The Indian Space Program

The Indian Space Program is described. The main objectives of the program are to provide operation space services to the nation, especially in the fields of communications and remote sensing, and to use modern space technology for the benefit of the Indian people. Some applications of the Indian Space Program are remote sensing, imagery, communications, broadcasting, and surveys of natural resources for water, crop, forest, land, minerals, and ocean. The emphasis is on the development and operation of indigenous satellites and launch vehicles for providing these space services     

AFRL Cryogenic Technology Development Programs

This is an overview of the cryogenic refrigerator and cryogenic integration programs in development and characterization under the Cryogenic Technologies Group, Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The vision statement for the Air Force Research Laboratory Cryogenic Technologies Group is to support the space community as the center of excellence for developing and transitioning space cryogenic thermal management technologies. The primary customers for the AFRL cryogenic technology development programs are Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), the USAF SBIRS (space based infrared) Low program office, and DoD space surveillance programs. This describes a variety of Stirling, pulse tube, Reverse Brayton, Joule-Thomson, and Sorption cycle cryocoolers currently under development to meet current and future Air Force and DoD requirements. The AFRL customer single stage cooling requirements at 10 K, 35 K, 60 K, 150 K, and multi-stage cooling requirements at 35/60 K are addressed. In order to meet these various requirements, the AFRL Cryogenic Technologies Group is pursuing various strategic cryocooler and cryogenic integration options. The Air Force Research Laboratory is also developing several advanced cryogenic integration technologies that will result in the reduction in current cryogenic system integration penalties and design time. These technologies include the continued development of the cryogenic systems integration model (CSIM), 60 K, and 100 K thermal storage units and heat pipes, cryogenic straps, thermal switches, and development of an integrated lightweight cryogenic bus (CRYOBUS).     

Space power systems requirements and issues: the next decade

Some of the more important space power technology issues, requirements, and challenges of the 1990s are described, and the impact of new component technology on the overall performance of space power systems is assessed. Advanced component, subsystem and system technologies that will significantly affect the performance, reliability, and survivability of next-generation baseload and burst mode space power systems are emphasized. Technology disciplines related to power sources (solar/nuclear and chemical), power conversion, energy storage, power conditioning/distribution and control, and waste-heat acquisition, transport, and rejection are primarily addressed. For some of them, performance trends that can be used as the basis for projecting future advanced power-system performance are developed. Performance capabilities for several different types of space power system for both baseload and burst mode applications are postulated on the basis of evolving technology and point designs that incorporate projections of advanced component capabilities     

Magnetic energy storage devices for small scale applications

The author considers basic principles of magnetic energy storage, structure requirements and limitations, configurations of inductors, attributes of high-T_c superconducting materials including thermal instabilities, a relative comparison with the state-of-the-art high energy density power sources, and refrigeration requirements. A review of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) technology reveals that the advent of high-temperature ceramic superconducting materials and advances in high strength materials and refrigeration technology are likely to facilitate fabrication of smaller SMES units. The design parameters of a micro superconducting magnetic energy unit for Air Force application are presented and discussed     

Taming Tornadoes Storm Abatement from Space

Tornadoes represent the most dangerous and destructive of storms. This paper describes a concept for disrupting the formation of tornadoes in a thunderstorm. Beamed microwave energy from a satellite heats cold rain to affect convective forces in the storm cell. This describes a Thunderstorm Solar Power Satellite (TSPS). The TSPS is based on Space Solar Power Program (SSP) concepts and technology. The concept was evaluated in a numerical simulation using the Advanced Regional Prediction System Code at the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS). Conditions for tornado formation were affected in the simulation. Additional simulation is proposed to determine the specific areas to be heated and the intensity of directed energy to affect tornadogenesis. Benefits from taming tornadoes provide a basis for initial government investment in TSPS. The potential benefits are balanced by reservations about safety. Demonstration of technology and operations may lead to commercial investment in space solar power. We conclude that the TSPS concept merits additional analysis, numerical simulation, and demonstration testing.     

高超声速动力能热管理技术综述

高超声速飞行器因良好的高速突防和快速打击能力成为重要的装备发展方向,但高超声速飞行工况的特殊性使其动力 系统对热管理和能源供给提出了严苛的需求。通过分析文献对高超声速动力的热防护、燃油热管理和进气预冷等技术进行了详 细评述。热管理对高超声速动力装置的功能和性能实现具有重要影响,但其目前在该领域研究技术的成熟度较低,飞发一体化是 解决问题的重要技术途径之一。通过文献综述对能源供给的生成及利用等技术与传统飞行器进行了对比,概述了现有高超声速 动力主要的能源供给方式的关键技术为燃油裂解气涡轮等,在此基础上总结了能热（能源与热）管理的未来发展趋势为热电转换 等,为高超声速动力能量综合能热管理技术的发展提供借鉴。     

