Structural design and model fabrication of cable-rib tensioned deployable parabolic cylindrical antenna

Deployable mechanisms with light weight and high storage ratio have received considerable attention for space applications. To meet the requirements of space missions, a parabolic cylindrical deployable antenna based on cable-rib tension structures is proposed and verified by a physical prototype. The parabolic cylindrical antenna adopts simple parallel four-bar mechanisms to construct the basic deployable unit, and the cylindrical direction dimension can be easily extended by modularization, which has obvious advantages in storage ratio and area density. Considering the complexity of the entire antenna structure design, including cable networks and flexible trusses, the form-finding design optimization model of a parabolic cylindrical antenna is established using the force density sensitivity method, and then the kinematics analysis of the deployable mechanism is carried out. Finally, a single-module prototype with a deployable diameter of 4 m × 2 m was designed and fabricated. The results of the ground deployment process test and surface accuracy measurements show that the antenna has good feasibility and practicability.     

Configuration synthesis of planar folded and common overconstrained spatial rectangular pyramid deployable truss units

Compared with non-overconstrained deployable units, overconstrained deployable units are widely used in space missions for their higher stiffness characteristics. Besides the performance of a three-step topological structural analysis and design of the rectangular pyramid deployable truss unit(PDTU), conducting a structural synthesis of an overconstrained deployable unit requires the determination of the relative position and direction of each kinematic axis. The structural synthesis of an overconstrained deployable unit is investigated based on screw theory and its topological structure. The possible overconstrained cases of the rectangular PDTUs are analyzed, and corresponding screw expressions are obtained. Thus, the rectangular PDTUs, which can be folded into a plane, are synthesized systemically, and a series of overconstrained rectangular PDTUs is obtained. Furthermore, the feasibility of the folded and deployed motions under one degree of freedom for those deployable units is verified in dynamical simulation by using ADAMS 2010.     

主被动复合驱动空间探测柔性伸杆机构的参数匹配

基于主被动复合驱动的思想提出一种大伸展/收拢比、高载荷/自重比的新型伸缩式伸杆机构,以满足微纳探测器的实际应用需求,用于支撑各类探测载荷远离航天器本体,避免本体剩磁对空间待测信号的干扰,保证探测数据的准确性。首先,探索描述被动驱动源（弹簧铰链）的力矩驱动特性;然后,分析柔性伸杆的弯曲、扭转、压平和卷曲等力学性能。在此基础上,结合建立的柔性伸杆伸展速度、负载动能、弹簧铰链势能及主动驱动（电动机）力矩等参数的能量流约束方程,进行主、被动驱动和柔性伸杆的参数匹配研究;最后,利用有限元软件仿真和样机平台实验验证了参数匹配的合理性。仿真与实验结果表明,针对主被动复合驱动的空间探测柔性伸杆机构,通过合理的参数匹配,可实现柔性伸杆无褶皱地平稳伸展和收拢,为后续的机构设计和控制方案奠定了基础。     

主被动复合驱动空间探测柔性伸杆机构的参数匹配简

 基于主被动复合驱动的思想提出一种大伸展/收拢比、高载荷/自重比的新型伸缩式伸杆机构,以满足微纳探测器的实际应用需求,用于支撑各类探测载荷远离航天器本体,避免本体剩磁对空间待测信号的干扰,保证探测数据的准确性。首先,探索描述被动驱动源（弹簧铰链）的力矩驱动特性;然后,分析柔性伸杆的弯曲、扭转、压平和卷曲等力学性能。在此基础上,结合建立的柔性伸杆伸展速度、负载动能、弹簧铰链势能及主动驱动（电动机）力矩等参数的能量流约束方程,进行主、被动驱动和柔性伸杆的参数匹配研究;最后,利用有限元软件仿真和样机平台实验验证了参数匹配的合理性。仿真与实验结果表明,针对主被动复合驱动的空间探测柔性伸杆机构,通过合理的参数匹配,可实现柔性伸杆无褶皱地平稳伸展和收拢,为后续的机构设计和控制方案奠定了基础。     

Optimization of fixed aviation support resource station configuration for aircraft carrier based on aircraft dispatch mission scheduling

Before the dispatch of the carrier-based aircraft, a series of pre-flight preparation operations need to be completed on the flight deck. Flight deck fixed aviation support resource station configuration has an important impact on operation efficiency and sortie rate. However, the resource station configuration is determined during the aircraft carrier design phase and is rarely modified as required, which may not be suitable for some pre-flight preparation missions. In order to solve the above defects, the joint optimization of flight deck resource station configuration and aircraft carrier pre-flight preparation scheduling is studied in this paper, which is formulated as a two-tier optimization decision-making framework. An improved variable neighborhood search algorithm with four original neighborhood structures is presented. Dispatch mission experiment and algorithm performance comparison experiment are carried out in the computational experiment section. The correlation between the pre-flight preparation time (makespan) and flight deck cabin occupancy percentage is given, and advantages of the proposed algorithm in solving the mathematical model are verified.     

