Overview of the legal and policy challenges of orbital debris removal

Much attention has been paid recently to the issue of removing human-generated space debris from Earth orbit, especially following conclusions reached by both NASA and ESA that mitigating debris is not sufficient, that debris-on-debris and debris-on-active-satellite collisions will continue to generate new debris even without additional launches, and that some sort of active debris removal (ADR) is needed. Several techniques for ADR are technically plausible enough to merit further research and eventually operational testing. However, all ADR technologies present significant legal and policy challenges which will need to be addressed for debris removal to become viable. This paper summarizes the most promising techniques for removing space debris in both LEO and GEO, including electrodynamic tethers and ground- and space-based lasers. It then discusses several of the legal and policy challenges posed, including: lack of separate legal definitions for functional operational spacecraft and non-functional space debris; lack of international consensus on which types of space debris objects should be removed; sovereignty issues related to who is legally authorized to remove pieces of space debris; the need for transparency and confidence-building measures to reduce misperceptions of ADR as anti-satellite weapons; and intellectual property rights and liability with regard to ADR operations. Significant work on these issues must take place in parallel to the technical research and development of ADR techniques, and debris removal needs to be done in an environment of international collaboration and cooperation.     

A Technique for Estimating the Space Debris Density from the Data of Onboard Recording Systems

A three-dimensional mathematical model and a program complex for modeling the external effect of small-sized space debris particles on a spacecraft are developed. On the basis of the rectangular contributions method a new technique is developed for restoring the density of small-sized space debris from a small number of recorded debris collisions with recording sensors. From the form of the density function the total number of points having reached the spacecraft surface is restored. The comparative results of modeling are presented.     

空间碎片的温度特性分析

对空间碎片温度特性的分析,是利用红外传感器探测空间碎片的基础,也是研究航天器在轨安全的重要内容。文章对空间碎片接收不同辐射进行全面分析,研究其在轨运行情况,建立热平衡方程,完成对不同时刻其温度变化的计算,并绘制出温度变化曲线。结果表明空间碎片在轨道上不同位置有不同的红外辐射特性。该研究对利用天基空间探测器进行空间碎片的检测、识别,以及航天器的规避有参考意义。     

微小碎片对航天器舷窗玻璃损伤状况的跟踪研究

空间微小碎片环境比较复杂,其来源包括人为产生的碎片及微流星体。空间微小碎片不仅速度较高,而且数量庞大。它们频繁撞击航天器外表面,包括舷窗部位,特别是对航天飞机舷窗已造成巨大危害,使长期服役的国际空间站舷窗玻璃存在安全隐患。文章简要介绍了空间微小碎片对航天飞机和空间站舷窗玻璃的损伤状况,以及NASA对此做出的改进措施,这些跟踪研究成果可为我国长寿命、高可靠航天器舷窗结构设计提供参考依据。     

对欧空局轨道碎片模型的评价

文章评价了颗粒大于1cm的碎片模型,它包含大于10cm的一组粒子和介于1～10cm之间的粒子,它们是由空间暴露模拟得到的。接着讨论了尺寸范围介于0.1～10mm之间的小粒子束流。假定这些粒子主要是由小粒子与卫星碰撞产生的。这种碰撞主要发生在450～500kin的高度范围内(空间站高度),碰撞与否还取决于轨道高度和离心率。     

Space patrol: Variants of the optical barrier scheme

Different variants of the space patrol system to be designed for discovering and cataloging space objects hazardous for the Earth have been investigated. The basic idea of this system is to create an optical barrier using the telescopes deployed in a heliocentric orbit. Difficulties (as well as ways of overcoming them) of this program are analyzed, associated with form and position of the orbit of a space object relative to the patrol spacecraft, determination of orbit parameters, and mutual motion of space objects and the telescopes on spacecraft. The barrier’s schemes with scanning vertical or horizontal belts are considered. Some examples of observational conditions are presented for space objects crossing the barrier region: angular positions, velocities, distances, and numbers of days during which they are observed in the barrier region. The barrier’s characteristics are given for telescopes deployed in the orbits of the Earth and Venus.     

A sensitivity study of the effectiveness of active debris removal in LEO

The near-Earth orbital debris population will continue to increase in the future due to ongoing space activities, on-orbit explosions, and accidental collisions among resident space objects. Commonly adopted mitigation measures, such as limiting postmission orbital lifetimes of satellites to less than 25 years, will slow down the population growth, but will be insufficient to stabilize the environment. To better limit the growth of the future debris population, the remediation option, i.e., removing existing large and massive objects from orbit, needs to be considered. This paper does not intend to address the technical or economical issues for active debris removal. Rather, the objective is to provide a sensitivity study to illustrate and quantify the effectiveness of various remediation options. An effective removal criterion based upon mass and collision probability is developed. This study includes simulations with removal rates ranging from 5 to 20 objects per year, starting in the year 2020. The outcome of each simulation is analyzed and compared with others. The summary of the study serves as a general guideline for future debris removal consideration.     

