MERLIN: Mars-Moon Exploration,Reconnaissance and Landed Investigation

Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos are low-albedo, D-type bodies that may preserve samples of outer solar system material that contributed organics and volatiles to the accreting terrestrial planets. A Discovery-class mission concept described in this paper, the Mars-Moon Exploration, Reconnaissance and Landed Investigation (MERLIN), will obtain in situ measurements from Deimos to test models for the moon's origin. The measurement objectives of MERLIN are to determine Deimos' elemental and mineralogical composition, to investigate its volatile and organic content, and to characterize processes that have modified its surface. To achieve these objectives, a landed payload will provide stereo imaging and measurements of elemental and mineralogical composition and interior structure. An orbital payload will acquire global high-resolution and color imaging, putting the landing site in context by characterizing Deimos' geology. Following MOI the spacecraft flies in formation with Deimos, and uses small changes in its orbit around Mars to investigate Deimos from a range of altitudes and illuminations over 4 months. Data taken during 1- to 2-km altitude flyovers will certify a landing site. The spacecraft will be delivered to a point several kilometers above Deimos, and will navigate to landing on a fresh exposure of regolith using onboard imaging. 90 days of baseline landed operations will provide a complete set of measurements, with schedule reserve, and there is sufficient propellant to repeat the measurements at a second site.     

Calculation of quasisynchronous orbits of a spacecraft around Phobos for solving the problem of landing on its surface

The problem of selecting quasi-synchronous orbits of a spacecraft around Phobos is considered. These quasi-synchronous orbits are far (with respect to the Hill’s sphere) quasi-satellite orbits with retrograde rotation in the restricted three body problem. The orbit should pass through a given point at a specified time instant. It should also possess a property of minimum distance from the Phobos surface at every passage above the region of planned landing. The equations of dynamics are represented in the form describing the orbit as a combination of motions in two drifting ellipses, inner and outer ellipses. The center of the outer ellipse is located on the inner ellipse. A formula is derived that relates averaged values of half-axes of the inner and outer ellipses. It is used for construction of the first approximation of numerically designed orbit, which makes it possible to simplify and speed up the computing process. The tables of initial conditions obtained as a result of calculations are presented.     

Experimental investigation of the modes of operation of uncontrolled attitude motion of the Progress spacecraft

Results of in-flight tests of three modes of uncontrolled attitude motion of the Progress spacecraft are described. These proposed modes of experiments related to microgravity are as follows: (1) triaxial gravitational orientation, (2) gravitational orientation of the rotating satellite, and (3) spin-up in the plane of the orbit around the axis of the maximum moment of inertia. The tests were carried out from May 24 to June 1, 2004 onboard the spacecraft Progress M1-11. The actual motion of this spacecraft with respect to its center of mass, in the above-mentioned modes, was determined by telemetric information about an electric current tapped off from solar batteries. The values of the current obtained during a time interval of several hours were processed jointly using the least squares method by integration of the equations of the spacecraft’s attitude motion. The processing resulted in estimation of the initial conditions of motion and of the parameters of mathematical models used. For the obtained motions the quasi-static component of microaccelerations was computed at a point onboard, where installation of experimental equipment is possible.     

Trajectory correction of the Spektr-R spacecraft motion

The results of refining the parameters of the Spektr-R spacecraft (RadioAstron project) motion after it was launched into the orbit of the Earth’s artificial satellite in July 2011 showed that, at the beginning of 2013, the condition of staying in the Earth’s shadow was violated. The duration of shading of the spacecraft exceeds the acceptable value (about 2 h). At the end of 2013 to the beginning of 2014, the ballistic lifetime of the spacecraft completed. Therefore, the question arose of how to correct the trajectory of the motion of the Spektr-R satellite using its onboard propulsion system. In this paper, the ballistic parameters that define the operation of onboard propulsion system when implementing the correction, and the ballistic characteristics of the orbital spacecraft motion before and after correction are presented.     