大型可展开天线太空结构频率预测

由于空间大型可展开天线口径较大,在地面模拟太空环境难度高,使得直接在天线原型上进行性能测试非常困难或不可能。为了解决该问题,提出了一种“两步法”,利用空间大型可展开天线的缩比模型进行地面性能测试,以预测天线原型在太空中的工作性能。据此对周边桁架可展开天线太空工作的结构固有频率进行性能预测研究,首先推导了结构固有频率的相似准则,然后考虑结构参数畸变的影响,得出其相似性经验公式,最后研究了温度变化对结构频率的影响,得出了预测大型天线太空工作性能的经验公式。仿真结果验证了该方法的有效性,该方法可应用于其他空间结构的设计和性能预测。     

Planetary Magnetic Field Measurements: Missions and Instrumentation

The nature and diversity of the magnetic properties of the planets have been investigated by a large number of space missions over the past 50 years. It is clear that without the magnetic field measurements that have been carried out in the vicinity of all the planets, the state of their interior and their evolution since their formation would not be understood even though questions remain about how the different planetary dynamos (in six of the eight planets) work. This paper describes the motivation for making magnetic field measurements, the instrumentation that has been used and many of the missions that carried out the pioneering observations. Emphasis is given to the historically important early missions even if the results from these have been in some cases bettered by later missions.     

Cosmic Rays in the Heliosphere: Requirements for Future Observations

Since the publication of Cosmic Rays in the Heliosphere in 1998 there has been great progress in understanding how and why cosmic rays vary in space and time. This paper discusses measurements that are needed to continue advances in relating cosmic ray variations to changes in solar and interplanetary activity and variations in the local interstellar environment. Cosmic ray acceleration and transport is an important discipline in space physics and astrophysics, but it also plays a critical role in defining the radiation environment for humans and hardware in space, and is critical to efforts to unravel the history of solar activity. Cosmic rays are measured directly by balloon-borne and space instruments, and indirectly by ground-based neutron, muon and neutrino detectors, and by measurements of cosmogenic isotopes in ice cores, tree-rings, sediments, and meteorites. The topics covered here include: what we can learn from the deep 2008–2009 solar minimum, when cosmic rays reached the highest intensities of the space era; the implications of ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C isotope archives for past and future solar activity; the effects of variations in the size of the heliosphere; opportunities provided by the Voyagers for discovering the origin of anomalous cosmic rays and measuring cosmic-ray spectra in interstellar space; and future space missions that can continue the exciting exploration of the heliosphere that has occurred over the past 50 years.     

星载平面可展天线支撑桁架的结构效率优化

针对折展结构性能存在多指标且这些指标之间又相互制约的特点,把结构效率引入到可展结构的优化设计中,应用多因素正交试验法对一种空间可展开平板天线支撑桁架的优化问题进行了研究。对其关键几何设计参数进行了分析,建立了桁架结构的优化数学模型,以结构效率最大化作为优化目标,对可展桁架进行了结构优化,得到了支撑桁架各杆件的设计参数。结果表明:结构效率综合考虑了质量和刚度的影响,使结构质量和刚度同时得到优化;长宽比(l/w)是影响可展桁架结构性能的主要因素,对不同优化目标产生影响的次要因素有所不同;截面积对结构效率影响不显著(置信度p=90%),在相同杆长参数配置下,等截面可展桁架的结构效率仅次于变截面方案,但工程经济性最佳。该研究方法有助于在概念设计阶段从系统设计的角度进行空间桁架结构的快速设计与优化。     

X-ray Spectroscopy of Astrophysical Dust

High spectral resolution X-ray instruments on powerful X-ray satellites (e.g. Chandra, XMM-Newton) pointed through dust and gas at bright black holes and neutron stars can be used to study dust and intervening material in unique ways. With the new subfield of Condensed Matter Astrophysics as its goal, I will discuss current efforts to combine techniques and knowledge from condensed matter physics and astrophysics to determine the species-specific quantity and composition of interstellar gas and dust in the ISM and ionized environments. Prospects for improving on this work in future X-ray missions with higher throughput and spectral resolution are also presented in the context of spectral resolution goals for gratings and calorimeters.     

