The PRISMA payload optomechanical design, a high performance instrument for a new hyperspectral mission

PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) hyperspectral instrument is an advanced hyperspectral sensor including a panchromatic camera at medium resolution. The instrument is the focus of the new Earth observation mission that a consortium of Italian companies has started developing under contract of Italian Space Agency. Key features of the instrument are the very high requirement for signal-to-noise and the high quality of data that have to be provided. To meet these demanding figures the optical system has been based on a high transmittance optical system, including a single mirror telescope and two prism spectrometers based on an innovative concept to minimize number of optical elements, while high performance detectors have been chosen for the photon detection. To provide the required data quality for the entire mission lifetime an accurate calibration unit (radiometric and spectral) will be included in the instrument optomechanical assembly. The thermo-mechanical design of the instrument is based on innovative concepts, considering that the use of prism spectrometers implies a tight control of temperature variations to guarantee the stability of all instrument features once in orbit. The presented paper describes the concepts and design principle of the optomechanical assembly of the instrument, at the present status of development.     

Superlight rotating reflectors in space

There is a general possibility of creation in space of large controlled mirror reflectors for solar and electromagnetic radiation with specific mass order of 1 g m^?2 or less. Such reflectors may be used in space energetics for concentration of solar energy for its further conversion into microwave beam and transmission to the Earth. They can also be used to illuminate the Earth surface in a dark period with reflected sunlight, to control the weather, for research work and some other purposes. Such reflector is a good solar sail. The control of its orientation and position in space is performed using solar energy and light pressure without spending fuel delivered from the Earth. Its form is maintained by centrifugal forces and light pressure. The film strength permits concentrators with radii of several kilometres and nearly flat reflectors for lighting applications with radii of hundreds of metres. Large series of identical reflectors can be built in space using superthin film tape at assembly station. For a year more than a hundred reflectors with a diameter of 600 m can be assembled at such a station. The assembly station can be placed at the height of 1000 km. The reflectors transfer to synchronous or other orbit is performed using their sail-likeness. For realization of such reflectors one should solve a very difficult problem of superthin film mass production as well as assembly technology problems. Careful study and experimental checks of their lifetime should be also made.     

CCD相机焦平面电路的设计与仿真

文章介绍了CCD的焦面电路设计以及初步的设计结果并且对驱动电路和模拟信号放大电路进行了Pspice仿真。     

高超声速飞行器无在线求导backstepping控制方法

针对高超声速飞行器纵向通道跟踪控制问题,提出一种无需对虚拟控制量进行在线求导的新型backstepping控制方法.首先将飞行器动力学模型划分为速度子系统和航迹倾角子系统,然后采用backstepping方法设计航迹倾角子系统控制器,利用高阶微分器技术直接设计虚拟控制量一阶导数的控制律,这样即避免了现有backstep...     

Orbital data gathering system: Comparative analysis between microwave and optical solutions

This paper describes the Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking (PAT) systems for both microwave and optical links for high data rate transmission between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) relay satellite. It points out the advantages, drawbacks and critical technologies of each tracking and acquisition systems.     

Biomedical problems of EVA support during manned space flight to Mars

Current projects of manned missions to Mars are aimed to their realization in the second-third decades of this century. The purpose of this paper is to determine and review the main biomedical problems, that require a first and foremost decision for safety support of extravehicular activity (EVA) carried out by crewmembers of the Mars expedition. To a number of such problems the authors of the paper attribute a creation of adequate EVA equipment intended, first, for assembly of interplanetary spacecraft on the Earth orbit, performance of maintenance operations and scientific researches on the external surface of spacecraft during interplanetary flight and, secondly, for work on the Mars surface. New generation of space suits with low weight, high mobility and acceptable risk of decompression sickness must be as a central component of EVA equipment. The program for preparation to a Mars expedition also has to include special investigations in order to design the means and methods for a reliable protection of crew against space radiation, to elaborate the approach to medical monitoring and primary medical care during autonomous space mission, to maintain good health condition of crewmembers during EVA under the Mars gravity (0.38 g) after super long-term flight in weightlessness.     

