一种三元结构的火星采样返回任务方案分析

介绍了目前国外提出的一种三元结构的火星采样返回任务方案,整个方案分3次发射,分别发射漫游车、着陆器和轨道器,每次发射间隔为4年,最终目的是将火星样品带回地球。该方案的优势在于,通过3次发射分别完成漫游车巡视勘察、着陆器现场探测、轨道器数据中继和在轨探测,最终综合完成火星采样返回,能够极大地缓解项目进度和资金压力,充分利用每次发射窗口分步骤完成探测任务。文章重点对方案涉及的关键技术进行了分析,包括样品获取与封装、行星保护、精准着陆、漫游车的危险规避能力和移动性、火星上升器、交会与样品捕获、地球再入器技术等;对方案的前景和优势进行了探讨,并给出几点启示,如精准着陆或成为今后行星探测着陆方式的新趋势,火星采样返回任务将是人类火星探测的里程碑,今后的深空探测任务趋向国际合作模式等。     

载人小行星探测的任务特点与实施途径探讨

介绍了载人小行星探测的发展现状,对目前美国基于"猎户座"飞船的载人小行星探测的概要方案进行了描述,包括探测器系统组成、运载火箭和飞行方案等内容。从速度增量、目标星引力等方面,分析了载人小行星探测的任务特点,并与载人火星探测、载人月球探测以及无人小行星探测的任务特点进行了比较。给出了载人小行星探测的实施途径建议,包括目标星选择、载人飞船系统设计等。讨论了其所涉及的推进、星际飞行安全保障、小行星表面行走等关键技术。研究结果可为我国开展载人深空探测提供参考。     

光电技术在中国深空探测中的应用

文章简单回顾了中国深空探测已走过的历程和正在进行的项目,展望了今后的发展;分析了深空探测器及其有效栽荷对光电技术的需求;重点对中国已发射的月球探测器"嫦娥一号"、"嫦娥二号"中应用的光电技术和获取的成果,正在研制的"嫦娥三号"探测器中所应用的光电技术,月球探测三期和今后可能发展的深空探测项目中预计采用的光电技术的研制工...     

小型核反应堆自主控制及其深空探测应用设想

针对空间小型模块化核反应堆的自主控制问题，提出自主控制体系结构，降低反应堆控制对人的依赖程度，满足了深空探测任务对空间堆自主控制的需求。首先介绍了核反应堆自主控制技术和空间探测自主技术的发展现状，分析了空间小型堆的自主控制需求，然后阐释了自主控制及核反应堆近自主控制的内涵。最后基于空间堆的运行特点，给出小型堆近自主控制分层体系结构的组成元素，并进一步建立了融合决策层和功能层的小型堆多智能体自主控制体系结构。     

国外深空探测推进技术发展及启示

推进系统为探测器的飞行提供所需的控制力和控制力矩,一定程度上决定了探测器的规模、最远飞行距离,乃至任务的成败,是探测器的重要分系统之一。为满足不同的深空探测任务需求,国外发展了多种形式的推进技术,但总体上仍以化学推进为主,部分采用了电推进系统,并在发展高性能低温推进技术等。对国外典型探测器推进系统进行了叙述,分析了其技术特点和发展趋势,并分别针对无人探测和载人探测应用探讨了对我国开展深空探测推进技术研究的启示。     

欧洲“火星快车”探测器自行底盘概念设计的启示

通过对月球车和火星车的跟踪调研,重点介绍了俄罗斯所承担的欧洲空间局“火星快车”项目中火星车自行底盘概念的设计思想和具体实施情况。结合火星表面的复杂环境,研制方探讨了几种底盘结构设计方案,通过对比分析确立了6×6×4+4ш方案为优化方案;根据该优化方案研制的比例模型样机通过行走试验验证,结果表明自行底盘概念设计思想正确,有助于提高行星车在复杂地形中的运动能力、稳定性和可靠性。最后针对我国深空探测项目实施的需求,提出了拟开展工作建议。     

