Assessment of the close approach frequency and collision probability for satellites in different configurations of large constellations

The Earth orbital environment is drastically changing due to an intensification of the space activities. In particular, several projects of large constellations, proposed for the next years for communications purpose like global internet access, Internet of Things, or for Earth observations, will lead to the deployment of several thousands of new satellites at an unprecedented rate. It is a crucial challenge for space traffic management, which will deal with a great number of satellite conjunctions, potentially causing a collision with damaging consequences for the constellation itself and the space environment sustainability.In this paper, we investigate the close approach frequency and the cumulative collision probability for each referenced constellation. For this purpose, we compute the orbital evolution of satellites in different constellations during the lifecycle, from the deployment to the decommissioning, and we apply the CUBE algorithm and the Foster method to assess the collision probability with the background space debris population assuming a constant uncertainty in position. We show the variation of risk defined by the close approach frequency and the cumulative collision probability as a function of the proposed configuration. In particular, satellites of the Iridium and Kuiper constellation, but also satellite of the Telesat constellation on polar orbits are the most exposed at a collision. Moreover, the decommissioning phase contribute for a major part to the final cumulative collision probability.     

内装式空射运载火箭重力出舱机箭耦合动力学分析

研究了以运输机为平台的内装式运载火箭空射过程载机和火箭的耦合动力学建模。建模针对两个阶段：第一阶段，火箭固定于载机机舱内，两者构成一个整体，按照普通刚体的力学方法处理；第二阶段，火箭解锁后，沿着舱内的发射筒向外滑行，载机和火箭形成两刚体相互作用的耦合系统，基于牛顿-欧拉法建立系统动力学模型。载机在空射火箭过程中，油门和升降舵满偏，在加速前飞的同时拉大姿态俯仰角，火箭在自身重力分量和惯性力的作用下，沿着机舱内的发射筒加速向外滑行，直至与载机分离。数值仿真分析了空射过程载机的重要力学参数的变化过程，验证了载机操控策略的可行性和安全性，可为未来中国空射运载火箭技术设计提供数据参考。     

复杂动态环境下无人飞行器动态避障近似最优轨迹规划

针对复杂动态环境下无人飞行器的动态障碍规避问题，基于合理假设建立了无人飞行器和动态障碍的运动学模型，并综合考虑无人飞行器飞行过程中的终端约束、控制输入约束、安全避障约束等，以能量最少为性能指标构建动态避障问题数学描述。之后，针对终端约束和控制输入约束，依据优化模型预测静态规划算法(OMPSP)生成初始轨迹；针对动态避障问题的不等式约束，引入松弛变量并结合滑模变结构控制方法设计松弛变量动力学，实现对一个、多个或同时多个动态障碍的安全规避；最后，依据有限时间微分动态规划(RHDDP)算法进行轨迹优化，获得满足上述各种约束并能规避动态障碍的近似最优轨迹。     

Deorbiter CubeSat mission design

This paper presents the mission design for a CubeSat-based active debris removal approach intended for transferring sizable debris objects from low-Earth orbit to a deorbit altitude of 100 km. The mission consists of a mothership spacecraft that carries and deploys several debris-removing nanosatellites, called Deorbiter CubeSats. Each Deorbiter is designed based on the utilization of an eight-unit CubeSat form factor and commercially-available components with significant flight heritage. The mothership spacecraft delivers Deorbiter CubeSats to the vicinity of a predetermined target debris, through performing a long-range rendezvous maneuver. Through a formation flying maneuver, the mothership then performs in-situ measurements of debris shape and orbital state. Upon release from the mothership, each Deorbiter CubeSat proceeds to performing a rendezvous and attachment maneuver with a debris object. Once attached to the debris, the CubeSat performs a detumbling maneuver, by which the residual angular momentum of the CubeSat-debris system is dumped using Deorbiter’s onboard reaction wheels. After stabilizing the attitude motion of the combined Deorbiter-debris system, the CubeSat proceeds to performing a deorbiting maneuver, i.e., reducing system’s altitude so much so that the bodies disintegrate and burn up due to atmospheric drag, typically at around 100 km above the Earth surface. The attitude and orbital maneuvers that are planned for the mission are described, both for the mothership and Deorbiter CubeSat. The performance of each spacecraft during their operations is investigated, using the actual performance specifications of the onboard components. The viability of the proposed debris removal approach is discussed in light of the results.     

A multi-stage regulation strategy of space manipulators with a free-swinging joint failure

To ensure tasks can be completed after a free-swinging joint failure occurs, a multi-stage regulation strategy of space manipulators is proposed. Considering all terms of the dynamics equation, an evaluation model of the regulation ability (EMRA) of active joints over the fault joint is established based on the fuzzy entropy. And then a multi-stage regulation strategy based on the EMRA is designed to regulate the fault joint. The strategy divides the regulation process into several stages, and select a certain active joint to regulative the fault joint in every stage. With this multi-stage regulation strategy, the fault joint can be regulated to the desired angle without huge torque on regulative joints. The simulation is carried out with a 7-DOF space manipulator, verifying the correctness and effectiveness of the multi-stage regulation strategy. The strategy has three advantages: Coriolis and centrifugal terms are both considered for the first time in selecting the regulative joint, making the selection result more in line with the actual regulation process; The influence of the model uncertainty is eliminated in establishing the EMRA, making the evaluation of regulative ability more precise; The fault joint is successfully regulated to the desired angle without huge torque on regulative joints.     