Wireless power transmission: the key to solar power satellites

Maturing of the enabling technologies has provided much of the infrastructure to support the development of a commercial Solar Power Satellite program. Solar Space Industries was formed to accomplish this goal. The basis of their development plan is to build a Ground Test Installation that will duplicate, in small scale on the Earth, all aspects of the power generating and power transmission systems except for the space environment and the range and size of the energy beam. Space operations issues will be separated from the power generation fixation and verified by testing. Doing the developmental testing on the ground instead of in space will result in a low cost program that can be accomplished in a very short time. The concept is to build a Ground Test Installation that couples an existing 100 kW terrestrial solar cell array to a phased-array wireless power transmitter based on a subarray. Power will be transmitted over a 1-¼ mile range to a receiving antenna and then fed into a commercial utility power grid. The objective is to demonstrate the complete function of the Solar Power Satellites, with the primary issue being the validation of practical wireless power transmission. The key features to demonstrate are: beam control, stability, steering, efficiency, reliability, cost, and safety     

高能电子对地球同步轨道卫星的影响分析

为了厘清在轨GEO(Geosynchronous Earth Orbit,地球同步轨道)卫星不时出现异常的原因,提高卫星执行任务的可靠性,首先从机理上介绍了空间环境中的地球辐射带及高能电子的情况,引出GEO卫星所处恶劣空间环境的现实;其次基于我国SEPC(Space Environment Prediction Center,国家空间环境预报中心)以及NSMC(National Satellite Meteorological Center,国家卫星气象中心)的空间环境月报资料,结合某GEO环境业务卫星故障的实际数据,经统计归纳,分析得出了地球辐射带中的高能电子是导致GEO卫星发生故障的主要原因;最后按照事例技术分析、常规按需预报和特殊情况下的实时预报等3个层次对高能电子预报方法进行了初步探讨。通过分析可以看出,为提高卫星完成任务的可靠性、降低长期管理风险,需要加强GEO卫星所处空间环境高能电子的预报工作。     

Flywheel technology: past, present, and 21st century projections

This paper describes the present status of flywheel energy storage technology, or mechanical batteries, and discusses realistic future projections that are possible based on stronger composite materials and advancing technology. The origins and use of flywheel technology for mechanical energy storage began several hundred years ago and was developed throughout the Industrial Revolution. One of the first “modern” dissertations on the theoretical stress limitations of rotational disks (isotropic only) is the seminal work by A. Stodola whose first translation to English was made in 1917. The next big milestones were during the 1960s and 1970s when NASA sponsored programs proposed energy storage flywheels as possible primary sources for space missions. However, it was not until the 1980's when microelectronics, magnetic bearing systems and high power density motor-generators became enabling technologies. The next decade proved that a mechanical battery could surpass chemical batteries for many applications     

Microsatellite combined attitude/energy systems

We have constructed a high-temperature super conductor-magnet momentum wheel for microsatellites and propose a micro high-temperature superconductor energy storage and attitude control system for nano/pico satellites. The momentum wheel for micro satellites has a mass of 1.1 kg with an angular momentum capacity of 3.5 J sec. It occupies a volume of 12.7 cm in diameter and 5 cm in height. It operates within the restricted power budget of a microsatellite with a total power supply of only 10 watts. It consumes less than 1 watt for sustenance. The micro high-temperature superconductor flywheel for nano/pico satellites has an angular momentum capacity of 0.083 Js and stores 2.32 kJ at 530 krpm. Its energy storage capacity is approximately 45 Wh/kg with an energy density of around 370 kJ/L. The HTS systems can perform the dual function of a power/attitude control system and are ideally suited for low Earth orbit energy storage, power generation, and attitude control of spacecraft.     

分布式电推进飞机电力系统研究综述

继飞机二次能源逐步统一为电能形成多电/全电飞机之后,电推进技术成为飞机动力系统电气化的重要发展方向,有望进一步提高飞机动力系统能量转换效率、降低燃油消耗和排放,代表了航空电气化的高级阶段。飞机电力系统及相关技术是支撑电推进技术发展的重要基础。系统总结了电推进飞机的类型与发展现状,论述了飞机混合动力系统及分布式电推进系统的基本概念、特点与意义。阐述了航空电推进系统的基本结构,比较了适用于分布式电推进系统的电力系统架构,系统分析了实现电推进技术所需的高效高功率密度电机、高效大容量功率变换器和综合热管理等关键技术。小型纯电动飞机正在逐步迈向实用化,而分布式混合电推进技术是中大型飞机电气化的重要方向,仍然需要航空机电和动力系统等交叉融合与创新发展。     

GPS Program Status

The Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) Program is composed of three segments ? Space, Control, and User Equipment. The Space segment is responsible for the development and launch of the GPS satellite constellation. The Control segment is responsible for monitoring the satellite telemetry and providing updated navigation information to the satellites. The User Equipment (UE) segment is responsible for the development and procurement of the GPS receivers for a variety of host vehicle platforms. Recently, approval was given to the User segment to enter Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). This approval marks the beginning of Phase III (production and deployment) of the GPS program. This paper will discuss the overall status of all three segments with an emphasis on the User Equipment segment as it enters the production phase of the program.     