未来的深空探测与空间环境模拟

文章介绍了国内外有代表性的深空探测计划的内容、特点和意义,包括:欧空局的Exo Mars火星车、美国"2020火星车"以及中国的2020火星探测计划;金星着陆探测进展情况;欧空局木星系统探测计划"木星冰月亮探索者(JUICE)"和美国的"木卫二飞越任务(Europa Clipper)";"蜻蜓号(Dragonfly)"土卫六探测项目;美国的"彗星天体生物学探索取样返回(CAESAR)"项目;月球探测计划等。还分析了未来深空探测对空间环境模拟的具体要求,空间环境模拟对推动深空探测发展的重要意义;提出了对我国未来开展空间环境模拟试验的建议。     

鹊桥中继通信卫星在轨运行一年（英文）

Queqiao relay communications satellite was developed to provide relay communications services for the lander and the rover on the far side of the moon. From entering into its halo mission orbit around the Earth-moon libration point 2 on June 14, 2018, it has operated on orbit more than fifteen months. It worked very well and provided reliable, continuous relay communications services for the lander and the rover to accomplish the goals of Chang'e 4 lunar far side soft landing and patrol exploration mission. The on-orbit operation status of Queqiao relay communications satellite is summarized in this paper.     

搭建地月鹊桥的嫦娥四号中继星（英文）

The far side of the moon is a unique place for some scientific investigations. Chang'e 4 is a Chinese lunar far side landing exploration mission. Relay communication satellite, named as Queqiao, is an important and innovative part of Chang'e 4 mission. It can provide relay communication to the lander and the rover operating on the lunar far side to maintain their contacts with Earth. It was launched by LM-4 C launch vehicle at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on May 21, 2018. After five precise orbit controls and a journey of more than 20 days, Queqiao inserted into final halo mission orbit around Earth-moon libration point 2, located about 65,000 km beyond the moon. It is the world's first communication satellite operating in that orbit. Up to now, Queqiao worked very well and provided reliable, continuous communication relay service for the lander and the rover to ensure the mission success of Chang'e 4 exploration mission. Via Queqiao, the lander and the rover were controlled to work by ground stations and obtained a great amount of scientific data. The mission overview, operation orbit selection, relay communication system design and flight profile were introduced in this article.     

一种新型深空探测样品封装技术

对样品进行真空封装是深空探测取样及返回任务中的一项核心技术,它能够成功维持样品成分原态。文章提出了一种能够符合我国深空探测任务的样品封装技术,其封装机构由复合式开合机构及火工锁紧机构组成,是一种极低漏率、高可靠的多层金属真空密封容器。通过对这种复合式开合机构和火工锁紧机构的特性方程的推导,对多层金属真空密封的材料匹配等机理的分析,确认这种新型的样品封装技术的原理是正确和可行的。最后对原理样机的性能进行了验证,结果表明:封装机构的体积小、功耗低、可靠性高,样机的密封性能良好,设计具有创新性及工程实用性。     

月面巡视探测器运动控制方法研究

基于动力学的运动控制是星球探测车研制中的关键技术之一。本文以某多轮驱动、多轮转向的月面巡视探测器运动控制为背景,在建立其三自由度动力学模型的基础上,研究了常规增量式PID和模糊自适应PID控制算法,并进行了仿真比较。典型车轮失效情况下的仿真表明,模糊自适应PID方法能够有效控制月面巡视探测器四轮失效的情况,而常规PID方法能够有效控制探测器三轮失效的情况。模糊自适应PID方法对参数扰动敏感性低,鲁棒性更强,较好地处理了常规控制方法可能产生的小超调与快速性的矛盾。     

