Time-optimal trajectories to circumsolar space using solar electric propulsion

The aim of this paper is to explore the capabilities of a solar electric propelled spacecraft on a mission towards circumsolar space. Using an indirect approach, the paper investigates minimum time of transfer (direct) trajectories from an initial heliocentric parking orbit to a desired final heliocentric target orbit, with a low perihelion radius and a high orbital inclination. The simulation results are then collected into graphs and tables for a trade-off analysis of the main mission parameters. Finally, a comparison of the performance between a solar electric and a (photonic) solar sail based spacecraft is discussed.     

基于图像的经纬仪测量目标快速瞄准技术

电子经纬仪是一种高精度的测角仪器,由多台高精度电子经纬仪构成的测量系统可以实现三维坐标测量,用于对大型工业产品的几何检测。但经纬仪在测量过程中仍然需要人工瞄准目标,存在速度慢、效率低、人为因素影响大等不足。实现经纬仪自动照准目标功能将是一个新的发展方向。提出一种基于图像的自动瞄准技术,通过在经纬仪上安装一台相机获取待测目标点的图像,利用图形目标识别技术获取目标点图像坐标,依据相机与经纬仪的空间关系可以获得各目标点相对于经纬仪的初始角度,从而实现目标点的快速概略定位,理论推导及实验证明本方法能够准确有效的获得目标点的概略位置。     

基于地磁坐标和Kriging技术的高纬地区f0F2重构方法

为能够在高纬区域获取高精度电离层参数特性结果,提出了基于地磁坐标的高纬度区域电离层F₂层临界频率（f₀F₂）的重构方法.该方法确定了基于地磁坐标的变异函数,通过求解改进Kriging方程得出估计值.方法的确定取决于对2种坐标系、2类电离层距离计算方法以及尺度因子的选取.通过对俄罗斯6个垂直探测站在太阳活动高年（2013年）和低年（2017年）的f₀F₂历史观测数据使用月中值进行交叉验证,证明了引入地磁坐标和利用球面距离计算方法对高纬度地区进行重构能够达到最优效果.相比现有方法,其整体标准误差和绝对误差均有所降低.上述研究证实了该方法的有效性,对电子信息系统的可用频率预测以及通信效能保障具有重要意义.      

I型彗尾风差角的分析及其所显示的太阳风的传播特性

文章分析了I型彗尾风差角的大量资料, 得出其变化和日心距离的关系是不大的;但对日心黄纬, 却显示出逐渐减小的趋向.文章还得出, 风差角的变化随着彗星的切向速度而单调上升, 从而进一步证实了动力风差原理是形成风差角的主要因素.在此基础上, 分析了太阳风速度场的分布特性, 得出了平均太阳风速度随日心距离的变化是不明显的, 而随日心黄纬有着缓慢增强的趋势.      

Effects of optical parameter measurement uncertainties and solar irradiance fluctuations on solar sailing

The heliocentric orbital dynamics of a spacecraft propelled by a solar sail is affected by some uncertainty sources, including possible inaccuracies in the measurement of the sail film optical properties. Moreover, the solar radiation pressure, which is responsible for the solar sail propulsive acceleration generation, is not time-constant and is subject to fluctuations that are basically unpredictable and superimposed to the well-known 11-year solar activity cycle. In this context, this work aims at investigating the effects of such uncertainties on the actual heliocentric trajectory of a solar sail by means of stochastic simulations performed with a generalized polynomial chaos procedure. The numerical results give an estimation of their impact on the actual heliocentric trajectory and identify whether some of the uncertainty sources are more relevant than others. This is a fundamental information for directing more accurate theoretical and experimental efforts toward the most important parameters, in order to obtain an accurate knowledge of the solar sail thrust vector characteristics and, eventually, of the spacecraft heliocentric position.     

Application of time-variable process noise in terrestrial reference frames determined from VLBI data

In recent years, Kalman filtering has emerged as a suitable technique to determine terrestrial reference frames (TRFs), a prime example being JTRF2014. The time series approach allows variations of station coordinates that are neither reduced by observational corrections nor considered in the functional model to be taken into account. These variations are primarily due to non-tidal geophysical loading effects that are not reduced according to the current IERS Conventions (2010). It is standard practice that the process noise models applied in Kalman filter TRF solutions are derived from time series of loading displacements and account for station dependent differences. So far, it has been assumed that the parameters of these process noise models are constant over time. However, due to the presence of seasonal and irregular variations, this assumption does not truly reflect reality. In this study, we derive a station coordinate process noise model allowing for such temporal variations. This process noise model and one that is a parameterized version of the former are applied in the computation of TRF solutions based on very long baseline interferometry data. In comparison with a solution based on a constant process noise model, we find that the station coordinates are affected at the millimeter level.     

太阳系天体引力对空间引力波探测日心编队构型的影响分析

针对太极空间引力波探测任务,建立了太阳系天体引力摄动对日心编队构型影响的数学模型,利用仿真手段分析了太阳系中行星和月球、矮行星和小行星引力摄动对空间引力波探测日心编队构型的影响,提出了一种综合考虑小行星到卫星轨道距离和星等的二重筛选方法,能够快速估计小行星相对加速度的上界.分析了日心编队构型卫星初始相位角变化对太阳系天...     

