Coronal mass ejection (CME) activity of low mass M stars as an important factor for the habitability of terrestrial exoplanets. I. CME impact on expected magnetospheres of Earth-like exoplanets in close-in habitable zones

Low mass M- and K-type stars are much more numerous in the solar neighborhood than solar-like G-type stars. Therefore, some of them may appear as interesting candidates for the target star lists of terrestrial exoplanet (i.e., planets with mass, radius, and internal parameters identical to Earth) search programs like Darwin (ESA) or the Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph/Inferometer (NASA). The higher level of stellar activity of low mass M stars, as compared to solar-like G stars, as well as the closer orbital distances of their habitable zones (HZs), means that terrestrial-type exoplanets within HZs of these stars are more influenced by stellar activity than one would expect for a planet in an HZ of a solar-like star. Here we examine the influences of stellar coronal mass ejection (CME) activity on planetary environments and the role CMEs may play in the definition of habitability criterion for the terrestrial type exoplanets near M stars. We pay attention to the fact that exoplanets within HZs that are in close proximity to low mass M stars may become tidally locked, which, in turn, can result in relatively weak intrinsic planetary magnetic moments. Taking into account existing observational data and models that involve the Sun and related hypothetical parameters of extrasolar CMEs (density, velocity, size, and occurrence rate), we show that Earth-like exoplanets within close-in HZs should experience a continuous CME exposure over long periods of time. This fact, together with small magnetic moments of tidally locked exoplanets, may result in little or no magnetospheric protection of planetary atmospheres from a dense flow of CME plasma. Magnetospheric standoff distances of weakly magnetized Earth-like exoplanets at orbital distances 相似文献   

Coronal mass ejection (CME) activity of low mass M stars as an important factor for the habitability of terrestrial exoplanets. II. CME-induced ion pick up of Earth-like exoplanets in close-in habitable zones

Atmospheric erosion of CO2-rich Earth-size exoplanets due to coronal mass ejection (CME)-induced ion pick up within close-in habitable zones of active M-type dwarf stars is investigated. Since M stars are active at the X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation (XUV) wave-lengths over long periods of time, we have applied a thermal balance model at various XUV flux input values for simulating the thermospheric heating by photodissociation and ionization processes due to exothermic chemical reactions and cooling by the CO2 infrared radiation in the 15 microm band. Our study shows that intense XUV radiation of active M stars results in atmospheric expansion and extended exospheres. Using thermospheric neutral and ion densities calculated for various XUV fluxes, we applied a numerical test particle model for simulation of atmospheric ion pick up loss from an extended exosphere arising from its interaction with expected minimum and maximum CME plasma flows. Our results indicate that the Earth-like exoplanets that have no, or weak, magnetic moments may lose tens to hundreds of bars of atmospheric pressure, or even their whole atmospheres due to the CME-induced O ion pick up at orbital distances 相似文献   

On reliability of determining the orbital parameters of exoplanets by the Doppler method

As a part of the program of searching for exoplanets, the hypothetical influence of changeable velocity of light (due to parameters of motion of a radiation source) on the results of spectrometric measurements of stars is considered. Accelerations of stars relative to the barycenter of a system star-planet (planets) are taken into account. It is shown that the dependence of velocity of light on the barycentric radial velocity and on the component of barycentric radial acceleration of stars should result in significant increase (up to an order of magnitude) of semimajor axes of the found candidates for exoplanets. Consequently, a correct comparison of the spectral method with other known modern methods of finding exoplanets would allow one to use the results obtained in this paper as a reliable test for inspection of invariance of the velocity of light.     