In situ measurements to determine if Phobos is layered

The complex system of linear features on Phobos—the inner moon of Mars—found by the Viking Orbiters in 1976, can be classified morphologically into three types according to their appearance as well as their geometrical distribution on the surface. One kind of grooves appears to form arcs of small circles normal to the Phobos-Mars direction. We propose that these grooves are the surface manifestation of layering within Phobos[4–6] which could have been formed when Phobos was a part of a much larger and geologically active parent planet.Here we suggest some measurements to observe whether Phobos has a layered structure or not. The suggestion contains remote sensing measurements (particularly determination of the magnetic field by magnetometer and by electron reflection method) by a spacecraft orbiting around Mars as well as surface measurements (active seismic reflection experiment) by a landing module on Phobos.     

Trajectories for missions of low-thrust spacecraft aimed at delivery of soil samples from main belt asteroids and Phobos

Trajectories of spacecraft with electro-jet low-thrust engines are studied for missions planning to deliver samples of matter from small bodies of the Solar System: asteroids Vesta and Fortuna, and Martian moon Phobos. Flight trajectories are analyzed for the mission to Phobos, the limits of optimization of payload spacecraft mass delivered to it are determined, and an estimate is given to losses in the payload mass when a low-thrust engine with constant outflow velocity is used. The model of an engine with ideally regulated low thrust is demonstrated to be convenient for calculations and analysis of flight trajectories of a low-thrust spacecraft.     

Estimation of dynamic characteristics of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">International Space Station</Emphasis> from measurements of microaccelerations

We describe the results of determining the mass of the International Space Station using the data of MAMS accelerometer taken during correction of the station orbit on August 20, 2004. The correction was made by approach and attitude control engines (ACE) of the Progress transporting spacecraft. The engines were preliminary calibrated in an autonomous flight using the onboard device for measuring apparent velocity increment. The method of calibration is described and its results are presented. The error in station mass determination is about 1%. The same data of MAMS and similar data obtained during the orbit correction on August 26, 2004 were used for the analysis of high-frequency vibrations of the station mainframe caused by operation of the ACE of Progress. Natural frequencies of the ACE are determined. They lie in the frequency band 0.024–0.11 Hz. ACE operation is demonstrated to result in a substantial increase of microaccelerations onboard the station in the frequency range 0–1 Hz. The frequencies are indicated at which disturbances increase by more than an order of magnitude. The study described was carried out as a part of the Tensor technological experiment.     

Reconstruction of spacecraft rotational motion using a Kalman filter

Quasi-static microaccelerations of four satellites of the Foton series (nos. 11, 12, M-2, M-3) were monitored as follows. First, according to measurements of onboard sensors obtained in a certain time interval, spacecraft rotational motion was reconstructed in this interval. Then, along the found motion, microacceleration at a given onboard point was calculated according to the known formula as a function of time. The motion was reconstructed by the least squares method using the solutions to the equations of satellite rotational motion. The time intervals in which these equations make reconstruction possible were from one to five orbital revolutions. This length is increased with the modulus of the satellite angular velocity. To get an idea on microaccelerations and satellite motion during an entire flight, the motion was reconstructed in several tens of such intervals. This paper proposes a method for motion reconstruction suitable for an interval of arbitrary length. The method is based on the Kalman filter. We preliminary describe a new version of the method for reconstructing uncontrolled satellite rotational motion from magnetic measurements using the least squares method, which is essentially used to construct the Kalman filter. The results of comparison of both methods are presented using the data obtained on a flight of the Foton M-3.     

A Study of the Destruction of Spacecraft Surfaces at Contact Interactions with Microparticles of the Space Environment

The results of studying the high-velocity impact interactions of a particle flux of space’s meteoric background with satellites have been presented. The effects that arises during the microparticle motion in the material have been described; the models of solid particle interactions with spacecraft’s onboard hardware protection have been presented. The experimental and analytical dependences have been given. The basic factors have been revealed, and their effect on the erosion wear of satellite’s surface has been estimated. The dependences for calculating the rectilinear (horizontal, inclined and vertical) sections of satellite’s surface have been given. The presented dependences represent the results of experimental and analytical studies.     

