Protecting Earth-orbiting spacecraft against micro-meteoroid/orbital debris impact damage using composite structural systems and materials: An overview

Spacecraft that are launched to operate in Earth orbit are susceptible to impacts by meteoroids and pieces of orbital debris (MMOD). The effect of a MMOD particle impact on a spacecraft depends on where the impact occurs, the size, composition, and speed of the impacting object, the function of the impacted system. In order to perform a risk analysis for a particular spacecraft under a specific mission profile, it is important to know whether or not the impacting particle (or its remnants) will exit the rear of an impacted spacecraft wall. A variety of different ballistic limit equations (BLEs) have been developed for many different types of structural wall configurations. BLEs can be used to optimize the design of spacecraft wall parameters so that the resulting configuration is able to withstand the anticipated variety of on-orbit high-speed impact scenarios. While the level of effort exerted in studying the response of metallic multi-wall systems to high speed particle impact is quite substantial, the extent of the effort to study composite material and composite structural systems under similar impact conditions has been much more limited. This paper presents an overview of the activities performed to assess the resiliency of composite structures and materials under high speed projectile impact. The activities reviewed will be those that have been aimed at increasing the level of protection afforded to spacecraft operating in the MMOD environment, and more specifically, on those activities performed to mitigate the mechanical and structural effects of an MMOD impact.     

Fade duration statistics for Ku-band satellite links

Fade duration database was built to enhance the study of propagation characterises in the Equatorial region. The data was measured via a beacon receiver Ku-band whereby the antenna was directed to a SUPERBIRD-C2 satellite at 12.255 GHz. The performance of the measured data has been compared with ITU-R model, Kormanyos et al. and Paulson–Gibbins. The results show that the Paulson–Gibbins fits well with measured data with a low RMS error of 0.2 dB. The number of statistics available for the equatorial is small and the periods of measurement are short compared to those for temperate regions.     

星载稀布L阵对地面辐射源的高精度测向研究

在均匀分布和非均匀分布两种情况下,采用二维MUSIC算法研究了星载稀布L阵列的地面辐射源测向精度。对地面辐射源方位估计、小角度辐射源分辨率,以及测向精度的分析和仿真结果表明,星载L型阵列能实现对地面辐射源的高精度二维测向。在相同条件下,非均匀阵的测向性能明显优于均匀阵。     

星载SAR轨道及姿态误差模型分析

平台轨道及姿态误差模型是星载SAR数据模拟及相应的模拟系统的关键组成部分。简要分析了机载SAR和星载SAR的差异,重点对星载SAR的平台轨道及姿态模型进行了分析,最后对星载SAR回波信号仿真方法进行了分析。     

卫星测控应用中心远程容灾系统方案设计

随着航天技术的发展,各种卫星如综合侦察卫星、气象与海洋监视卫星、数据与中继卫星等,其数据的信息速率存储、处理的数据量越来越大,对卫星测控应用中心大容量、高速率数据的安全性、可靠性要求也越来越高。在自然灾害,如地震、洪水;人为破坏,如恐怖活动、战争等条件下,确保卫星测控应用中心的安全与快速恢复能力,将非常重要。本文从原理上设计了一套远程数据容灾系统方案,以保证卫星测控应用中心在自然灾害或人为破坏后能够快速恢复其基本功能。分析表明,该方案具有很好的可靠性、安全性。     

Ka频段卫星通信雨衰分析及解决对策

Ka频段卫星通信中,降雨引起的信号衰减对通信链路的通断起着非常重要的作用.本文在阐述雨衰原理的基础上,分析了Ka频段雨衰对信道特性的影响,提出了Ka频段抗雨衰的各种对策,并通过实例说明了对策的有效性.     

卫星轨道变化规律的综合分析

对于航天工程而言,无论是航天器的发射,卫星轨道设计,地面测控系统的跟踪、定轨和预报．还是卫星在轨运行过程中的轨道控制策略等,均需了解卫星轨道变化的规律。为此,本文对人造卫星(包括中心天体为快自转天体和慢自转天体两种引力源的绕飞轨道器)的轨道变化特征以及轨道寿命进行系统的综合分析。为各种应用提供简明信息。     

卫星结构中的非金属材料

介绍了各种复合材料、胶粘剂、高分子材料和工业陶瓷等非金属材料的性能及其在卫星结构中的应用情况。强调了非金属材料在提高卫星性能、减轻卫星结构质量，以及增大卫星有效栽荷方面的作用。最后指出了卫星结构材料高性能、多功能、复合化、智能化、低成本以及高环境相容性的发展趋势。     

Hybrid optimization for multiple-impulse reconfiguration trajectories of satellite formation flying

A hybrid optimization method is developed for fuel-optimal reconfigurations of a group of satellites flying in formation. The genetic algorithm performs a global search to find two-impulse trajectories, and primer vector analysis finds multiple-impulsive local optimal trajectories with the two-impulse trajectories as initial guesses. Hybrid optimization finds globally optimal trajectories for formation reconfigurations, including formation resizing, reassignment and reorientation maneuvers. Multiple-impulse trajectories reduce the fuel consumption from the two-impulse trajectories by up to 4.4% for those maneuvers. In real missions, satellites can follow two-impulse trajectories to gain the advantage of a smaller number of impulses, with the cost of slightly more propellant. The qualitative characteristics of the optimal trajectories are analyzed from the number of optimal trajectories found by hybrid optimization.     

Use of the ASTER satellite images for evaluation of structural changes in the Popocatépetl volcano related to microseismicity

Mexico is one of the most volcanically active regions in North America. Volcanic activity in central Mexico is associated with the subduction of the Cocos and Rivera plates beneath the North American plate. Periods of enhanced microseismic activity, associated with the volcanic activity of the Popocatépetl volcano are compared with periods, during which the microseismic activity was low. We detected systematical changes in the number of lineaments, associated with the microseismic activity due to lineament analysis of a temporal sequence of high resolution satellite images of the Popocatépetl volcano, provided by the ASTER/VNIR instrument. The Lineament Extraction and Stripes Statistic Analysis (LESSA) software package was used for the lineament extraction. In the future it would allow develop a methodology for detection of possible elevation of pressure in volcano edifice.