气球型深空探测器技术研究进展

气球型深空探测器能够大大提高深空探测的机动能力,它不仅可以获取区域范围内的高分辨率观测数据,而且还可实现不同高度大气的原位测量。文章针对气球型深空探测器按技术特征进行了分类,并简述了各类气球探测器的原理和特点,重点总结了各类气球探测器在金星、火星和土卫六上应用的研究现状。针对我国未来的气球型深空探测器技术发展,提出首先以火星热气球为发展方向,与地球临近空间浮空器技术的发展彼此借鉴,促进关键技术领域的技术突破等建议,可为我国未来深空探测提供参考。     

Cassini Saturn-escape trajectories to Jupiter,Uranus, and Neptune

Potential encore-mission scenarios have been considered for the Cassini mission. In this paper we discuss one of the end-of-life scenarios in which the Cassini spacecraft could perform a Saturn escape via gravity assists from Titan. It is shown that such satellite-aided escape requires a small deterministic maneuver (e.g., Δv<50 m/s), but provides enough energy for the Cassini spacecraft to reach a range of targets in our Solar System, as close to the Sun as the asteroid belt or as far as the Kuiper belt. The escape sequence could be initiated from an arbitrary point during the on-going Cassini mission. Example tours are presented in which the final Titan flyby places the spacecraft into ballistic trajectories that reach Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune. After years of heliocentric flight, the spacecraft could impact on the target gas giant or perform a flyby to escape from the Solar System (if not to another destination). The concept can be generalized to a new kind of missions, including nested-grand tours, which may involve satellite-aided captures and escapes at more than one planet.     

A methodology to support strategic decisions in future human space exploration: From scenario definition to building blocks assessment

The human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-Lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the global exploration roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterisation of several Design Reference Missions (DRMs) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities.The study presented in this paper was aimed at defining an evolutionary scenario for deep space exploration in the next 30 years with the final goal of sending astronauts on the surface of Mars by the end of 2030 decade. Different destinations were considered as targets to build the human exploration scenario, with particular attention to Earth–Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Moon. For all the destinations selected as part of the exploration scenario, the assessment and characterisation of the relative Design Reference Missions were performed. Specifically they were defined in terms of strategies, architectures and mission elements. All the analyses were based on a pure technical approach with the objective of evaluating the feasibility of a long term strategy for capabilities achievement and technological development to enable future space exploration.This paper describes the process that was followed within the study, focusing on the adopted methodology, and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenario and mission analysis.     

Introduction to Japanese exploration study to the moon

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) views the lunar lander SELENE-2 as the successor to the SELENE mission. In this presentation, the mission objectives of SELENE-2 are shown together with the present design status of the spacecraft. JAXA launched the Kaguya (SELENE) lunar orbiter in September 2007, and the spacecraft observed the Moon and a couple of small satellites using 15 instruments. As the next step in lunar exploration, the lunar lander SELENE-2 is being considered. SELENE-2 will land on the lunar surface and perform in-situ scientific observations, environmental investigations, and research for future lunar utilization including human activity. At the same time, it will demonstrate key technologies for lunar and planetary exploration such as precise and safe landing, surface mobility, and overnight survival. The lander will carry laser altimeters, image sensors, and landing radars for precise and safe landing. Landing legs and a precisely controlled propulsion system will also be developed. A rover is being designed to be able to travel over a wide area and observe featured terrain using scientific instruments. Since some of the instruments require long-term observation on the lunar surface, technology for night survival over more than 2 weeks needs to be considered. The SELENE-2 technologies are expected to be one of the stepping stones towards future Japanese human activities on the moon and to expand the possibilities for deep space science.     

月面巡视探测器地面试验方法与技术综述

“嫦娥三号”任务的圆满完成标志着我国已经突破了软着陆、巡视勘察、月夜生存等一系列深空探测关键技术。由于任务目标以及月面环境的复杂性,对巡视器的地面试验验证工作提出了很高的要求。在研制过程中,不但开展了常规航天器必做的试验项目,还开展了大量的专项试验,充分的地面试验对确保任务的成功发挥了重要作用。文章对“嫦娥三号”巡视器的地面验证需求、验证试验要求、验证试验实施情况进行了分析和总结,主要包括低重力模拟、月表地形地貌模拟、工程模拟月壤的制备与整备、光照环境模拟、月尘模拟等方面,对深空探测器试验方法与技术的发展方向提出了建议。     