航天器碰撞分析方法研究

作为航天器碰撞与规避控制方法研究课题的一部分,为此分别建立了航天器及其它空间目标的轨道确定方法;并在此基础上,提出了可能与航天器碰撞的其它空间编目目标的初选准则和碰撞预报算法。实测数据计算表明,该方法对于航天器轨道设计以及飞行安全性分析等均是实用可行的。     

卫星快速绕飞轨迹设计与制导

快速绕飞在航天器近距离观测、空间目标识别与侦察、在轨服务与应急情况处理活动中具有重要应用。首先建立了适用于目标航天器运行在圆轨道或椭圆轨道的相对运动状态转移矩阵;然后,推导了采用多脉冲控制方法实现与目标航天器共面和异面快速绕飞、进入绕飞和退出绕飞的轨迹设计与制导的模型和算法;最后,分析了绕飞过程速度脉冲需求与绕飞参数的关系。仿真计算结果表明所提出的快速绕飞轨迹设计模型和制导算法可以用于对圆轨道或椭圆轨道目标航天器的共面或异面快速绕飞。     

空间碎片减缓策略效果仿真

根据机构间空间碎片协调委员会(IADC)和欧空局(ESA)的空间碎片减缓要求,在建立航天发射、爆炸和碰撞模型,以及碎片演化机制的基础上,对常规发射(BAU)、禁止在轨爆炸(NO-EX)和全面减缓(MIT)三种空间碎片减缓策略条件下,对2000~2100年空间碎片环境进行了仿真计算。结果表明,禁止航天器在轨爆炸、对失效的卫星和火箭上面级实施离轨操作,以及在航天器的发射和运行中不产生或抛弃分离物等减缓措施是限制空间碎片数量增长的有效方法。     

A space based radar on a micro-satellite for in-situ detection of small orbital debris

The increase in the number of satellites in the Near Earth Orbit is exponential. The consequent increase in pollution of the orbital environment is of growing concern to the international community. There are currently only two observation systems available for measurement of orbital debris. Ground based radar and telescopes can detect objects larger than about 7 cm. Passive space based systems provide an accurate statistical estimation of flux for debris smaller than about 0.1 mm in size. Consequently, there is no way of obtaining information about debris in the millimeter-size range. Considering that the relative speed between objects in space is commonly in the km/s range, millimeter sized debris carry enough energy to be deadly to astronauts or to totally destroy the functioning of any satellite. Then National space agencies have recommended launching orbital spacecraft carrying debris detection experiments for gaining a better understanding of small debris.CNES (the French Space Agency) is developing a new family of micro-satellites, that will make possible to put into orbit a totally new system of radar that could measure in-situ flux of debris. We present results of this system analysis, which would cumulate the advantages of both ground-based radar and in orbit passive experiments.The proposed method for detection is quite original and allows the radar to act like a band-pass filter with respect to the debris diameter. The optimum frequency is shown to be in the Ka-band. Two points are critical in the definition of the radar: the average power available and the false alarm probability in the detection criterion. Therefore, we present a special receiver chain in order to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. The estimate of the radial velocity through Doppler frequency measurement may be used to discriminate orbital debris from meteoroids. This system could be built today using an existing Continuous Wave amplifier. Several hundreds of objects per year could be detected yielding an accurate statistical estimation.The orbital debris radar would be a major contribution to our knowledge of millimeter sized debris. This experiment would contribute to making the current models more accurate at all inclinations. The micro-satellite concept would make the orbital debris radar mission cheap enough for considering a constellation of such satellites.     

转动帆板红外热流计算及等效方法研究

目前的空间外热流分析软件和在航天器稳态热平衡试验中模拟的外热流都不包括帆板对航天器表面的红外加热,而有时帆板的红外加热并不小,应该叠加到模拟的外热流中.文章针对一种低轨道航天器,计算了帆板红外加热的强度,给出了在热平衡试验中叠加的方法,并讨论了在固定帆板方位的同时保持其红外热流等效的可能性.结果表明,可以精确计算帆板红外加热,对任意的帆板方位均可以保持其红外加热的等效.     

Behavior of tethered debris with flexible appendages

Active exploration of the space leads to growth of a near-Earth space pollution. The frequency of the registered collisions of space debris with functional satellites highly increased during last 10 years. As a rule a large space debris can be observed from the Earth and catalogued, then it is possible to avoid collision with the active spacecraft. However every large debris is a potential source of a numerous small debris particles. To reduce debris population in the near Earth space the large debris should be removed from working orbits. The active debris removal technique is considered that intend to use a tethered orbital transfer vehicle, or a space tug attached by a tether to the space debris. This paper focuses on the dynamics of the space debris with flexible appendages. Mathematical model of the system is derived using the Lagrange formalism. Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the mutual influence of the oscillations of flexible appendages and the oscillations of a tether. It is shown that flexible appendages can have a significant influence on the attitude motion of the space debris and the safety of the transportation process.     