Uncontrolled rotational motion of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aist</Emphasis> small spacecraft prototype

The results of reconstructing the uncontrolled rotational motion of the Aist small spacecraft prototype during its flight in early 2014 have been presented. The reconstruction was carried out by processing data from onboard measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field. The processing procedure used portions of data covering intervals of time with durations ranging from a few dozen minutes to three hours. Data obtained in each such interval were processed jointly by the least-squares method by integrating the equations of the satellite motion relative to the center of mass. The initial conditions of the motion and the parameters of the used mathematical model during processing have been estimated. The results of processing for several data intervals have provided a fairly complete picture of the satellite motion. This was the weakly disturbed Euler–Poinsot motion.     

Modes of uncontrolled rotational motion of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Progress M-29M</Emphasis> spacecraft

We have reconstructed the uncontrolled rotational motion of the Progress M-29M transport cargo spacecraft in the single-axis solar orientation mode (the so-called sunward spin) and in the mode of the gravitational orientation of a rotating satellite. The modes were implemented on April 3–7, 2016 as a part of preparation for experiments with the DAKON convection sensor onboard the Progress spacecraft. The reconstruction was performed by integral statistical techniques using the measurements of the spacecraft’s angular velocity and electric current from its solar arrays. The measurement data obtained in a certain time interval have been jointly processed using the least-squares method by integrating the equations of the spacecraft’s motion relative to the center of mass. As a result of processing, the initial conditions of motion and parameters of the mathematical model have been estimated. The motion in the sunward spin mode is the rotation of the spacecraft with an angular velocity of 2.2 deg/s about the normal to the plane of solar arrays; the normal is oriented toward the Sun or forms a small angle with this direction. The duration of the mode is several orbit passes. The reconstruction has been performed over time intervals of up to 1 h. As a result, the actual rotational motion of the spacecraft relative to the Earth–Sun direction was obtained. In the gravitational orientation mode, the spacecraft was rotated about its longitudinal axis with an angular velocity of 0.1–0.2 deg/s; the longitudinal axis executed small oscillated relative to the local vertical. The reconstruction of motion relative to the orbital coordinate system was performed in time intervals of up to 7 h using only the angularvelocity measurements. The measurements of the electric current from solar arrays were used for verification.     

Designing corrections for the trajectory of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spektr-R</Emphasis> spacecraft in the event of immersions into the Moon’s sphere of influence

The results of updating the parameters of motion of the Spektr-R spacecraft at the end of 2016 have shown that, in January 2018, with a probability close to unity, the condition that a spacecraft stay in the Earth’s shadow is violated; however, in May of the same year, the ballistic life of the spacecraft will be terminated. Thus, in 2017, the question arose of how to design the correction of flight of this spacecraft using its onboard propulsion system. The correction was designed with allowance for the fact that, for the first time since it was launched, the spacecraft in the course of several years, beginning with 2017, repeatedly approaches the Moon, deeply immersing into its sphere of influence. This paper presents the technologically and organizationally convenient, allowable versions of upcoming correction of the Spektr-R spacecraft trajectory and justifies the particular scheme of its implementation.     

Optimization of planning the experiments to be carried out onboard orbital stations

The technique and algorithms for optimization of planning the program of experiments carried out onboard an orbiting spacecraft are described taking into account the execution of service operations. A general approach to optimization of planning the experiments is used, developed for investigations onboard the Salyut and Mir space stations, and on the International Space Station (ISS). The approach is based on formalization of the problem in the form of an integer linear programming problem. In this approach, the spacecraft orbit is considered to be known, and the optimization of the planning of experiments is reduced to composing the optimum sequence of zones for the performance of experiments. The list of experiments, service operations, and tasks to be solved during the planning interval are assumed to be specified.     

A Proposal for Constructing a Group of Space Objects for Solving Transport and Energy Problems

We propose to develop a scheme for a group of space objects which includes a set of orbital tethers and exchange masses. These objects are injected into circumterrestrial orbits. A variety of problems can be solved with the help of this space system, namely, transport problems and problems of converting the electric power generated onboard spacecraft into mechanical energy of motion of the space objects. In the future, natural celestial bodies (in particular, the Moon) can be considered as elements of the system. This opens up the possibility of using the energy of motion of the Moon both for solving transport problems and for generating electric power onboard spacecraft.     