Potential climatic impact of organic haze on early Earth

We have explored the direct and indirect radiative effects on climate of organic particles likely to have been present on early Earth by measuring their hygroscopicity and cloud nucleating ability. The early Earth analog aerosol particles were generated via ultraviolet photolysis of an early Earth analog gas mixture, which was designed to mimic possible atmospheric conditions before the rise of oxygen. An analog aerosol for the present-day atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan was tested for comparison. We exposed the early Earth aerosol to a range of relative humidities (RHs). Water uptake onto the aerosol was observed to occur over the entire RH range tested (RH=80-87%). To translate our measurements of hygroscopicity over a specific range of RHs into their water uptake ability at any RH < 100% and into their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) at RH > 100%, we relied on the hygroscopicity parameter κ, developed by Petters and Kreidenweis. We retrieved κ=0.22?±0.12 for the early Earth aerosol, which indicates that the humidified aerosol (RH < 100 %) could have contributed to a larger antigreenhouse effect on the early Earth atmosphere than previously modeled with dry aerosol. Such effects would have been of significance in regions where the humidity was larger than 50%, because such high humidities are needed for significant amounts of water to be on the aerosol. Additionally, Earth organic aerosol particles could have activated into CCN at reasonable-and even low-water-vapor supersaturations (RH > 100%). In regions where the haze was dominant, it is expected that low particle concentrations, once activated into cloud droplets, would have created short-lived, optically thin clouds. Such clouds, if predominant on early Earth, would have had a lower albedo than clouds today, thereby warming the planet relative to current-day clouds.     

Asteroidal resources for space manufacturing

Earth-approaching asteroids (Apollos and Amors) may be competitive candidates as raw materials for space manufacturing. The total energy per unit mass required to transfer material from some of these bodies to high Earth orbit is comparable to that for lunar material. Recent optical studies suggest ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite compositions for these asteroids, with some containing large quantities of metallic iron and nickel, and others, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Discoveries of several new candidate asteroids over the next few years will allow for a better selection of materials and mission possibilities. Material from one of these asteroids, either in raw or manufactured form, could be returned to the vicinity of the Earth by a solar-powered mass-driver reaction engine. With a requirement of ～60 shuttle flights, and with minimal development costs, an automated mission to a 200-m dia. (10⁷ ton) metal-rich asteroid could be carried out by a mass-driver tug assembled in low Earth orbit using shuttle tankage as reaction mass. Such a tug could, within a few years, move the asteroid into high Earth orbit for the manufacturing of ～ 20 satellite power stations using a portion of the asteroid itself as reaction mass. In the next few years over 100 asteroids in this size range could be discovered, orbits determined and composition types classified using existing earthbased and spaceborne search techniques.     

Recovery of asteroidal metals for terrestrial utilization

A method for the economically favorable recovery of both base and precious metals from asteroids is presented. After transportation to high Earth orbit, asteroidal material would be processed into silicate glazed, 10 ton, metal cones. These cones would be dropped to remote terrestial sites from Earth orbit. It is estimated that for an investment of $23–57 billion, the first 5 × 10⁹ ton asteroid (1566 Icarus) returned to the Earth would yield a return on investment of $100 billion to $2.2 trillion. By reusing the retrieval craft subsequent missions would be even more profitable, costing around $780 million per year to sustain the program.     

Shuttle demonstration of large space structure fabrication and assembly

The purpose of this paper is to describe a program aimed at an early on orbit demonstration of a large space structure fabrication and assembly capability. Requirements for the demonstration concept have been formulated. The concept that has been selected to meet these requirements is a Large Space Structure Platform consisting of a triangular prism of 31.5 m length. Sensors can be mounted on this platform to perform Earth observation measurements from space. Structural elements of the platform are fabricated using an automated beam builder in the Shuttle Orbiter payload bay. Special fixtures are designed to assemble the structure with the aid of the Remote Manipulator System and two astroworkers in an EVA mode. Results are shown of the platform preliminary design in terms of a design layout with related structural, thermal, mass properties and control dynamics data. The assembly scenario is described. Estimates of the total construction time and Orbiter support requirements are also presented.     

