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     

飞机空中加油任务剖面优化设计

介绍了某型飞机执行作战任务途中何时进行空中加油，并按照最大航程截击对飞机各个飞行任务段的飞行性能进行了计算，得出了最佳巡航速度，确定了最优的加油时机和加油量。计算过程中采用了遗传算法，考虑了爬升过程和巡航过程中飞机变质量的难点问题，提高了计算结果的可信度。     

任务期间考虑故障件报废无补给下的多级装备可用度评估

针对任务期间普遍存在的故障件报废问题,提出了一种适用于多等级多层级航空装备的可用度近似评估方法。首先通过忽略维修和运输时间将存在报废率的可修件等效为消耗件,然后分别通过后方保障中心对飞行基地备件量的分配以及下层级部件对上层级部件备件量的折算,将多等级多层级备件模型转化为单等级单层级模型,最后利用伽马分布的可加性得到整个保障系统的装备可用度。在实际算例中,通过与仿真结果的对比得出:当维修和运输时间较小或飞行基地备件配置充足时,本文提出的近似评估方法具有较高的精度。     

基于地外天体起飞的真空羽流导流技术仿真与试验研究

针对着航天器发动机羽流导流问题,基于工程经验提出了四种典型导流装置型面(包含内凹槽形式和导流锥形式等),利用计算流体动力学/直接模拟蒙特卡罗(CFD/DSMC)耦合方法,对起飞过程中羽流导流带来的气动力和气动热效应进行了数值模拟,并对不同导流装置情况下羽流场激波、航天器表面压强和热流密度分布规律进行了分析,给出了四种导流装置的导流效果评价。最后以导流锥形式开展试验,对仿真算法进行了验证。结果表明：羽流导流并没有导致发动机燃烧不稳定;综合考虑航天器羽流和发动机安全性,大导流锥导流的方案最优;在导流锥附近的激波位置及形态和仿真一致,仿真与试验的变化趋势一致,仿真算法可信,数据规律可以作为工程参考。     

面向军用飞机任务能力的健康评估方法

军用飞机健康评估在工程实际中存在应用困难的问题。以军用飞机为研究对象,开展包括面向任务 的能力分析、基于故障劣化的功能分析以及参数化的健康评估等研究,得到基于任务分析的“飞机-任务功 能-影响参数暠两级映射作为健康评估的对象;综合利用劣化度、严酷度及极大熵改进区间层次分析法等多种 方法,得到飞机健康状态评估结果。结合具体实例及参数分析结果,表明该评估方法可信度高,具有较高的工 程实用价值。     

运输机空投货物建模与任务性能影响因素研究

针对当前运输机空投货物模型可拓展性不强的问题,提出了分离体的建模方法。在无需分析货物与飞机整体质心变化的情况下,分别以货物和飞机为对象进行受力分析,推导了货物与飞机之间的相互作用力,建立了更加贴近实际的运输机单件货物空投和连续空投的动力学模型。最后,通过数值仿真,分析了飞行速度和牵引伞牵引比对空投任务性能的影响。结果表明,飞行速度和牵引比越大,飞机在货物干扰作用下的状态变化量越小。     

Issues of geologically-focused situational awareness in robotic planetary missions: Lessons from an analogue mission at Mistastin Lake impact structure,Labrador, Canada

Remote robotic data provides different information than that obtained from immersion in the field. This significantly affects the geological situational awareness experienced by members of a mission control science team. In order to optimize science return from planetary robotic missions, these limitations must be understood and their effects mitigated to fully leverage the field experience of scientists at mission control.