Statistical properties of the IMF clock angle in the solar wind with northward and southward interplanetary magnetic field based on ACE observation from 1998 to 2009: Dependence on the temporal scale of the solar wind

Utilizing ACE satellite observations from 1998 to 2009, we performed the elaborate study on the properties of the clock angle θ_CA (arctan(By/Bz) (?90° to 90°) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the solar wind at 1?AU. The solar wind with northward IMF (NW-IMF) and southward IMF (SW-IMF) are analyzed, independently. Statistical analysis shows that the solar wind with SW-IMF and NW-IMF has similar properties in general, including their durations, the IMF Bz and By components, and the IMF θ_CA. Then, the solar wind with NW-IMF (SW-IMF) is classified into five different temporal scales according to the duration of the NW-IMF (SW-IMF), i.e., very-short wind of 10–30?min, short-scale wind of 0.5–1?h, moderate-scale wind of 1–3?h, long-scale wind of 3–5?h, and super-long wind >5?h. Our analysis reveals that the IMF θ_CA has a distinct decrease with increase of the temporal scale of the solar wind. Next, the solar wind is classified into two groups, i.e., the high-speed solar wind (>450?km/s) and the low-speed solar wind (<450?km/s). Our analysis indicates that the IMF θ_CA depends highly on the solar wind speed. Statistically, high-speed solar wind tends to have larger IMF θ_CA than low-speed solar wind. The evolutions of the solar wind and IMF with the solar activity are further studied, revealing no clear solar variation of the IMF θ_CA. Finally, we analyze the monthly variation of the IMF θ_CA. Superposed epoch result strongly suggests the seasonal variation of the IMF θ_CA.     

LEO enhanced Global Navigation Satellite System (LeGNSS) for real-time precise positioning services

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has been widely used in many geosciences areas with its Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) service. However, GNSS still has its own bottleneck, such as the long initialization period of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) without dense reference network. Recently, the concept of PNTRC (Positioning, Navigation, Timing, Remote sensing and Communication) has been put forward, where Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are recruited to fulfill diverse missions. In navigation aspect, a number of selected LEO satellites can be equipped with a transmitter to transmit similar navigation signals to ground users, so that they can serve as GNSS satellites but with much faster geometric change to enhance GNSS capability, which is named as LEO constellation enhanced GNSS (LeGNSS). As a result, the initialization time of PPP is expected to be shortened to the level of a few minutes or even seconds depending on the number of the LEO satellites involved. In this article, we simulate all the relevant data from June 8th to 14th, 2014 and investigate the feasibility of LeGNSS with the concentration on the key issues in the whole data processing for providing real-time PPP service based on a system configuration with fourteen satellites of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), twenty-four satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and sixty-six satellites of the Iridium satellite constellations. At the server-end, Precise Orbit Determination (POD) and Precise Clock Estimation (PCE) with various operational modes are investigated using simulated observations. It is found out that GNSS POD with partial LEO satellites is the most practical mode of LeGNSS operation. At the user-end, the Geometry Dilution Of Precision (GDOP) and Signal-In-Space Ranging Error (SISRE) are calculated and assessed for different positioning schemes in order to demonstrate the performance of LeGNSS. Centimeter level SISRE can be achieved for LeGNSS.     

Effects of space weather on the ionosphere and LEO satellites’ orbital trajectory in equatorial,low and middle latitude

We study the effects of space weather on the ionosphere and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites’ orbital trajectory in equatorial, low- and mid-latitude (EQL, LLT and MLT) regions during (and around) the notable storms of October/November, 2003. We briefly review space weather effects on the thermosphere and ionosphere to demonstrate that such effects are also latitude-dependent and well established. Following the review we simulate the trend in variation of satellite’s orbital radius (r), mean height (h) and orbit decay rate (ODR) during 15 October–14 November 2003 in EQL, LLT and MLT. Nominal atmospheric drag on LEO satellite is usually enhanced by space weather or solar-induced variations in thermospheric temperature and density profile. To separate nominal orbit decay from solar-induced accelerated orbit decay, we compute $r\text{,}h$ and ODR in three regimes viz. (i) excluding solar indices (or effect), where $r=r_0\text{,}h=h_0$ and $\mathit{ODR}={\mathit{ODR}}_0$ (ii) with mean value of solar indices for the interval, where $r=r_m\text{,}h=h_m$ and $\mathit{ODR}={\mathit{ODR}}_m$ and (iii) with actual daily values of solar indices for the interval ($r\text{,}h$ and ODR). For a typical LEO satellite at h?=?450?km, we show that the total decay in r during the period is about 4.20?km, 3.90?km and 3.20?km in EQL, LLT and MLT respectively; the respective nominal decay ($r_0$) is 0.40?km, 0.34?km and 0.22?km, while solar-induced orbital decay ($r_m$) is about 3.80?km, 3.55?km and 2.95?km. h also varied in like manner. The respective nominal ${\mathit{ODR}}_0$ is about 13.5?m/day, 11.2?m/day and 7.2?m/day, while solar-induced ${\mathit{ODR}}_m$ is about 124.3?m/day, 116.9?m/day and 97.3?m/day. We also show that severe geomagnetic storms can increase ODR by up to 117% (from daily mean value). However, the extent of space weather effects on LEO Satellite’s trajectory significantly depends on the ballistic co-efficient and orbit of the satellite, and phase of solar cycles, intensity and duration of driving (or influencing) solar event.     

