High energy-density propulsion—reducing the risk to humans in planetary exploration

The potential benefits to humankind of space exploration are tremendous. Space is not only the final frontier but is also the next marketplace. The orbital space above Earth offers tremendous opportunities for both strategic assets and commercial development. The critical obstacle retarding the use of the space around the Earth is the lack of low cost access to orbit. Further out, the next giant leap for mankind will be the human exploration of Mars. Almost certainly within the next 30 years, a human crew will brave the isolation, the radiation, and the lack of gravity to walk on and explore the Red planet. Both of these missions will change the outlook and perspective of every human being on the planet. However, these missions are expensive and extremely difficult. Chemical propulsion has demonstrated an inability to achieve orbit cheaply and is a very high-risk option to accomplish the Mars mission. An alternative solution is to develop a high performance propulsion system. Nuclear propulsion has the potential to be such a system. The question will be whether humanity is willing to take on the challenge.     

EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SPACE PLASMAS

The Cluster mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) will allow, for the first time three-dimensional measurements in key regions of the Earth's magnetosphere to be carried out. The European Numerical Simulation Network (ENSN) aims at providing a theoretical support to the mission. We describe the achievements of the ENSN during its first period of activity 1991–1994, during which the network was funded by the European Union. In particular, the ENSN has set up (i) thematic Working Groups on the prime scientific goals of the mission, (ii) a code development Working Group to develop numerical simulation codes specifically adapted to studying magnetospheric boundaries and the corresponding scale mixing, and (iii) software models of Cluster instruments to test in a numerical simulation what the set of four instruments will measure.     

Scientific Planning and Commanding of the Rosetta Payload

ESA’s Rosetta mission was launched in March 2004 and is on its way to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, where it is scheduled to arrive in summer 2014. It comprises a payload of 12 scientific instruments and a Lander. All instruments are provided by Principal Investigators, which are responsible for their operations. As for most ESA science missions, the ground segment of the mission consists of a Mission Operations Centre (MOC) and a Science Operations Centre (SOC). While the MOC is responsible for all spacecraft-related aspects and the final uplink of all command timelines to the spacecraft, the scientific operations of the instruments and the collection of the data and ingestion into the Planetary Science Archive are coordinated by the SOC. This paper focuses on the tasks of the SOC and in particular on the methodology and constraints to convert the scientific goals of the Rosetta mission to operational timelines.     

关于CCSDS音频、视频及静态图像通信业务建议的初步研究

音频、视频及静态图像通信 (简称 A/ V/ SI)是空间任务 (包括无人的及载人的航天任务 )中的重要业务。对 CCSDS关于 A/ V/ SI通信业务建议进行了分析研究 ,指出 CCSDS建议的音频、视频及静态图像的质量标准、编码方法和编码参数等与 ITU - T的有关建议是相互兼容的 ,对CCSDS的 A/ V/ SI通信建议在空间任务中的应用提出了初步看法     

CAPP系统中特征造型描述法的应用

本文结合专为哈尔滨制氧机厂开发的实用型CAPP系统，对CAPP系统的研制进行了探索性的研究，该系统以Windows作为开发平台，在基于零件特征造型建模的基础上，运用面向对象编程技术完成了一个交互式信息输入子系统，实现了回转体零件CAPP系统的信息输入，这里主要介绍零件特征信息模型的建立与特征信息的数据结构。     

新的面向对象编程语言Ada95

介绍了Ａｄａ９５的主要面向对象特征，分析了Ａｄａ９５对面向对象模型和面向对象逻辑设计的支持。     

基于HLA的防空导弹武器系统仿真平台研究

介绍了一个以防空导弹武器系统为背景,基于高级体系结构(HLA, High Level Architecture)技术实现的包含虚拟现实技术的综合仿真平台.着重论述了该仿真平台的构成、开发过程及其关键技术,包括HLA、基于FEDEP(Federation Development and Execution Process)模式的开发过程,层次化软件结构、计算机生成兵力(CGF, Computer Generated Forces)技术、面向对象建模以及基于包围盒的碰撞检测等.     

基于对象的仿真建模系统

基于面向对象的思想，图形用户界面和仿真程序自动生成技术研制开发出一个基于对象的辅助仿真建模系统ＳｉｍＭｏｄｅｌ，介绍了ＳｉｍＭｏｄｅｌ的系统结构和模型描述框架，讨论了仿真程序生成器的运行机制，提出了有向网络图递归深广优先搜索算法。     

基于特征的锻件分类及特征有限元法

综合分析锻件后引入特征技术并归纳锻件的形状及变形特点 ,提出了锻件特征概念并给出锻件形状特征的一般定义和构成 ;采用面向对象技术表示特征 ,提出了锻件特征类的概念模式和具体的参数化数据模型 ;针对有限元分析中复杂多变的约束条件和载荷状况两个关键性因素的表达 ,提出特征类的关联思想。在基于特征的锻件分类基础上 ,把锻件变形归纳为“挤”或“压”两种特征元 ,提出了采用基于特征的有限元法 ,并综合自适应FEM、并行FEM、智能型FEM共同求解大型复杂锻件的变形模拟问题。