A two-tiered approach to assessing the habitability of exoplanets

In the next few years, the number of catalogued exoplanets will be counted in the thousands. This will vastly expand the number of potentially habitable worlds and lead to a systematic assessment of their astrobiological potential. Here, we suggest a two-tiered classification scheme of exoplanet habitability. The first tier consists of an Earth Similarity Index (ESI), which allows worlds to be screened with regard to their similarity to Earth, the only known inhabited planet at this time. The ESI is based on data available or potentially available for most exoplanets such as mass, radius, and temperature. For the second tier of the classification scheme we propose a Planetary Habitability Index (PHI) based on the presence of a stable substrate, available energy, appropriate chemistry, and the potential for holding a liquid solvent. The PHI has been designed to minimize the biased search for life as we know it and to take into account life that might exist under more exotic conditions. As such, the PHI requires more detailed knowledge than is available for any exoplanet at this time. However, future missions such as the Terrestrial Planet Finder will collect this information and advance the PHI. Both indices are formulated in a way that enables their values to be updated as technology and our knowledge about habitable planets, moons, and life advances. Applying the proposed metrics to bodies within our Solar System for comparison reveals two planets in the Gliese 581 system, GJ 581 c and d, with an ESI comparable to that of Mars and a PHI between that of Europa and Enceladus.     

Stellar coronagraph using the principle of achromatic null-interferometer

In order to observe exoplanets we propose a space-based achromatic stellar coronagraph combined with a 0.8–1.5 m telescope. We develop an achromatic common path interferometer for observing an exoplanet (a faint off-axis source) on the background of a hoste star (bright axial source). An image of the star and its copy acquire an achromatic phase shift by 180° and interfere in antiphase. The achromatic phase shift is caused by geometric phase in the scheme of a three-dimensional interferometer. The interference process divides spatially the dark and light fields of the star image redirecting them to the opposite sides of a beam splitter. The interference process does not weaken the image of a planet, with equal intensities it is redirected to both sides of a beam splitter. The suggested scheme of common path interferometer ensures mechanical stability. The background signal is experimentally demonstrated to be reduced by six orders of magnitude.     

基于不同动力引力辅助模型的木星转移轨道设计

针对木星转移轨道设计中动力引力辅助模型选择问题展开了研究。首先,介绍了近心点机动和甩摆后机动2种动力引力辅助模型,给出了2种模型下最优脉冲机动速度增量的解算方法;然后,基于动力引力辅助模型,提出了包含引力辅助的行星际转移轨迹初始设计方法;最后,以木星探测任务转移轨迹设计为例,对比了不同动力引力辅助模型下探测器的燃料消耗情况。仿真结果表明:相比于甩摆后机动方式,近心点轨道机动方式更加节省燃料。基于近心点机动引力辅助模型,最终完成了金星-地球-地球引力辅助序列的木星转移轨迹初始设计,为我国未来采用引力辅助方式的深空探测任务提供了一定的参考。     

木星极光等离子体环境表面充电三维仿真分析

木星为太阳系内少有的强磁场行星,其等离子体环境十分恶劣,可对木星探测器造成严重的表面充电效应。文章采用有限元方法,借助COMSOL仿真软件,对航天器表面充电现象进行三维仿真,结合NASCAP-2k以及SPIS软件对比验证了GEO表面充电效应的模拟结果,证明了该仿真方法的有效性。对航天器在木星极光等离子体环境下的表面充电现象仿真分析结果表明,在木星背景等离子体环境中15RJ处,航天器表面充电电位较低,仅为平均-80 V左右;而在木星极光等离子体中,航天器表面充电电位最高可以达到-36.7 k V,CERS等材料表面充电电位差最大可以达到-16 k V,具有较高的放电风险。     

木星辐射环境不确定性对总剂量风险的影响

以木星探测任务为背景,针对木星辐射带粒子能量高、通量大的强辐射特点,基于器件总剂量辐照试验数据、木星辐射带模型、太阳质子通量模型,将器件失效点剂量不确定性与辐射环境不确定性应用到总剂量设计中,可定量评估特定任务一定屏蔽下的器件失效概率、辐射设计余量(RDM)的置信度及影响因素,可实现木星任务中器件指标、屏蔽厚度和失效概率之间的权衡和优化。首先,根据商业器件TL084辐照试验数据,发现其失效概率分布符合威布尔分布。对于10个木星半径的赤道面轨道,辐射带质子通量比太阳质子大3个数量级,随着屏蔽厚度的增加和任务期的减小,TL084器件所受剂量和失效概率减小。当屏蔽厚度为 10 mm 铝时,器件平均寿命小于2星期。另外,定义并考察了器件的失效速率,失效速率随屏蔽厚度的减小和在轨时间的增加而增加。对于传统的RDM为2的设计方法,1 mm铝屏蔽下对应的置信度为89%。     