基于北斗GEO卫星双频观测值连续监测电离层延迟

利用北斗GEO卫星观测数据直接计算电离层延迟。由于GEO卫星具有固定穿刺点和静地的特性,使得观测站监测电离层变化时可不考虑空间变化,并可进行连续不间断监测。通过分析北斗GEO卫星三种频率码伪距和载波相位观测值不同组合,选取B1&B2双频计算电离层延迟为最优组合,采用相位平滑伪距的方法计算电离层延迟TEC,相较其他电离层模型,该方法的优点是不会引入模型误差,可得到连续的高精度的电离层延迟监测结果。     

数字卫星概念研究

基于模型的系统工程是卫星工程设计研制的理论基础,构建数字卫星是总体设计单位的重要工作。本文分析了卫星总体设计过程对数字卫星模型精度的要求,按不确定性的大小粒度,给出了点模型、流模型和场模型的定义;提出数字卫星场的模型精度或不确定性是制约卫星功能密度、反映总体设计水平的关键指标。结合数字孪生系统的概念,论述了数字卫星场模型的复杂性体现在多动态、多空间尺度和多物理场耦合三个方面,不同卫星不能用同一个数字公式描述,模型需要和遥测参数比对后才能确定,不能采用通用软件的工作模式构建和管理场模型;分析了数字卫星场模型的构建工作和模型管理工作,论证了人力成本是制约卫星场模型在工程实践中推广应用的关键因素。数字卫星工程智能化是基于模型的系统工程普及应用的关键,通过工程案例证明了建模与模型组织管理工作在智能化方面的可行性。     

从遥感卫星到卫星遥感 ——智联遥感系统及关键技术方向

近年来,遥感卫星正在经历系统规模、数据量、应用场景等方面的爆炸式增长。传统遥感卫星设计孤立,使其协同性不足、响应速度慢,难以体系化应用。提出了一种由管理层、感知层、传输层、处理层、信息层、应用层等多层结构组成的智联遥感系统架构,并梳理了基于区块链、人工智能、软件定义、大数据、云计算、物联网、5G等新兴技术的关键技术方向,以突破遥感卫星系统的联合规划、联合响应、联合处理的多元协同能力瓶颈,为实现从遥感卫星至卫星遥感的全链条革新奠定技术基础。     

Small satellite survey mission to the second Earth moon

This paper presents an innovative space mission devoted to the survey of the small Earth companion asteroid by means of nano platforms. Also known as the second Earth moon, Cruithne, is the target identified for the mission. Both the trajectory to reach the target and a preliminary spacecraft budget are here detailed. The idea is to exploit high efficient ion thrusters to reduce the propellant mass fraction in such a high total impulse mission (of the order of 1e6 Ns). This approach allows for a 100 kg class spacecraft with a very small Earth escape energy (5 km²/s²) to reach the destination in about 320 days. The 31% propellant mass fraction allows for a payload mass fraction of the order of 8% and this is sufficient to embark on such a small spacecraft a couple of nano-satellites deployed once at the target to carry out a complete survey of the asteroid. Two 2U Cubesats are here considered as representative payload, but also other scientific payloads or different platforms might be considered according with the specific mission needs. The small spacecraft used to transfer these to the target guarantees the manoeuvre capabilities during the interplanetary journey, the protection against radiations along the path and the telecommunication relay functions for the data transmission with Earth stations. The approach outlined in the paper offers reliable solutions to the main issues associated with a deep space nano-satellite mission thus allowing the exploitation of distant targets by means of these tiny spacecraft. The study presents an innovative general strategy for the NEO observation and Cruithne is chosen as test bench. This target, however, mainly for its relevant inclination, requires a relatively large propellant mass fraction that can be reduced if low inclination asteroids are of interest. This might increase the payload mass fraction (e.g. additional Cubesats and/or additional scientific payloads on the main bus) for the same 100 kg class mission.     

基于精密时间的星敏感器绝对姿态基准的建立

根据星敏感器外场试验的实际需要,提出一种用于建立星敏感器参考姿态基准的方法.介绍星敏感器参考姿态基准建立的基本原理;分别求取从赤道惯性坐标系i系到地球坐标系w系的转换矩阵Cw1（依靠原子钟精密计时）、从w系到地理坐标系t系的转换矩阵Ctw、从t系到平台坐标系p系的转换矩阵Cpt,从p系到星敏感器坐标系s系的转换矩阵Csp,从而得到i系到s系的转化矩阵Cs1;根据Csi求取星敏感器的姿态角,作为参考姿态基准;编制求解星敏感器参考姿态基准的电算化程序,并绘制星敏感器3个姿态角的误差曲线,最大误差小于0.25″.仿真结果表明,通过精密时间得到的姿态可以作为星敏感器外场试验的参考姿态基准.     

基于RBF神经网络的自适应PID星钟热控制

星钟的频率稳定性决定了星钟提供时间信息的精度,而频率稳定性取决于星钟物理核心温度的稳定程度.基于RBF神经网络逼近星钟热模型,设计自适应PID控制方法实现星钟物理核心的温度控制.仿真验证了算法的有效性.     

The USSR and satellite communications : Competition and cooperation

This article examines the USSR's satellite communications provision in the international arena. The author first outlines the Intercosmos programme, collaboration between the USSR and France and India, and maritime satellite communications. He then discusses in detail the INTERSPUTNIK system, and Soviet international coverage and competitiveness in television. In conclusion, the complex interaction and overlap between cooperation and competition in space is explained.