The Investigation of Possible Approaches of Cataloged Space Objects to Manned Spacecraft

Initial orbital parameter errors are used to examine the miss distance between a spacecraft and an ensemble of tracked objects by a Monte Carlo-type analysis. The radial separation between orbits is evaluated and a keep-out zone is determined, which reduces the risk of collision to an acceptable level.An operational prediction methodology is suggested based on a catalog database, which identifies potentially hazardous approaches and computes the probability of collision for selected spacecraft. An example for the Mir Space Station is presented, which estimates the collision probability and the cross-sectional flux of cataloged objects for the time frame of interest. The results appear to be in good agreement with those of other space debris models.     

绳系卫星系统交会对接的应用与设计

文章介绍了绳系系统交会对接这项新技术在空间中的应用。主要包括:空间站利用系绳与航天器交会对接,实现为空间站提供各种供给;利用绳系系统与空间碎片对接,可回收或转移空间碎片,保护空间环境;利用一级或多级的绳系系统组成轨道转移系统,实现向地球同步轨道或火星轨道上转移和运送有效载荷。文章还介绍了绳系交会对接系统的设计,包括系统的一般控制方法和算法以及系统的结构设计。随着各项相关技术的发展,绳系卫星系统交会对接将发挥更大作用。     

空间目标碰撞预警技术研究综述

随着在轨空间目标数量的不断增加,空间目标碰撞预警工作变得越来越重要。通过对国内外相关文献的调研分析,对空间目标碰撞预警的相关技术及其研究进展进行了全面地介绍。给出了空间目标碰撞预警的总体框架、关键技术和涉及的理论问题,对主要技术问题的研究进展进行了综述,提出了一些需要解决的问题,可供从事空间目标监视和碰撞预警等任务和研究的技术人员参考。     

空间碎片绳网捕获拖曳恒张力控制

针对空间绳网系统捕获空间碎片后,在轨道转移过程中的精确控制问题,提出一种使用常值拉力将空间碎片拖曳至坟墓轨道的方法。首先,采用牛顿欧拉法建立绳系组合体动力学模型;其次,通过李雅普诺夫方法证明仅使用恒张力即可实现拖曳过程的稳定控制;再次,提出采用常值拉力切换控制律抑制空间碎片的姿态章动,采用基于相平面控制原理的控制律抑制绳系组合体面内面外摆动,规避在轨道转移过程中系绳松弛造成缠绕、系绳张力过大造成断裂或两星接近发生碰撞等风险。最后,通过拖曳离轨全过程仿真分析,校验了所提出控制方法的有效性。     

Effect of Multi-wall System Composition on Survivability for Spacecraft Impacted by Orbital Debris

Long-duration spacecraft in low earth orbit such as the International Space Station (ISS) are highly susceptible to high-speed impacts by pieces of debris from past earth-orbiting missions. Among the hazards that accompany the penetration of a pressurized manned spacecraft are critical crack propagation in the module wall, crew hypoxia, and uncontrolled thrust due to air rushing out of the module wall hole. A Monte Carlo simulation tool was used to determine the effect of spacecraft wall construction on the survivability of ISS modules and crew following an orbital debris penetration. The simulation results indicate that enhanced shield wall designs (i.e., multi-wall systems with heavier inner bumpers) always lead to higher overall survivability of the station and crew due to an overwhelming decrease in likelihood of module penetration. The results of the simulations also indicate that changes in crew operations, equipment locations, and operation procedures can significantly reduce the likelihood of crew or station loss following an orbital debris penetration.     

碰撞风险评估中的空间环境激励图方法

因航天器物理特征、空间环境扰动变化、预报技术和大气模型性能等既有不确定因素的存在,空间目标碰撞概率等与轨道预报相关的评估工作存在模糊度问题,无法准确描述碰撞风险水平。文章基于碰撞概率极值,简化气动力误差模型,量化计算轨道预报相关事务的边界;提出空间环境激励图和3σ区的概念,并给出具体实施方法以及空间碎片碰撞预警、空间物体陨落预报的计算示例。计算结果表明,该方法能较好应对轨道预报相关事务中的模糊度问题,可为相关航天工程实践和决策提供参考。     

访问多个特定相对位置的航天器轨道设计

在航天器轨道设计问题中,将惯性空间中经典的吉布斯三矢量定轨方法拓展到相对运动空间中,给出了一种相对运动条件下的三矢量定轨方法。针对已知轨道的目标航天器,以及二个或三个给定的空间相对位置,基于相对运动方程,提出了设计跟随航天器飞行轨道的数值方法。以轨道面共面或异面,以及目标航天器轨道形状为椭圆或圆,将问题分为四种情况进行约束条件和自由变量个数的分析讨论。对于自由变量个数多于约束方程的情况,额外给定周期重访约束,将各种情况下的特定相对位置访问问题转化为一至二维的非线性方程(组)求解问题。对一维方程求解采用分段黄金分割+割线法进行快速求解;对二维方程组通过网格法搜索迭代初值并通过牛顿迭代快速求解。进一步基于线性模型的解,采用微分修正方法求解了各情况下J2摄动模型下的结果。数值算例验证了提出方法的正确性及有效性。