Lunar orbital science

Summary Orbital science has, to the present, concentrated on studies of force fields, particles, and visible photography. Cameras have been the major scientific instrument (it could be debated that for geodesy and gravity the entire spacecraft represents an instrument), and geology has been the principle benefactor. Photography has also been essential for the manned landing program, which would not have been possible on the schedule followed without the detailed Lunar Orbiter pictures.Orbital tracking data indicates that the Moon is almost homogeneous with perhaps a slight increase in density with depth. Significant analysis of the higher gravity harmonics have identified localized, near surface gravity highs that appear to be associated with circular maria. The Moon does not have a significant magnetic field of its own, and the solar wind appears to impinge directly on the surface. Russian and United States evidence on micrometeorite fluxes near the Moon is conflicting, but probably there is a decrease in flux compared to that near the Earth.Photographic evidence indicates that both impact and volcanic action has shaped the lunar surface. Mass movements of surface material and surface erosional effects are clearly evident. Surface water in the past, or near surface permafrost now, are definite possibilities to explain the sinuous rills. Faulting, both regional and local, is evident, as is probably horizontal layering near the surface.The United States space program is embarking on a broad program of orbital science including nearly the entire spectra of remote sensing. Approved orbital missions extend through 1972 and will be carried out in conjunction with manned landings. Emphasis will be placed on determining the extent and degree of surface variations between and within lunar provinces and the nature and strength of the lunar spectrum. Information obtained from the surface missions and the returned lunar samples will be invaluable in helping us to design orbital instruments and interpret the results.Missions after 1972 undoubtedly will carry more sophisticated instruments that will give us definitive information on the geochemical nature of the lunar surface and interior.Copies of NASA-issued documents may be obtained by writing to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Information about, and data from, U.S. space missions, including photographs, can be obtained from the National Space Science Data Center, Code 601, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771.     

Type synthesis of deployable mechanisms for ring truss antenna based on constraint-synthesis method

Space deployable antenna is the key equipment in realizing the communication and data transmission between the spacecraft and the earth. In order to enrich the configurations of deployable antennas, the type synthesis of deployable mechanisms for ring truss antenna is conducted in this study. First, the principle of the constraint-synthesis method based on screw theory is briefly described, the structure of the ring truss deployable antenna and its folding principle are analyzed, and the ring truss mechanism is divided into upper edges, lower edges and linkages. Then, based on the constraint-synthesis method, the type synthesis of the basic unit edges is carried out, a series of basic unit mechanisms are obtained from combining the basic unit edge mechanisms, and five mechanism units with fewer joints and simple structures are selected. Furthermore, simulation models of the five ring truss deployable mechanisms are built in Solidworks and Matlab software, and the deploying process is verified by the movement simulation. Finally, mechanism characteristics of the five mechanisms are analyzed and discussed, and a prototype is manufactured, verifying the analysis in this paper. This research provides a new way for the type synthesis of spatial deployable mechanisms, and the ring truss deployable mechanisms obtained in this study can be well applied in the field of aerospace.     

Flight Operations in the New Millennium

New approaches are being studied for real-time interaction, and related supporting processes, with spacecraft and instruments in deep space. Spacecraft are evolving, improving in many ways, and generally becoming more robust. Operations is changing also, and will be more automated in the future. However, there is a challenge. Deep space missions are not all alike. The operations phases of discovery and exploration are an extension of the research that creates the mission; they are the time of obtaining results. This examines the historical role of flight operations and its evolving processes to develop an understanding of the operational methods that will be effective in the future. It takes people, equipment, software, space, and connectivity for operations success. A balance has to be struck between improving technology, gaining knowledge, automation, and realistic expectations. Finally, the recommended methods to gain efficiency in operations are system-wide services and shared resources. These common processes will meet the challenge of varied missions.     

Design and analysis of a truss deployable antenna mechanism based on a 3UU-3URU unit

Space deployable structures with large calibers, high accuracy, and large folding ratios are indispensable equipment in the aerospace field. Given that the single-DOF 3RR-3RRR deployable unit cannot be fully folded, this study proposes a 3UU-3URU deployable unit with two kinds of DOF: folding movement and orientation adjustment. First, based on the G-K formula, the DOF of the 3UU-3URU unit is analyzed. Then, the 3UU-3URU unit is used to construct a deployable truss antenna with a curved surface, and the DOF of the whole deployable antenna containing multiple 3UU-3URU units is calculated. The structural design of a deployable antenna with two loops is carried out with specific parameters and geometric relations. Next, a DOF simulation of a basic combination unit composed of three 3UU-3URU units is performed. Finally, a prototype of the basic combination unit is manufactured, and the DOF of the mechanism is experimentally verified.     