传输型光学遥感器斜模式采样新方法研究

文章介绍了实现超模式采样焦平面3种解决方案面临的技术难点,为避开器件问题提出了一 种新的斜模式采样方法。以任意两雏周期采样理论为基础分析了斜模式采样技术的物理原理,并通过实验 手段验证了斜模式采样技术的可行性。试验结果表明:改变探测器推扫方向的采样间距,斜模式采样技术 可以提高传输型光学遥感器图像的空间分辨率,该技术相对于超模式采样技术,工程实现上要简单。     

太阳电池阵表面充电反向电位梯度的地面模拟

太阳电池阵等部件由于其表面介质的高二次电子发射及光电子发射特性,使得其在轨表面充电典型表现为反向电位梯度（inverted potential gradient, IPG）。为了评估航天器部组件在轨的表面充电风险,需要研究IPG的特点及在地面模拟IPG的方法。文章通过分析地球中高轨道与低轨道空间等离子体环境中表面充电的特点,提出了地面模拟IPG表面充电的方法,并给出典型试验结果。推荐中高轨道利用电子枪或紫外源、低轨道利用冷稠等离子体源模拟表面充电IPG;模拟过程中为了建立IPG,试样基底导电部位需要悬浮且有直流负偏压电源驱动;模拟IPG时需要针对试样尺度进行缩比补偿;文章给出的方法可用于一般太阳电池阵或其他在轨充电会产生IPG的试样开展地面模拟及静电放电防护性能评价试验。     

航天器异面气动力辅助变轨大气飞行段的最优轨迹

本文研究航天器利用气动力辅助变轨实现由远地轨道向近地轨道异面转移问题，就航天器利用大气飞行实现减速及轨道平面机动提出了一种考虑过程约束存在时的优化设计方法。通过方案设计将函数优化问题转换成参数优化问题，并利用美国航天飞机数据进行了模拟计算，得到满意结果。     

Testing anthropic selection: a climate change example

Planetary anthropic selection, the idea that Earth has unusual properties since, otherwise, we would not be here to observe it, is a controversial idea. This paper proposes a methodology by which to test anthropic proposals by comparison of Earth to synthetic populations of Earth-like planets. The paper illustrates this approach by investigating possible anthropic selection for high (or low) rates of Milankovitch-driven climate change. Three separate tests are investigated: (1) Earth-Moon properties and their effect on obliquity; (2) Individual planet locations and their effect on eccentricity variation; (3) The overall structure of the Solar System and its effect on eccentricity variation. In all three cases, the actual Earth/Solar System has unusually low Milankovitch frequencies compared to similar alternative systems. All three results are statistically significant at the 5% or better level, and the probability of all three occurring by chance is less than 10(-5). It therefore appears that there has been anthropic selection for slow Milankovitch cycles. This implies possible selection for a stable climate, which, if true, undermines the Gaia hypothesis and also suggests that planets with Earth-like levels of biodiversity are likely to be very rare.     

传输型光学遥感器斜模式采样新方法研究

文章介绍了实现超模式采样焦平面3种解决方案面临的技术难点，为避开器件问题提出了一种新的斜模式采样方法。以任意两维周期采样理论为基础分析了斜模式采样技术的物理原理，并通过实验手段验证了斜模式采样技术的可行性。试验结果表明：改变探测器推扫方向的采样间距符模式采样技术可以提高传输型光学遥感器图像的空间分辨率，该技术相对于超模式采样技术，工程实现上要简单。     

可重复使用运载器的再入制导(英文)

