Avionics systems maintenance improvement: a perception

This paper explores the possibility of applying recent developments in various fields of electronics, especially wireless personal communication services, to reduce avionics systems repair cycle time and to generally improve maintenance services. But before scaling these prospects, present-day maintenance services are touched upon and advances in associated technologies are also mentioned     

Optimal mission planning of the reconfiguration process of satellite constellations through orbital maneuvers: A novel technical framework

In this paper, a general new methodology is presented for the orbital reconfiguration of satellite constellations on the basis of Lambert targeting theorem. In view of the cost and risk reduction, it is very important to consider the problem of satellite constellation reconfiguration with the two constraints of overall mission cost minimization and the desired final configuration. Hence, the dependent non-simultaneous deployment approach is proposed to minimize overall fuel cost. Despite the fact that the satellites deploy in a non-simultaneous manner, supplementary phasing maneuvers on the target orbital pattern to achieve the desired orbital configuration are avoided. Moreover, a novel idea is presented to optimize the flight of satellites, which plays an important role in complying with the constraint of overall fuel cost minimization as much as possible. In order to achieve the global optimal solution of the satellite constellation reconfiguration problem, the efficient hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization/Genetic Algorithm (PSO/GA) technique, is implemented. Finally, to indicate the superiority of the presented method, a comparison to the simultaneous maneuver viewpoint is made on a number of representative cases. The obtained results imply significant reduction of reconfiguration costs by employing the proposed method.     

Automatic orbital docking with tumbling target using sliding mode control

The present study aimed to propose translational and rotational control of a chaser spacecraft in the close vicinity docking phase with a target subjected to external disturbances. For this purpose, two sliding mode controls (SMC) are developed to coordinate the relative position and attitude of two spacecraft. The chaser is guided to the tumbling target by the relative position control, approaching in the direction of the target docking port. At the same moment, the relative attitude control coordinates the chaser attitude so that it can be aligned with the target orientation. These control systems regulate the relative translational and rotational velocities to be zero when two spacecraft are docking. The robustness of the closed-loop system in the presence of external disturbances, measurement noises and uncertainties is guaranteed by analyzing and calculating the control gains via the Lyapunov function. The simulations in different scenarios indicated the effectiveness of the controller scheme and precise maneuver regarding the accuracy of docking conditions.     

The impact of different background errors in the assimilation of satellite radiances and in-situ observational data using WRFDA for three rainfall events over Iran

Satellite radiances and in-situ observations are assimilated through Weather Research and Forecasting Data Assimilation (WRFDA) system into Advanced Research WRF (ARW) model over Iran and its neighboring area. Domain specific background error based on x and y components of wind speed (UV) control variables is calculated for WRFDA system and some sensitivity experiments are carried out to compare the impact of global background error and the domain specific background errors, both on the precipitation and 2-m temperature forecasts over Iran. Three precipitation events that occurred over the country during January, September and October 2014 are simulated in three different experiments and the results for precipitation and 2-m temperature are verified against the verifying surface observations. Results show that using domain specific background error improves 2-m temperature and 24-h accumulated precipitation forecasts consistently, while global background error may even degrade the forecasts compared to the experiments without data assimilation. The improvement in 2-m temperature is more evident during the first forecast hours and decreases significantly as the forecast length increases.     

Periodic attitude motions along planar orbits in the elliptic restricted three-body problem

A way to improve the accuracy of the three-body problem model is taking into account the eccentricity of primary attractors. Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem (ER3BP) is a model for studying spacecraft trajectory within the three-body problem such that the orbital eccentricity of primaries is reflected in it. As the principal cause of perturbation in the employed dynamical model, the primaries eccentricity changes the structure of orbits compared to the ideal Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP). It also changes the attitude behavior of a spacecraft revolving along periodic orbits in this regime. In this paper, the coupled orbit-attitude dynamics of a spacecraft in the ER3BP are exploited to find precise periodic solutions as the spacecraft is considered to be in planar orbits around Lagrangian points and Distant Retrograde Orbits (DRO). Periodic solutions are repetitious behaviors in which spacecraft whole dynamics are repeated periodically, these periodic behaviors are the main interest of this study because they are beneficial for future mission designs and allow delineation of the system’s governing dynamics. Previous studies laid the foundation for spacecraft stability analysis or studying pitch motion of spacecraft in the ER3BP regime. While in this paper, at first, initial guesses for correction algorithms were derived through verified search methods, then correction algorithms were used to refine calculated orbit-attitude periodic behaviors. Periodic orbits and full periodic solutions are portrayed and compared to previous studies and simpler models. Natural periodic solutions are valuable information eventuate in the longer functional lifetime of spacecraft. Since the problem assumption considered in this paper is much closer to real mission conditions, these results may be the means to use natural bounded motions in the actual operational environment.     

Fostering research aptitude among high school students through space weather competition

Cultivating research culture at an early stage is important for capacity building in a community. The high school level is the appropriate stage for research to be introduced because of students’ competitive nature. Participation in the space weather competition is one of the ways in which research aptitude can be fostered in high school students in Malaysia. Accordingly, this paper presents how research elements were introduced to the students at the high school level through their participation in the space weather competition. The competition required the students to build a system to detect the presence of solar flares by utilizing VLF signals reflected from the ionosphere. The space weather competition started off with proposal writing for the space weather related project where the students were required to execute extensive literature review on the given topic. Additionally, the students were also required to conduct the experiments and analyse the data. Results obtained from data analysis were then validated by the students through various other observations that they had to carry out. At the end of the competition, students were expected to write a comprehensive technical report. Through this competition, the students learnt how to conduct research in accordance to the guidelines provided through the step by step approach exposed to them. Ultimately, this project revealed that the students were able to conduct research on their own with minimal guidance and that participation in the competition not only generated enjoyment in learning but also their interest in science and research.     

Sub-pixel mineral mapping of a porphyry copper belt using EO-1 Hyperion data

The main aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of the EO-1 Hyperion data in discriminating and mapping diagnostic alteration minerals around porphyry copper deposits (PCDs), verified by field surveys and laboratory analyses. A partial sub-pixel method, mixture tuned matched filtering (MTMF), was implemented on a pre-processed and calibrated Hyperion dataset. The tested area is situated at the Central Iranian Volcano-Sedimentary Complex, where abundant porphyry copper deposits like Sarcheshmeh, Darrehzar, and Sereidun are located. The characteristic alteration minerals identified by Hyperion data included biotite, muscovite, illite, kaolinite, goethite, hematite, jarosite, pyrophyllite, and chlorite. Discrimination of these minerals especially biotite and iron oxide (hematite and goethite) can provide valuable evidences for PCD exploration projects. Results revealed that Hyperion data prove to be powerful in discriminating and mapping various types of alteration zones while the data were subjected to adequate pre-processing.