基于CCD和超声的物体位姿检测方法及精度分析

介绍了用单个CCD摄像机和超声传感器相结合检测物体位姿的方法.首先由CCD摄像机采集一幅图像,获取物体上目标点在图像坐标系中的理想坐标,并由此确定该点投影矢量(连接物体点和对应图像点的直线)的方向;然后控制机器人运动,使超声传感器的z轴与求得的投影矢量重合;最后用超声传感器测出投影矢量的长度,确定目标点在摄像机坐标系中的坐标.分析了影响检测精度的主要因素,具体研究了超声传感器的安装参数对检测精度的影响规律,进行了仿真分析.该方法可以有效地降低图像处理所带来的巨大数据量,避开双目视觉中的图像匹配问题,快捷、精确检测物体的位姿.     

Cosmic dust measurements in lunar orbit

On 15th February 1992, ISAS space engineering satellite HITEN was successfully inserted into an elliptical orbit around the moon with perilune between some 100 km and 8000 km and apolune of about 50.000 km. On board was a small scientific experiment designed to detect cosmic dust particles, MDC - Munich Dust Counter. During a period of more than one year, until Hiten's hard landing on the moon surface at 10th of April 1993 (UTC), measurements of impact velocity, mass and crude flight direction of micrometeoroid particles have been performed. In total 150 cosmic dust impacts were detected and evaluated. From these measurements, the impact rate versus time and the dust flux versus distance from the moon are derived. The evidence of moon ejecta and some indications of particles which are orbiting the moon will be discussed. The spatial distribution of the measured particles is shown in lunarcentric as well as in heliocentric coordinate systems. The directional distribution is also given, showing the different populations of cosmic dust particles. Finally, the gathered data will be compared with previous results from measurements in the vicinity of the Earth and in the geomagnetic tail region.     

嫦娥一号卫星CCD立体相机月表图像镶嵌

鉴于嫦娥一号CCD相机获取图像的特殊性, 选用投影的方法, 完成了Apollo12, Apollo14和Apollo15登月点区域的月表正视图像镶嵌. 在分析圆柱投影表象的基础上, 推导出了月球割35o Mercator投影公式. 首先读取单轨数据的经纬度和灰度, 进而根据四个角点的经纬度建立空图框, 并根据分辨率、长度比与月球投影理论分别在纵向和横向上进行网格划分, 实现图框的像元化. 通过单轨图像和图框的坐标匹配完成灰度镶嵌, 匹配误差控制在一个像元以内. 对重叠区域的灰度值进行平滑处理, 最终图像还原来完成月表图像的镶嵌. 该方法有普遍适用性, 可以用于其他轨道图像的镶嵌.      

Synoptic observations of coronal transients and their interplanetary consequences

A small coronagraph has been placed in orbit to monitor the sun's outer corona from 2.5 to 10.0 solar radii, and five years of nearly continuous synoptic observations have now been completed. Rapid and sensitive image processing techniques have been developed to screen the data for transient phenomena, particularly coronal mass ejections (CMEs). About 50,000 coronal images have been examined, out of a five-year total of 68,000, and a standardized listing of more than 1,200 coronal transients for the period 1979–1982 has been prepared. These data have been analysed in the light of other available information, particularly on conditions in the interplanetary plasma. The dynamical characteristics of the active corona, as they are beginning to emerge from the data, are presented. We find that coronal mass ejections exercise significant influence on the interplanetary solar wind. They are the source of disturbances that are frequent and energetic, that tend to be somewhat focussed, that often reach shock intensity, and that propagate to large heliocentric distances, sometimes causing major geomagnetic storms.     

X射线脉冲星导航在行星际轨道上的应用

X射线脉冲星导航技术被认为是新一代导航技术,非常适合于行星际探测.深入分析了利用搜索空间方法求解飞行器真实位置和估计位置相位差的脉冲整周期模糊数,解决了相位导航方法存在的周期模糊数问题.利用轨道动力学模型估计飞行器的位置,并以真实位置和估计位置上的脉冲相位之差作为反馈进行偏差校正.仿真表明,X射线脉冲星导航方法在行星际轨道上是可行和高效的.     

基于面阵靶标的摄像机定向技术研究

提出一种相机定向方法。在透视投影和坐标变换的基础上,应用靶标与其像点的单应性,建立靶标坐标系与摄像机坐标系之间的转换关系,从而确定摄像机在靶标坐标系中的姿态、位置,通过在三坐标测量机上的实验表明该定向技术的正确性,该技术在相机定向领域有一定的实用价值。     

SEP events and multi-spacecraft observations: Constraints on theory

Fifteen solar energetic particle (SEP) events have been analyzed using proton flux data recorded by the Helios 1, Helios 2, and IMP 8 spacecraft in the energy range ∼4–40 MeV during 1974–1982. For each of the events at least two of the spacecraft have their nominal magnetic footpoint within 20° in heliocentric longitude from each other. The SEP events are sub-grouped as a function of their heliocentric longitudinal separation and heliocentric radial distance from the SEP associated solar flare and several case studies are presented in this paper. Main results concerning their usage in estimating the SEP radial dependence are given. Moreover, we investigate the behavior of the third not connected spacecraft in order to study the dependence of the proton flux as a function of flare location. It is found that the contribution of the longitudinal gradient in determining variations in the SEP proton flux is particularly relevant for spacecraft having their magnetic connection footpoint separated from the flare between 30° and 50°.     