Form-finding methods for deployable mesh reflector antennas

Deployable high-frequency mesh reflector antennas for future communications and obser- vations are required to obtain high gain and high directivity. In order to support these new missions, reflectors with high surface accuracy are widely required. The form-finding analysis of deployable mesh reflector antennas becomes more vital which aims to determine the initial surface profile formed by the equilibrium prestress distribution in cables to satisfy the surface accuracy requirement. In this paper, two form-finding methods for mesh reflector antennas, both of which include two steps, are pro- posed. The first step is to investigate the prestress design only for the cable net structure as the circum- ferential nodes connected to the supporting truss are assumed fixed. The second step is to optimize the prestress distribution of the boundary cables connected directly to the supporting truss considering the elastic deformation of the antenna structure. Some numerical examples are carried out and the simulation results demonstrate the proposed form-finding methods can warrant the deformed antenna reflector surface matches the one by design and the cable tension forces fall in a specified range.     

Extraterrestrial Organic Matter and the Detection of Life

A fundamental goal of a number of forthcoming space missions is the detection and characterization of organic matter on planetary surfaces. Successful interpretation of data generated by in situ experiments will require discrimination between abiogenic and biogenic organic compounds. Carbon-rich meteorites provide scientists with examples of authentic extraterrestrial organic matter generated in the absence of life. Outcomes of meteorite studies include clues to protocols that will enable the unequivocal identification of organic matter derived from life. In this chapter we summarize the diagnostic abiogenic features of key compound classes involved in life detection and discuss their implications for analytical instruments destined to fly on future spacecraft missions.     

Lunar photography: Techniques and results

Conclusion The lunar photography missions have included flyby, impacter, lander, and orbiter spacecrafts. These missions have provided photographs of the far side of the moon and a ten-fold increase in frontside resolution plus higher resolution of selected frontside areas. The resolutions which have been achieved vary from 1 m for the Lunar Orbiter to 1/2 m for the impacting Ranger to millimeters for Luna-IX and the Surveyors. The return from these missions have resolved much of the mystery surrounding the moon.The prime objective of the U.S. photographic missions has been the support of the Apollo-manned lunar landing program. The Ranger program, the Surveyor program, and the Lunar Orbiter program provided a logical progression in the utilization of a developing space exploration technology. These programs have provided the required information and have confirmed that the Apollo landing vehicle design is compatible with the conditions to be experienced on selected areas of the lunar surface.The future manned landing missions can be expected to provide additional lunar photography. Since the astronauts can be more selective in their photography, even more outstanding and informative results should be achieved. The addition of movies and even live television coverage will permit earth-based man to share more directly in the manned exploration of the moon.The unmanned photographic exploration of the moon has provided much of the technology required for similar missions to the planets. The U.S. Mariner-IV was the first successful mission to obtain close-up photographs of the planet Mars. It can be expected that both the U.S.A. and Russia will try for further photographic successes in the exploration of our solar system.This paper presents the results of one phase of research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under Contract No. NAS 7-100, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.     

空间对称型7R机构运动特性分析及组合应用

提出了一种空间对称型7R机构,可利用此机构组合构造空间可展开机构。通过旋量拓扑图分析了其整体自由度,得到了其运动副轴线方位变化时整体机构自由度数目的变化情况;基于反螺旋理论分析了运动副轴线方位不同的情况下运动输出构件的自由度数目和性质,并针对其瞬时性做了判别,发现其在不同运动副轴线方位布置情况下会出现局部自由度与瞬时自由度;分析了机构在不同驱动情况下的奇异特性,得到了机构在不同的驱动下处于奇异位形时的几何条件;最后选定自由度为1时的空间对称型7R机构组合构造了一类单自由度多棱锥型空间可展开机构,通过设置其运动副轴线方位,可以使其具有较大收拢率,同时当机构完全展开时,奇异特性使得其具有较好的力学性能。通过多个棱锥型空间可展开机构的组合,可以构造出新型大尺度空间可展开机构,在航空航天领域具有较好的应用前景。     

火星进入减速器技术综述与展望

随着火星着陆探测任务的不断推进,火星采样返回、载人登陆火星和火星基地等任务要求能将更大、更重的探测器着陆到火星表面,这就需要在火星大气进入阶段进行高效减速。基于以往成功的火星着陆探测任务,首先系统地回顾了火星进入段气动减速技术的发展历史;然后,结合火星进入过程的特点阐述了火星进入段减速设计的必要性及其面临的挑战;接着,系统地总结了充气式气动减速器、可展开式气动减速器和超声速反推减速器的系统构成和研究进展;最后,对这3种减速器技术的未来发展方向和亟待解决的关键问题进行了比较全面的分析和展望。     

激光微推进器用于微小卫星的姿轨控仿真

为研究激光微推进器用于微小卫星在轨空间飞行任务的可行性,利用已建立的激光推进微小卫星仿真平台,对微小卫星在轨姿态调整、轨道维持和轨道转移等飞行任务进行了仿真和分析。仿真结果表明,星载激光微推进器可满足在轨微小卫星的高控制精度姿态调整、近地观测轨道维持以及较长时间要求的轨道转移等空间任务对推进系统的要求。