嫦娥一号月球探测卫星研制综述

嫦娥一号卫星是我国第一个月球探测卫星,将实现对月球的环绕探测。嫦娥一号卫星的研制和发射是我国深空探测活动的开端,在我国航天史上将成为继人造卫星和载人航天后的第三个里程碑。与近地卫星相比,嫦娥一号卫星面临更复杂的控制过程和环境,因此,嫦娥一号卫星必须突破一系列的关键技术,实现既定的任务目标。文章介绍了嫦娥一号卫星的任务目标、主要技术方案和研制过程;概要性地说明了嫦娥一号卫星的研制过程。     

Crew autonomy for deep space exploration: Lessons from the Antarctic Search for Meteorites

Future piloted missions to explore asteroids, Mars, and other targets beyond the Moon will experience strict limitations on communication between vehicles in space and control centers on Earth. These limitations will require crews to operate with greater autonomy than any past space mission has demonstrated. The Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) project, which regularly sends small teams of researchers to remote parts of the southern continent, resembles a space mission in many ways but does not rely upon a control center. It provides a useful crew autonomy model for planners of future deep space exploration missions. In contrast to current space missions, ANSMET gives the crew the authority to adjust competing work priorities, task assignments, and daily schedules; allows the crew to be the primary monitor of mission progress; demands greater crew accountability for operational errors; requires the crew to make the most of limited communication bandwidth; adopts systems designed for simple operation and failure recovery; and grants the crew a leading role in the selection and stowage of their equipment.     

Piloted operations at a near-Earth object (NEO)

In late 2006, NASA's Constellation Program sponsored a study to examine the feasibility of sending a piloted Orion spacecraft to a near-Earth object. NEOs are asteroids or comets that have perihelion distances less than or equal to 1.3 astronomical units, and can have orbits that cross that of the Earth. Therefore, the most suitable targets for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) are those NEOs in heliocentric orbits similar to Earth's (i.e. low inclination and low eccentricity). One of the significant advantages of this type of mission is that it strengthens and validates the foundational infrastructure of the United States Space Exploration Policy and is highly complementary to NASA's planned lunar sortie and outpost missions circa 2020. A human expedition to a NEO would not only underline the broad utility of the Orion CEV and Ares launch systems, but would also be the first human expedition to an interplanetary body beyond the Earth–Moon system. These deep space operations will present unique challenges not present in lunar missions for the onboard crew, spacecraft systems, and mission control team. Executing several piloted NEO missions will enable NASA to gain crucial deep space operational experience, which will be necessary prerequisites for the eventual human missions to Mars.Our NEO team will present and discuss the following:

• •new mission trajectories and concepts;
• •operational command and control considerations;
• •expected science, operational, resource utilization, and impact mitigation returns; and
• •continued exploration momentum and future Mars exploration benefits.

     

CHANG'E-2 lunar escape maneuvers to the Sun–Earth L2 libration point mission

This paper addresses lunar escape maneuvers of the first Chinese Sun–Earth L2 libration point mission by the CHANG'E-2 satellite, which is also the world's first satellite to reach the L2 point from a lunar orbit. The lunar escape maneuvers are heavily constrained by the remaining propellant and the condition of telemetry, track and command, among others. First, these constraints are analyzed and summarized to design a target L2 Lissajous orbit and an initial transfer trajectory. Second, the maneuver mathematical models are studied. The multilevel maneuver schemes which consist of phasing maneuvers and a final lunar escape maneuver are designed for actual operations. Based on the scheme analysis and comparison, the 2-maneuver scheme with a 5.3-h-period phasing orbit is ultimately selected. Finally, the mission status based on the scheme is presented and the control operation results are discussed in detail. The methodology in this paper is especially beneficial and applicable to a future multi-mission instance in the deep space exploration.