Three Dimensional Simulation of the Steady Solar Wind in Carrington Rotation 1935

A three-dimensional MHD simulation is conducted to study the steady solar wind in Carrington Rotation (CR) 1935 by using the three-dimensional numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model introduced by Feng et al. The numerical results demonstrate that the neutral current sheet has two peaks and two valleys, which is consistent with the result of PFSS model at Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO). The obtained proton number density at 2.5 Rs is of the same order of magnitude as the result estimated from K-coronal brightness during the CRs 1733-1742 in 1983made by Wei et al. The radial velocity profile along heliocentric distance is consistent with that of low solar wind speed deduced by Sheeley and Wang et al. However, it is not able to reproduce the fast-speed flow in coronal holes and slow solar wind in streamers because of oversimplified energy equation adopted in our model. Future efforts must be made to remedy this deficiency.      

Height of shock formation in the solar corona inferred from observations of type II radio bursts and coronal mass ejections

Employing coronagraphic and EUV observations close to the solar surface made by the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) mission, we determined the heliocentric distance of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) at the starting time of associated metric type II bursts. We used the wave diameter and leading edge methods and measured the CME heights for a set of 32 metric type II bursts from solar cycle 24. We minimized the projection effects by making the measurements from a view that is roughly orthogonal to the direction of the ejection. We also chose image frames close to the onset times of the type II bursts, so no extrapolation was necessary. We found that the CMEs were located in the heliocentric distance range from 1.20 to 1.93 solar radii (Rs), with mean and median values of 1.43 and 1.38 Rs, respectively. We conclusively find that the shock formation can occur at heights substantially below 1.5 Rs. In a few cases, the CME height at type II onset was close to 2 Rs. In these cases, the starting frequency of the type II bursts was very low, in the range 25–40 MHz, which confirms that the shock can also form at larger heights. The starting frequencies of metric type II bursts have a weak correlation with the measured CME/shock heights and are consistent with the rapid decline of density with height in the inner corona.     

小行星远距离抵近轨道

讨论了小行星引力一阶项可被忽略情况下的小行星远距离轨道设计及动力学。此时,航天器的运动受太阳引力和太阳光压的影响。航天器和小行星的加速度之差在这两者之间形成的独特的相对动力学,为航天器在小行星附近停驻与观测提供特定轨道。完整解决了小行星处于圆形日心轨道这一较简单情况,也考虑和阐述了椭圆轨道情况,并取得了一些初步结果。     

Radio sounding of the solar wind acceleration region with spacecraft signals

Data from coronal radio-sounding experiments carried out on various interplanetary spacecraft are used to derive the empirical radial dependence of solar wind velocity and density at heliocentric distances from 3 to 60 solar radii for heliolatitudes below 60° and for low solar activity. The radial dependencies of solar wind power and acceleration are derived from these results. Summaries of the radial behavior of characteristic parameters of the solar wind turbulence (e.g., the spectral index and the inner and outer turbulence scales), as well as the fractional density fluctuation, are also presented. These radio-sounding results provide a benchmark for models of the solar wind in its acceleration region.     

Corotating events in the energy range 4–13 MeV as observed on board Helios 1 and 2 in 1975 and 1976

Intensity increases of 4 – 13 MeV protons correlated with recurrent high speed solar wind streams were observed on board Helios 1 and 2 at heliocentric distances between 0.3 and 1.0 AU. Study of events which occurred in the time period 1975 – 1976 showed that recurrent fast solar wind streams were sometimes not accompanied by corotating events and small events were more frequently observed than large corotating events, which occurred only occasionally. The explanation for these phenomena seems to be the variation of the number of suprathermal particles injected into the acceleration process. Radial gradients of corotating events from February till April 1976 were investigated. The gradient changed its sign in successive solar rotations and exhibited strong time dependence inside 1 AU. Clearly negative gradients were measured in corotating events which occurred in February and April 1976. These observations showed that probably there were no stationary corotating structures in interplanetary space. We suggest that this effect is related to local disturbances of solar origin, e. g. flare initiated shocks.     

Galactic cosmic ray gradients in the ecliptic plane and at high latitudes during two solar cycles (meteorite data)

Results of investigations of cosmogenic isotope radioactivity in chondrites fallen to earth during two solar cycles are presented. The data obtained on radial and latitudinal gradients cover the period 1955–1976, heliocentric distances from 1.03 AU to 3.33 AU, and heliographic latitudes from 23°S to 16°N. The dependence of radial and latitudinal gradients on the phase of solar activity is established, as well as a north-south asymmetry during a certain period after the inversion of the general solar magnetic field in 1969.