木星探测器轨道计算中的动力学

针对木星探测任务中轨道计算所面临的轨道动力学问题进行研究。首先,对木星探测轨道计算中涉及的时空参考系进行概述,比较了木星动力学时(TDJ)与质心动力学时(TDB)的差异;其次,对木星的定向参数模型及转换关系进行描述,给出了木星天球参考系与固联参考系的转换关系;再次,对木星探测器定轨计算中所需考虑的动力学模型进行讨论,提供了各类摄动加速度计算所需的公式;最后,对木星探测器JUNO的星历数据进行动力学拟合,检验了动力学模型的正确性。     

基于木星大气环境的降落伞系统气动特性研究

木星探测是未来行星探测的重要发展方向,而降落伞是进入木星大气探测必不可少的气动减速装置。文章基于“伽利略号”探测任务,设计了满足未来木星探测需求的降落伞系统简化模型,并针对该降落伞系统进行了数值模拟,研究了木星大气和地球风洞实验环境中不同来流马赫数下降落伞系统的复杂流动现象及气动力变化规律。在木星大气环境中,降落伞的阻力系数和横向力系数大小以及横向力系数波动幅度均高于风洞试验环境,阻力系数波动幅度均低于风洞实验环境。此外,还研究了木星大气环境中不同来流攻角下降落伞系统的气动特性。研究表明,木星大气环境中降落伞系统气动特性与风洞实验结果有差异,因此未来在设计用于木星探测的降落伞系统时,应考虑由于木星大气环境对降落伞系统气动特性的影响。     

Detecting tree-like multicellular life on extrasolar planets

Over the next two decades, NASA and ESA are planning a series of space-based observatories to find Earth-like planets and determine whether life exists on these planets. Previous studies have assessed the likelihood of detecting life through signs of biogenic gases in the atmosphere or a red edge. Biogenic gases and the red edge could be signs of either single-celled or multicellular life. In this study, we propose a technique with which to determine whether tree-like multicellular life exists on extrasolar planets. For multicellular photosynthetic organisms on Earth, competition for light and the need to transport water and nutrients has led to a tree-like body plan characterized by hierarchical branching networks. This design results in a distinct bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) that causes differing reflectance at different sun/view geometries. BRDF arises from the changing visibility of the shadows cast by objects, and the presence of tree-like structures is clearly distinguishable from flat ground with the same reflectance spectrum. We examined whether the BRDF could detect the existence of tree-like structures on an extrasolar planet by using changes in planetary albedo as a planet orbits its star. We used a semi-empirical BRDF model to simulate vegetation reflectance at different planetary phase angles and both simulated and real cloud cover to calculate disk and rotation-averaged planetary albedo for a vegetated and non-vegetated planet with abundant liquid water. We found that even if the entire planetary albedo were rendered to a single pixel, the rate of increase of albedo as a planet approaches full illumination would be comparatively greater on a vegetated planet than on a non-vegetated planet. Depending on how accurately planetary cloud cover can be resolved and the capabilities of the coronagraph to resolve exoplanets, this technique could theoretically detect tree-like multicellular life on exoplanets in 50 stellar systems.     

SSETO—Small Satellite for Exoplanetary Transit Observation

SSETO is the result of a phase-A study in context of the small satellite program of the University of Stuttgart that demonstrates the capability of a university institute to build a small satellite with a budget of 5 million Euro. The satellite will be capable of observing exoplanets in a Neptune–Earth scale and obtaining data of interstellar dust. Due to a system failure of NASA?s Kepler mission, there is currently (October 2013) a lack of satellites searching for exoplanets. This paper details the design of subsystems and payload, as well as the required test tasks in accordance with the mission profile at a conceptional level. The costs for standard spacecraft testing and integration tasks are included, but not those of launch, ground support, operations and engineer working hours.     

