火星自然卫星分析历表的建立

为了解环火星探测器的运动规律,就要构造环火星探测器的轨道分析解,这会涉及2个火星自然卫星的分析历表,因而需要首先构造它们的轨道分析解。由于火星与地球类似,参照建立人造地球卫星轨道摄动解的方法,构造火星自然卫星轨道的摄动分析解,分离出短周期项,即可给出所需要的历表计算公式。将其与JPL网站上提供的历表进行比对,结果表明,所采用的数学模型以及构造轨道摄动解的方法均有效,能够达到期望的精度。     

Earth–Moon low energy trajectory optimization in the real system

The problem of the Earth–Moon low energy trajectory optimization in the real system (the model defined by the JPL ephemeris DE405) is considered in this paper. First, this problem is investigated in the model of circular restricted three-body problem, since the fuel consumption is closely related to the Jacobi integral of the transfer trajectory, a method based on Jacobi integral is proposed and eight optimal trajectories are obtained. These optimal trajectories provide initial information (the flight time and the braking velocity impulse) to search the optimal low energy trajectories in the real system through optimization techniques. Considering the merit and drawback of particle swarm optimization and differential evolution algorithm in solving the space trajectory problem, an improved cooperative evolutionary algorithm is put forward. Result shows that the low energy trajectories in the real system are more fuel-efficient than the corresponding ones under the circular restricted three-body problem.     

JPL Innovation Foundry

Space science missions are increasingly challenged today: in ambition, by increasingly sophisticated hypotheses tested; in development, by the increasing complexity of advanced technologies; in budgeting, by the decline of flagship-class mission opportunities; in management, by expectations for breakthrough science despite a risk-averse programmatic climate; and in planning, by increasing competition for scarce resources. How are the space-science missions of tomorrow being formulated? The paper describes the JPL Innovation Foundry, created in 2011, to respond to this evolving context. The Foundry integrates methods, tools, and experts that span the mission concept lifecycle. Grounded in JPL's heritage of missions, flight instruments, mission proposals, and concept innovation, the Foundry seeks to provide continuity of support and cost-effective, on-call access to the right domain experts at the right time, as science definition teams and Principal Investigators mature mission ideas from “cocktail napkin” to PDR. The Foundry blends JPL capabilities in proposal development and concurrent engineering, including Team X, with new approaches for open-ended concept exploration in earlier, cost-constrained phases, and with ongoing research and technology projects. It applies complexity and cost models, project-formulation lessons learned, and strategy analyses appropriate to each level of concept maturity. The Foundry is organizationally integrated with JPL formulation program offices; staffed by JPL's line organizations for engineering, science, and costing; and overseen by senior Laboratory leaders to assure experienced coordination and review. Incubation of each concept is tailored depending on its maturity and proposal history, and its highest-leverage modeling and analysis needs.     

Design and Verification of the Feet Design used for the “Heat Flow Property Package Instrument” (HP3) on-board the Mars Mission InSight

The HP³ instrument measures the thermal flux through the Martian crust using a penetration probe. Launched on the InSight mission in 2018, HP³ was deployed for penetration activities in the beginning of 2019. During initial operation, the instrument is vulnerable to slip, due to a combination of low system mass (3.3 kg on Earth), shocks delivered by the penetration probe’s action, and the possibility of an inclined attitude on the surface. An uncontrolled position change of the instrument on the surface can reduce the scientific output and even lead to a loss of the experiment if the probe’s supporting structure moves laterally. Naturally, the design of the feet has major impact on the total amount of slippage. A new design for the feet with a high slippage resistance capability at a low level of complexity and mass was developed for this instrument’s supporting structure. The design provides sufficient slippage resistance while fulfilling the challenging set of requirements for a Mars surface mission. The design was verified by test campaigns which emulate launch environments and operational behavior on Mars. This paper gives a detailed overview of the HP³ instrument itself, the relevant requirements, the complex different test campaigns and the final flight design.