Recent active thermal management technologies for the development of energy-optimized aerospace vehicles in China

Recently, the development of modern vehicles has brought about aggressive integration and miniaturization of on-board electrical and electronic devices. It will lead to exponential growth in both the overall waste heat and heat flux to be dissipated to maintain the devices within a safe temperature range. However, both the total heat sinks aboard and the cooling capacity of currently utilized thermal control strategy are severely limited, which threatens the lifetime of the on-board equipment and even the entire flight system and shrink the vehicle’s flight time and range. Facing these thermal challenges, the USA proposed the program of “INVENT” to maximize utilities of the available heat sinks and enhance the cooling ability of thermal control strategies. Following the efforts done by the USA researchers, scientists in China fought their ways to develop thermal management technologies for Chinese advanced energy-optimized airplanes and spacecraft. This paper elaborates the available on-board heat sinks and aerospace thermal management systems using both active and passive technologies not confined to the technology in China. Subsequently, active thermal management technologies in China including fuel thermal management system, environment control system, non-fuel liquid cooling strategy are reviewed. At last, space thermal control technologies used in Chinese Space Station and Chang’e-3 and to be used in Chang’e-5 are introduced. Key issues to be solved are also identified, which could facilitate the development of aerospace thermal control techniques across the world.     

Multifunctional structures technology experiment on Deep Space 1Mission

Lockheed Martin Astronautics has developed the Multifunctional Structure (MFS) concept as a new system for spacecraft design that eliminates chassis, cables, connectors and folds the electronics into the walls of the spacecraft. Concurrent engineering will be essential to integrate the electronic, structure, and thermal design. Design methodologies are in work to manage all power, grounding and shielding concerns. The MFS approach offers significant savings in mass and volume and supports the “faster-better-cheaper” philosophy in new spacecraft programs. The technology will be demonstrated as an experiment on the New Millenium Program Deep Space 1 (DS 1) mission     

Commercial aviation VDL choices

The purpose of this study was to analyze digital data link communications technologies in a line-of-sight environment. Because there is a global debate over selecting the next generation VHF data link (VDL) technology, this paper evaluates each of them for the terminal and enroute airspace only. First, this study provides a historical review of the purpose of data link applications; second, how the current system is failing to meet today's requirements, leading to problems within the US National Air Space (NAS); third, a technical and economic analysis of VDL technologies; and last, a recommendation for selecting a VDL technology.     

Next generation GOES satellite power subsystem

Hughes space and communications was awarded a contract in January 1998 from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center for the design, manufacture, integration and launch of two next generation geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) and options for two additional satellites. The satellites measure weather phenomena as the primary mission and X-rays and charged particles as the secondary missions. This paper describes the GOES electrical power subsystem (EPS) requirements, architecture, hardware and energy balance analysis. As of this writing, the design of the EPS has completed the critical design review phase and the hardware has entered the manufacturing phase     

Review on ultra-lightweight flapping-wing nano air vehicles:Artificial muscles,flight control mechanism,and biomimetic wings

Flying insects are capable of flapping their wings to provide the required power and control forces for flight. A coordinated organizational system including muscles, wings, and control architecture plays a significant role, which provides the sources of inspiration for designing flapping-wing vehicles. In recent years, due to the development of micro-and meso-scale manufacturing technologies, advances in components technologies have directly led to a progress of smaller Flapping-Wing Nano Air V...     

SMES benefit analysis using a production cost model for Puget Soundapplication

Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is an emerging technology that is expected to provide a means of storing electrical energy for use during peak demand periods. Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) has estimated benefits and costs associated with the use of SMES technology and has provided insight into the overall future potential of SMES in the service area of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and on systems that connect and exchange power with BPA     

变循环涡扇冲压组合发动机发展现状及关键技术分析

总结了国内外变循环涡扇冲压组合发动机的发展现状,对比分析了有/无能量传递构型的变循环涡扇冲压组合发动机的工作原理及优缺点。提炼了变循环涡扇冲压组合发动机的关键技术,包括总体性能仿真技术、高速宽工况风扇设计技术、加力/冲压燃烧室设计技术、热管理系统设计技术以及模态转换设计技术。基于国内需求和相关技术研究现状,给出了变循环涡扇冲压组合发动机后续重点研究方向的建议,包括发动机总体性能设计与仿真工具、发动机多设计点多学科耦合设计方法、发动机热管理系统设计与仿真建模以及关键部件的设计与试验。