System of maintaining the thermal regime of a space radio telescope

We present the results of developing a system of thermal regime maintenance for the onboard complex of scientific instruments of the space radio telescope installed on the Spektr-R spacecraft. The structure of the system of thermal regime maintenance is presented that includes a set of autonomous systems of constructive elements of the radio telescope. Basic schemes and composition of aggregates are presented, and main principles of operation of the autonomous systems supporting the thermal regime of the radio telescope are considered.     

A technique for estimating the probability of radiation-stimulated failures of integrated microcircuits in low-intensity radiation fields: Application to the Spektr-R spacecraft

In developing radio-electronic devices (RED) of spacecraft operating in the fields of ionizing radiation in space, one of the most important problems is the correct estimation of their radiation tolerance. The “weakest link” in the element base of onboard microelectronic devices under radiation effect is the integrated microcircuits (IMC), especially of large scale (LSI) and very large scale (VLSI) degree of integration. The main characteristic of IMC, which is taken into account when making decisions on using some particular type of IMC in the onboard RED, is the probability of non-failure operation (NFO) at the end of the spacecraft’s lifetime. It should be noted that, until now, the NFO has been calculated only from the reliability characteristics, disregarding the radiation effect. This paper presents the so-called “reliability” approach to determination of radiation tolerance of IMC, which allows one to estimate the probability of non-failure operation of various types of IMC with due account of radiation-stimulated dose failures. The described technique is applied to RED onboard the Spektr-R spacecraft to be launched in 2007.     

嫦娥四号动力下降段图像可视化传输方案

针对嫦娥四号降落相机在动力下降段的图像可视化传输需求和深空通信下行数传信道带宽受限的矛盾,文章提出了一种动力下降段速率自适应的可视化图像传输方案,对如何保证降落相机图像下传的实时性、完整性、速率自适应性等关键问题进行了讨论,并对方案中涉及的抽帧回放算法、帧格式识别方法、合路调度算法等关键技术进行了详细说明。同时,文中给出了该方案在嫦娥四号在轨的验证情况,结果表明,在数传通信速率受限的情况下该方案实现了降落相机图像的存储管理和可视化下传,具有实时性高、速率自适应、图像下传完整等特点,可以为其他航天器数据管理系统设计提供参考。     

Quasi-synchronous orbits and their employment for the approach of a spacecraft to Phobos

The problem of construction of quasi-synchronous orbits which pass through a prescribed point over the surface of Phobos at a prescribed instant of time is considered. The orbits should pass as close as possible to the surface of Phobos at each passage above the planned region of landing.     

近地卫星星历的高精度星载算法研究

随着星载计算机系统结构和性能的改善,利用星载计算机实现高精度的星历计算成为可能。本文针对近地轨道卫星提出了一种适合星上轨道预报的数值算法。通过采用简化的动力学模型和一种嵌套插值算法的积分器,有效提高了计算效率,降低了对星载计算系统的性能要求,从而实现高精度的卫星星历星载计算。该算法在星载计算机系统平台上进行仿真验证的结果表明,对于某飞行器可实现轨道预报1天优于1km的星历计算。     

Study of microaccelerations onboard the <Emphasis Type="Italic">International Space Station</Emphasis> with the DAKON-M convection sensor

The results of experiments with the DAKON-M convection sensor onboard the Russian orbital segment of the International Space Station are described. A comparison of the sensor measurements with the results of calculation of the quasistatic microacceleration component at the point of installation is made. For this comparison we have used three measurement intervals of the experiments in 2009, during which spacecraft were docked with the station, undocked from it, and actuation of jet engines of the attitude control system took place. When calculating microacceleration, we use the measurement data of the low-frequency MAMS accelerometer, installed on the American segment, and the telemetry data on the ISS rotational motion. This information allowed one to convert the MAMS measurements to the point of installation of the DAKON-M convection sensor. A comparison of sensor measurements with calculated microaccelerations showed sufficiently accurate coincidence between the calculated and measured data.