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.     

高背压等离子点火器及其液体燃料点火特性实验研究

航天应用的液体火箭发动机及燃烧型加热器燃烧室室压高、燃料流量大、温度低、有重复启动需求，实现安全可靠点火的难度较大。针对这些需求，研究了一种采用高背压设计的电弧等离子体点火器。实验研究了Ar，N₂气体工质在高进气压力下的伏安特性，发现N₂在宽压力范围内适用于点火。发射光谱分析表明，在高达数MPa的进气压力下，Ar，N₂等离子体射流电子密度符合局部热力学平衡判据（LTE判据），点火能量集中。N₂等离子体整体温度低于Ar，但阳极喷口附近温度高于Ar，N₂等离子体射流火焰长，卷吸沿程空气造成射流平均温度偏低，但有助于低温液体推进剂的蒸发混合和强化点火。等离子体射流引起了臭氧和氮氧化物的形成，具有促进点火和化学反应的作用。背压提高引起电源输出电压升高，提高供气压力和电流，有助于点火器在高背压环境中稳定电压。燃烧型空气加热器燃烧室的点火实验发现，采用N₂等离子体喷注面中心点火，可以在短时间内完成酒精-空气和酒精-液氧-空气的点火，最高燃烧室室压接近5MPa时，点火器仍能稳定工作，多次使用电极烧蚀不明显，在液体火箭发动机的重复可靠点火方面具有很好的应用前景。     

导航卫星中断频次的分析方法

面向导航卫星中断频次的定量分析需求,该文分析导航卫星中断产生的主要原因,给出中断频次分析的流程,并针对分析过程中的三个关键问题,研究提出具体实施方法,包括通过相关性分析快速定位底层中断事件,通过中断树建立指标分析模型,并融合在轨数据、地面试验数据快速预估得到底层功能异常率等。最后通过示例进一步说明中断频次分析过程。该文方法已应用于北斗导航卫星工程。     

Orbit-attitude-vibration coupled dynamics of tethered solar power satellite

A new orbit-attitude-vibration coupled dynamic model of the tethered solar power satellite (Tethered SPS) is established based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation. The Hamilton’s equation of the system is derived by introducing generalized momentum through Legendre transformation. The correctness of the proposed model is verified by an example. The dynamic characteristics of the Tethered SPS are studied using the symplectic Runge-Kutta method. Simulation results show that the orbital radius and the total energy of the system are well preserved. The attitude of the system is unstable when the mass of the bus system is small. However, the attitude stability is dependent on some other parameters of the system, which requires further studies. It is also found that the average tether force/deformation can be roughly estimated by simplifying the solar panel as a particle. The proposed model can be used to study the orbit-attitude-vibration coupled dynamics and control problems.     

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.     

Implementation of tactical maneuvers with maneuver libraries

This study creates and combines the general maneuver libraries for fixed-wing aircraft to implement tactical maneuvers. First, the generalized maneuver libraries are established by analyzing the characteristics of tactical maneuvers required in battlefields. The 7th order polynomial is applied to both the creation of the maneuver libraries and the generation of the trajectories or flight paths for modal inputs. To track the desired trajectory, we design the Attitude Command Attitude Hold (ACAH) system and the Rate Command Rate Hold (RCRH) system using Model Following Controller (MFC). Moreover, the Line-of-Sight (LOS) guidance law is designed. In particular, the CONDUIT® is employed to optimize the gains so that the control systems meet the aircraft Handling Qualities (HQ) criteria. Finally, flight simulations are performed for the longitudinal loop, immelmann-turn, and climb-slalom-descent maneuvers to verify that tactical aggressive maneuvers are realizable via the combination of maneuver libraries. This study can contribute to the development of flight techniques for aircraft tactical maneuvers and to the revision of air force operational manuals.     