Excavation of artificial caverns inside asteroids by leveraging rotational self-energy

Future space ventures will likely require exploitation of near-Earth asteroid resources. Moreover, it can be envisaged that asteroids may host habitats in their interiors. In fact, a cavern inside an asteroid would be a natural radiation shield against cosmic radiation and may also serve as a confined environment for storage of mined material such as water ice or other processed volatiles such as propellants. To this end, this paper proposes to leverage the asteroid rotational self-energy to remove material from the asteroid interiors and create a spherical cavern, by means of the orbital siphon concept. The siphon is a chain of tether-connected payload masses (the asteroid material), which exploits the rotation of the asteroid for the delivery of mass from the asteroid to escape. Under certain conditions the siphon can be initiated to ensure self-sustained flow of mass from the asteroid to escape. A net orbital siphon effect is generated by connecting new payloads at the bottom of the chain while releasing the upper payloads. Key parameters are discussed, such as the required siphon dimension and the maximum size of the internal cavity that can be excavated, as a function of the asteroid rotational period. Moreover, assuming elastic material behaviour, a closed-form expression for the stress tensor is found and a failure criterion is used to identify regions in the asteroid interiors subjected to the larger stresses. It is shown that the conditions for failure are relaxed as the radius of the internal void increases.     

Estimating the spin axis orientation of the Echostar-2 box-wing geosynchronous satellite

For the first time, the spin axis orientation of an inactive box-wing geosynchronous satellite has been estimated from ground-based optical photometric observations of Echostar-2’s specular reflections. Recent photometric light curves obtained of Echostar-2 over four years suggest that unusually bright and brief specular reflections were occurring twice within an observed spin period. These bright and brief specular reflections suggested two satellite surfaces with surface normals separated by approximately 180°. The geometry between the satellite, the Sun, and the observing location at the time of each of the brightest observed reflections, was used to estimate Echostar-2’s equatorial spin axis orientation coordinates. When considering prograde and retrograde rotation, Echostar-2’s spin axis orientation was estimated to have been located within 30° of either equatorial coordinate pole. Echostar-2’s spin axis was observed to have moved approximately 180° in right ascension, within a time span of six months, suggesting a roughly one year spin axis precession period about the satellite’s angular momentum vector.     

Impact of geomagnetic variation over sub-auroral ionospheric region during high solar activity year 2014

The present work is an attempt to evaluate the impact of changing space weather condition over sub-auroral ionosphere during high solar activity year 2014. In view of this, the GPS based TEC along with Ionosonde data over Indian permanent scientific base “Maitri”, Antarctica (70°46′00″S, 11°43′56″E) has been utilized. The results suggested that the nature of ionospheric responses to the geomagnetic disturbances not only depended upon the status of high latitudinal electro-dynamic processes but also influenced by the seasonal variations. The results revel both negative and positive type of ionospheric response in a single year but during different seasons. The study suggested that the combination of equator-ward plasma transportation along with ionospheric compositional changes causes a negative ionospheric impact especially during summer and equinox seasons. However, the combination of pole-ward contraction of the oval region along with particle precipitation may lead to exhibit positive ionospheric response during the winter season. The plasma transportation direction has been validated with the help of convection boundary (HM boundary) deduced with the help of SuperDARN observations. The ground based ionosonde observations clearly provided the evidence of deep penetration of high energetic particles up to the E-layer heights which results a sudden and strong appearance of E-layer. The strengthening of E-layer is responsible for modification of auroral electrojet and field-aligned current system. Also, the sudden appearance of E-layer along with a decrease in F-layer electron density suggested the dominance of NO⁺ over O⁺ in a considered region under geomagnetic disturbed condition.     

Packaging of thick membranes using a multi-spiral folding approach: Flat and curved surfaces

Elucidating versatile configurations of spiral folding, and investigating the deployment performance is of relevant interest to extend the applicability of deployable membranes towards large-scale and functional configurations.In this paper we propose new schemes to package flat and curved membranes of finite thickness by using multiple spirals, whose governing equations render folding lines by juxtaposing spirals and by accommodating membrane thickness. Our experiments using a set of topologically distinct flat and curved membranes deployed by tensile forces applied in the radial and circumferential directions have shown that (1) the multi-spiral approach with prismatic folding lines offered the improved deployment performance, and (2) the deployment of curved surfaces progresses rapidly within a finite load domain. Furthermore, we confirmed the high efficiency of membranes folded by multi-spiral patterns.From viewpoints of configuration and deployment performance, the multi-spiral approach is potential to extend the versatility and maneuverability of spiral folding mechanisms.     

反推力装置运动学与动力学仿真

为了研究叶栅式反推力装置各部件在工作过程中的运动学与动力学特性,根据机构运动原理对反推力装置进行简化并建立了运动学与动力学数学模型。以滑动整流罩位移与阻流门所受气动负荷为输入进行运动学与动力学仿真,得到了反推力装置各部件的位移、速度及受力特性曲线,并对比分析了在不同尺寸参数下各部件特征点的运动轨迹和反推力装置负载力变化。结果表明:运动学及动力学仿真结果与工程实际相符；反推力装置机构参数选择不合理时,各设计点会发生干涉现象并导致机构无法运动;机构参数变化对负载力最大值影响尤为突出,在阻流门AC段长度值增大6%,阻流门CB段长度值减小9%的情况下,负载力正向最大值将增大19.53%,负向最大值增大12.67%。研究方法及研究结果可为反推力装置运动学及动力学分析,以及为反推力装置机构优化设计提供参考。