用着陆器立体视觉对月面巡视探测器定位

在月面巡视探测器漫游过程中,需要测量月面巡视探测器的位置和姿态信息,以使巡视探测器行驶在规划好的路径上,并确保其安全。定位系统可以采取多种方式。在文章中,利用着陆器立体视觉系统对月面巡视探测器定位方法进行了研究,它采用立体视觉测量技术以及彩色图像分割的方法,进行跟踪测量月面巡视探测器位姿信息,能够对惯导系统加里程计的定位方法进行修正,减小月面巡视探测器的计算工作量。在定位方法的研究中,采用彩色图像分割方法对月面巡视探测器进行识别,能够适应变光照条件,并且运算速度快,达到实时图像伺服控制的目的。通过月面巡视探测器上制作特征点及采用基于四边形约束的特征点匹配方法,提高了图像匹配概率。通过卡尔曼滤波技术,能够满足任意时刻的月面巡视探测器定位要求。     

Hipparchus vs. Ptolemy and the Antikythera Mechanism: Pin–Slot device models lunar motions

The ancient Greek astronomical calculator known as the Antikythera Mechanism has been analyzed using geometrical, calculus, trigonometric and complex variable methods. This analysis demonstrates that the Mechanism modeled the variations in the Moon’s angular velocity as seen from the Earth, to better than 1 part in 200. A major implication of this analysis is that the Antikythera Mechanism of the 2nd century BCE modeled the anomalistic motion of the Moon more accurately than Ptolemy’s account of Hipparchus’s theory of the 2nd century CE. In the present work, mathematics, astronomy, history and methodology of the sciences combine in the study of a unique artifact, preserved for posterity in an ancient ship that sank in the Mediterranean 2100 years ago and recovered by Greek sponge divers at the dawn of the 20th century.     

基于3层B/S结构的月球资源数据库系统的设计与实现

基于3层B/S结构，采用Web技术，在Intranet环境下设计并开发了月球资源数据库系统，该系统实现了月球资源信息的管理，具有高效、使用方便，运行稳定可靠等特点，并具有良好的可扩充性和可维护性。     

单自由度太阳帆板极月轨道月球卫星的初步热分析与热设计

对国外极月轨道月球卫星的热设计进行了概述,并以一个极月轨道月球卫星为例,介绍了采用单自由度太阳帆板技术的某极月轨道月球卫星.针对该卫星,对其奔月飞行和在极月轨道上环月运行时的外热流与空间散热问题进行分析,根据分析结果,初步提出了该卫星的热设计方案,重点对有效载荷热控问题, ±y侧仪器设备的热控问题,以及热控百叶窗的应用技术等进行了描述.