面向木星卫星交会任务的探测器飞行路径规划

针对探测器在木星系统内多次借力的飞行路径和轨道优化设计问题,提出了一种基于三层优化思想的飞行路径规划方法,该方法可根据给定的任务约束和交会目标,自动搜索探测器在木星系统内的借力飞行序列,同时完成标称飞行轨道的优化设计。首先,文章在给定轨道动力学模型和木卫借力模型基础上,建立了面向木卫交会任务的两次借力飞行轨道优化设计模型和求解方法;然后,采用结合遗传算法、全局遍历和贪婪算法的三层优化设计思路,给出了一种环木飞行路径规划方法;最后,以木星四颗卫星的交会任务为例进行了仿真分析。仿真结果表明：针对木卫的交会任务,探测器速度增量需求随木卫借力次数的增多,呈现先显著减小后逐渐增大的现象;探测器采用多次木卫借力的策略,可显著降低探测器的速度增量需求;探测器速度增量达到最优之后,借力目标收敛于交会目标,且速度增量随借力次数的进一步增多而逐渐增大。     

On the Precession of Saturn

The precession of Saturn under the effect of the gravity of the Sun, Jupiter and planet’s satellites has been investigated. Saturn is considered to be an axisymmetric (A = B) solid body close to the dynamically spherical one. The orbits of Saturn and Jupiter are considered to be Keplerian ellipses in the inertial coordinate system. It has been shown that the entire set of small parameters of the problem can be reduced to two independent parameters. The averaged Hamiltonian function of the problem and the integrals of evolutionary equations are obtained disregarding the effect of satellites. Using the small parameter method, the expressions for the precession frequency and the nutation angle of the planet’s axis of rotation caused by the gravity of the Sun and Jupiter are obtained. Considering the planet with satellites as a whole preceding around the normal to the unmovable plane of Saturn’s orbit, the satellites effect on the Saturn rotation is taken into account via the corrections in the formula for the undisturbed precession frequency. The satellites are shown to have no effect on the nutation angle (in the framework of the accepted model), and the disturbances from Jupiter to make the main contribution to the nutation angle evolution. The effect of Jupiter on the nutation angle and the precession period is described with regard to the attraction of satellites.     

On Saturn’s rotation relative to a center of mass under the action of the gravitational moments of the Sun and Jupiter

Saturn’s rotation relative to a center of mass is considered within an elliptic restricted three-body problem. It is assumed that Saturn is a solid under the action of gravity of the Sun and Jupiter. The motions of Saturn and Jupiter are considered elliptic with small eccentricities e_S and e_J, respectively; the mean motion of Jupiter n_J is also small. We obtain the averaged Hamiltonian function for a small parameter of ε = n_J and integrals of evolution equations. The main effects of the influence of Jupiter on Saturn’s rotation are described: (α) the evolution of the constant parameters of regular precession for the angular momentum vector I₂; (β) the occurrence of new libration zones of oscillations I₂ near the plane of the celestial equator parallel to the plane of the Jupiter’s orbit; (γ) the occurrence of additional unstable equilibria of vector I₂ at the points of the north and south poles of the celestial sphere and, as a result, the existence of homoclinic trajectories; and (δ) the existence of periodic trajectories with arbitrarily large periods near the homoclinic trajectory. It is shown that the effects of (β), (γ), and (δ) are caused by the eccentricity e of the Jupiter’s orbit and are practically independent of Jupiter’s mass (within satellite approximation).     

