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.     

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.     

部署retro-GEO巡视器的月球借力飞行轨道分析

retro-GEO是指逆行（retrograde）地球静止轨道（geostationary Earth orbit, GEO），该轨道与GEO轨道高度相同或相近，但倾角为180°，安装在retro-GEO卫星上的巡视器可每12h对GEO带空间资产附近碎片环境安全预警。直接西向发射retro-GEO卫星存在地面测控和发射能耗较大的困难。基于平面四体模型，为降低设计变量敏感性，以近月点参数为设计变量，建立了部署retro-GEO巡视器的月球借力飞行轨道设计模型，利用轨道动力学模型延拓策略，得到该类轨道绕月后返回地球飞行时长只能约为114.79h，该结论可用于求解该类轨道高精度轨道动力学模型解。     

天基轻气炮发射清除低轨碎片方案及关键技术分析

文章分析了现有的空间碎片清除方式,并以800~1200 km低地球轨道高度上1~10 cm量级的空间碎片为清除目标,提出了天基轻气炮清除碎片的新方法。首先分析了轻气炮有效载荷在典型参数下的弹丸加速能力;之后根据将碎片降轨使其坠入大气层烧毁的设想,提出天基轻气炮共面清除碎片的方式,并选择轨道高度800 km的圆轨道作为碎片运行轨道进行可行性分析。计算表明,对半径10 cm、厚度1 cm的铝合金圆板碎片(质量211.95 g),使用初速1 km/s、重10 g的黏性弹丸可按任务方案达到清除效果。此外,计算出该参数弹丸对轨道高度800~1200 km的圆轨道上可清除的最大碎片质量为500~825 g,证明轻气炮弹丸对1~10 cm的碎片具有较强的清除能力。最后,分析了以轻气炮为有效载荷的航天器在完成清除碎片任务时的关键技术。     

等质量异形粒子超高速撞击侵蚀

用数值方法模拟双锥，圆柱，椭球、圆锥和倒圆锥五类等质量异形铝粒子五种高宽比共２５种粒子对半无限铝靶的超高速撞击侵蚀，撞击速度为４ｋｍ／ｓ，给出了坑深、坑径、坑形参数和坑体积随粒子形状及高宽比的变化曲线。结果与非圆球异形粒子超高速撞击侵蚀计算有重要参考价值。     

Modelling of Ejecta as a Space Debris Source

When a micro-debris or a micrometeoroid impacts a spacecraft surface, a large number of secondary particles, called ejecta, are produced. These particles can contribute to a modification of the debris environment: either locally by the occurrence of secondary impacts on the components of complex and large space structures, or at great distance by the formation of a population of small orbital debris. This paper describes firstly, the ejecta overall production, and secondly, the lifetime and the orbital evolution of the particles. Finally the repartition of ejecta in LEO is computed. Some results describing the population as a function of size and altitude are presented.     

抗空间碎片碰撞穿透的航天器加强防护板设计

文章描述了以整体薄护罩和等效重量波纹薄护罩制作的双层板结构系统穿孔阻力的研究结果。指出如果以等效重量波纹缓冲器代替整体缓冲器可以显著地增加穿孔防护能力。针对在倾斜超高速碰撞事件中跳飞碎片的产生,波纹薄护罩的波纹参数可以用减少势的方法优化。     

Modelling of Spall in an Anisotropic Aluminium Alloy

Spall caused by hypervelocity impacts at the lower range of velocities could result in significant damage to spacecraft. A number of polycrystalline alloys, used in spacecraft manufacturing, exhibit a pronounced anisotropy in their mechanical properties. The aluminium alloy AA 7010, whose orthotropy is a consequence of the meso-scale phase distribution or grain morphology, has been chosen for this investigation. The material failure observed in plate impact was simulated using a number of spall models. The Hugoniot elastic limit and spall strength have been studied as a function of orientation, and compared to experimental results.     

克服地球轨道空间碎片的航天器防护结构几何规划设计

文章描述了一个用于航天器防护结构综合优化的独特方法——几何规划优化技术,以减小暴露于流星体和空间碎片超高速碰撞环境下的航天器防护结构系统的重量。空间碎片和流星体环境由广义加权目标函数的公式来定义。通过Wilkinson,Burch和Nysmith超高速碰撞预示模型说明几何规划的性能。表明遵循几何规划形式的超高速碰撞模型,可以进行综合非线性设计优化。     

哥伦布航天器对轨道碎片撞击危害的设计考虑

简要介绍了欧洲空间局在执行哥伦布计划期间，在载人压力舱和有人照料的自由飞行器的设计阶段。对微流量和轨道碎片撞击危害的防护研究方面所做的主要工作。