弱引力下小行星动量驱动机器人的可控跳跃行为

以小行星表面着陆探测为背景,提出一种动量驱动机器人(MoRo)以满足弱引力复杂环境下的探测需求。该机器人利用弱引力环境下的摩擦和碰撞特性,通过主动辨识环境参数,规划和控制动量轮以产生期望的驱动力矩,完成可控性跳跃及腾空后的稳定拍照等任务。首先,基于MoRo的动量轮刹车机构特性,分析了MoRo在弱引力环境下的跳跃机理并对其跳跃方式进行了规划;接着考虑动量轮驱动机构三闭环伺服系统的非线性特性,基于Herze碰撞模型和Karnopp摩擦模型建立了MoRo在小行星表面的跳跃行为动力学模型;其次,使用机器学习算法建立环境参数和MoRo运动的函数关系,并基于环境参数规划动量轮转速实现跳跃距离和腾空高度的可控。最后,通过数值仿真校验了MoRo跳跃规划方法和控制方法的可行性。     

酚醛树脂基纳米多孔材料的制备及结构调控

酚醛树脂基纳米多孔材料（Phenolic Resin-based Nanoporous Materials，PNM）是满足新一代航天飞行器轻质、高效隔热需求的新型热防护材料，传统制备方法中需使用超临界干燥技术，制备周期长、成本高。本研究通过两步法，即先合成线性酚醛树脂，再进行溶胶-凝胶的方法，实现了常压干燥PNM的制备。系统研究了固化剂含量、固化温度和固化时间对材料结构的影响和调控作用，分析了影响材料收缩率和热稳定性的因素。结果表明，PNM的微观纳米结构的变化会影响材料干燥后的收缩率，制备大颗粒、大孔径的微观结构更有利于降低材料的收缩率。而PNM的热稳定性主要受交联反应过程形成的化学结构的影响，通过优化固化剂的含量可提高PNM的热稳定性。当固化剂含量为10%，固化温度提高至150℃，固化时间延长至48 h的条件下，获得的PNM有最高的热稳定性（900℃下的残碳率为54.2%）、最发达的孔结构（比表面积为264.0 m²/g、孔容为2.67 cm³/g、平均孔径为40.0 nm）和最小的收缩率（0%）。此PNM制备方法简单、性能优异，在未来航天飞行器上有广阔的应用前景。     

偏心撞击对撞击式喷嘴雾化特性的影响

为研究偏心撞击对撞击式喷嘴雾化特性的影响,建立了求解自燃推进剂冷态射流撞击雾化过程的数值模拟方案,计算了不同偏心度条件下的射流撞击雾化过程。采用树形自适应加密算法直接求解不可压Navier-Stokes方程组,由分段线性的流体体积(VOF)方法对流体界面进行捕捉。结果表明偏心撞击会导致雾场发生偏转,当无量纲偏心度E为1/8时,雾场偏转角度约为9.2°,应控制加工偏差小于该值。随着偏心度的增大,液膜的偏转角度增大,理论推导得到的液膜偏转角度要小于数值计算得到的液膜偏转角度。正心撞击时燃料与氧化剂流强峰值接近,雾场的流强分布呈单峰分布。当发生偏心撞击时,由于燃料与氧化剂部分射流未参与撞击导致流强峰值出现交错,雾场的流强分布呈双峰分布,混合比的空间分布发生较大改变。正心撞击时撞击点下游液滴的速度分布近似呈轴对称分布,而偏心撞击之后的速度分布则呈中心对称分布。偏心撞击导致的射流动量损失使得雾化性能变差,当无量纲偏心度E为1/8时,一甲基肼(MMH)的Sauter平均直径增大约4.8%,四氧化二氮(NTO)的Sauter平均直径增大约5.8%。      

利用微波探测仪(ATMS)对在轨微波辐射计观测精度的模拟分析

微波辐射计的观测精度及其对数值模式同化应用的影响评估是微波辐射计观测指标设计的重要参考。基于微波探测仪(ATMS)资料,利用三维变分同化系统模拟分析在轨微波辐射计的观测精度指标。针对ATMS观测误差特征,在其观测基础上增加均值为零、标准偏差分别为0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0K的正态随机扰动,进而获得不同精度的观测模拟值序列,然后利用Harris和Kelley的辐射资料偏差订正经验方法订正不同精度的观测资料。偏差订正后,利用三维变分同化模式(WRFDA)直接同化ATMS资料。通过2016年6月6h预报场的同化试验,评估了不同观测精度的模拟资料对数值模式的同化影响。