统计能量分析法在爆炸分离冲击响应预示中的应用

针对复杂结构的爆炸分离冲击问题,文章采用统计能量分析方法对其响应进行了计算分析。首先对切割索产生的连续载荷进行了离散处理,然后基于统计能量分析并结合虚拟模态综合法,对航天器分离过程中的冲击响应进行了预示。得到的结果符合爆炸分离冲击环境下结构响应特征及其传递规律,对航天器抗冲击设计与评估具有一定的参考价值。     

基于光学/脉冲星的木星探测转移段自主组合导航

提出一种基于光学/X脉冲星的木星探测器转移段自主组合导航方案。该方案在探测器转移段动力学模型的基础上,以地球、火星、木星、木星卫星以及X射线脉冲星作为观测目标,从待观测目标的几何分布、视星等以及导航精度几个方面,分析光学自主导航待观测目标的可观测条件和可观测度,优化选取最优的光学观测目标;结合X射线脉冲星观测信息,构建光学/X射线脉冲星组合导航方案;结合无迹卡尔曼滤波算法,应用于木星探测转移段,实现探测器位置和速度估计。从数学仿真结果来看,该组合导航方案状态估计精度显著优于单独使用光学导航或者X脉冲星导航系统。     

An astrophysical view of Earth-based metabolic biosignature gases

Microbial life on Earth uses a wide range of chemical and energetic resources from diverse habitats. An outcome of this microbial diversity is an extensive and varied list of metabolic byproducts. We review key points of Earth-based microbial metabolism that are useful to the astrophysical search for biosignature gases on exoplanets, including a list of primary and secondary metabolism gas byproducts. Beyond the canonical, unique-to-life biosignature gases on Earth (O(2), O(3), and N(2)O), the list of metabolic byproducts includes gases that might be associated with biosignature gases in appropriate exoplanetary environments. This review aims to serve as a starting point for future astrophysical biosignature gas research.     

Observations on the evolution of satellite launch volume and cyclicality in the space industry

Satellites have been rightly described as the lifeblood of the entire space industry and the number of satellites ordered or launched per year is an important defining metric of the industry's level of activity, such that trends and variability in this volume have significant strategic impact on the space industry. Over the past 40+ years, hundreds of satellites have been launched every year. Thus an important dataset is available for time series analysis and identification of trends and cycles in the various markets of the space industry. This article reports findings of a study for which we collected data on over 6000 satellites launched since 1960 on a yearly basis. We grouped the satellites into three broad categories – defense and intelligence, science, and commercial satellites – and identified and discussed the main trends and cyclical patterns for each of these. Institutional customers (defense and intelligence, and science) accounted for over two-thirds of all satellites launched within our time period (1960–2008), and, in the 1960s and 1970s, they accounted for 90% and 73.5%, respectively. A fair conclusion from this data is that the space industry was enabled by, and grew because of the institutional customers, not commercial market forces. However, when the launch data is examined more closely, a growing influence of the commercial sector is noticeable. Over the past two decades communication satellites accounted for roughly half of all launches, thus reflecting an important shift in the space industry in which the commercial sector is playing an equal role (on a launch volume basis) to that of the institutional market. Cyclical patterns in the satellite launch volume over the past decade are separately discussed before we sum up with a conclusion.     

Planetary gyroscopic waves in Thomson-Delaney cells of the ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa

Observational data of the Galileo mission testify that there is a possibility of existence of planetary waves in the ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa. A model of rotating ocean is used for the analysis of dynamics of underlying wavy processes. The model uses geometrical stratification of the ocean’s icy surface into separate cells with a typical size of order of 100 km. These cells of hydrothermal nature contain liquid lenses, and the possibility of their origination was postulated and theoretically studied by P. Thomson and J. Delaney in 2001. Using the Bubnov-Galerkin method, the spectrum of natural vibrations of liquid (gyroscopic waves) in Thomson-Delaney cells was found taking into account the satellite’s rotation in a simple model of the icy crust. In order to study a possibility of resonance excitation of tidal oscillations of liquid in the cells, the dominant elements of this spectrum are compared to theoretical values of the frequencies of tide-generating forces associated with eccentricity of the orbit of the Jupiter’s moon Europa and with perturbations from other Galilean satellites of Jupiter. This allows one to discover a large number of resonances on dominant modes with periods of from 3.5 to 7 days in the Europa ocean regions, corresponding to latitudes from 30° to 70°.