提出了一种针对可重复使用运载器的再入制导算法。算法可分为轨迹规划算法和轨迹跟踪算法。较之经典的规划阻力的航天飞机制导方法,此算法最显著的特点在于轨迹规划与轨迹跟踪都直接在高度-速度空间里进行。在规划算法中,所有的轨道不等约束都可用高度-速度空间里的上下边界来表示,之后基于此边界采用线性化插值的方法来产生标称轨迹族,最后根据末端约束(末端能量管理)和航程约束来选择所需的标称轨迹。跟踪算法则采用反馈线性化来跟踪此标称轨迹进而满足所有的约束条件。此算法另一有别于传统方法的特点在于算法可使用一个航迹角控制器来增加航程,以满足大航程需要。适当地结合规划-跟踪算法和航迹角控制器可给再入制导带来极大的灵活性和适应性。另外,算法对各种建模误差与噪声的鲁棒性经验证也是符合要求的。     

Progress in multilateral Earth observation cooperation: CEOS, IGOS and the ad hoc Group on Earth Observations

The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) coordinates international civil space-borne missions designed to observe and study planet Earth. With over 100 Earth observation satellites expected to be launched during the next 10 years, it is clear that collaborative opportunities have not been fully maximized. In 2003 CEOS has been focusing on articulating a more comprehensive satellite data utilization approach and in following up on its significant involvement in the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The CEOS Chair also serves as Co-Chair of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partnership, which seeks to reduce observation gaps and unnecessary overlaps and to harmonize and integrate common interests of space-based and in situ systems. IGOS focused in 2003 on development of a number of themes, including Carbon Cycle, Water Cycle and GeoHazards. The IGOS Ocean Theme is now in its implementation phase. NOAA, while chairing CEOS and co-chairing IGOS, has also been actively involved in organizing and hosting a ministerial-level Earth Observation Summit with a follow-on Group on Earth Observations (GEO) charged with developing the framework for a comprehensive global Earth observation system(s). All these activities demonstrate the commitment to developing more coherent and sustained Earth observation strategies for the good of the planet.     

Earth as an extrasolar planet: Earth model validation using EPOXI earth observations

The EPOXI Discovery Mission of Opportunity reused the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft to obtain spatially and temporally resolved visible photometric and moderate resolution near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic observations of Earth. These remote observations provide a rigorous validation of whole-disk Earth model simulations used to better understand remotely detectable extrasolar planet characteristics. We have used these data to upgrade, correct, and validate the NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory three-dimensional line-by-line, multiple-scattering spectral Earth model. This comprehensive model now includes specular reflectance from the ocean and explicitly includes atmospheric effects such as Rayleigh scattering, gas absorption, and temperature structure. We have used this model to generate spatially and temporally resolved synthetic spectra and images of Earth for the dates of EPOXI observation. Model parameters were varied to yield an optimum fit to the data. We found that a minimum spatial resolution of ～100 pixels on the visible disk, and four categories of water clouds, which were defined by using observed cloud positions and optical thicknesses, were needed to yield acceptable fits. The validated model provides a simultaneous fit to Earth's lightcurve, absolute brightness, and spectral data, with a root-mean-square (RMS) error of typically less than 3% for the multiwavelength lightcurves and residuals of ～10% for the absolute brightness throughout the visible and NIR spectral range. We have extended our validation into the mid-infrared by comparing the model to high spectral resolution observations of Earth from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, obtaining a fit with residuals of ～7% and brightness temperature errors of less than 1?K in the atmospheric window. For the purpose of understanding the observable characteristics of the distant Earth at arbitrary viewing geometry and observing cadence, our validated forward model can be used to simulate Earth's time-dependent brightness and spectral properties for wavelengths from the far ultraviolet to the far infrared. Key Words: Astrobiology-Extrasolar terrestrial planets-Habitability-Planetary science-Radiative transfer. Astrobiology 11, 393-408.     

Experimentally tracing the key steps in the origin of life: The aromatic world

Life is generally believed to emerge on Earth, to be at least functionally similar to life as we know it today, and to be much simpler than modern life. Although minimal life is notoriously difficult to define, a molecular system can be considered alive if it turns resources into building blocks, replicates, and evolves. Primitive life may have consisted of a compartmentalized genetic system coupled with an energy-harvesting mechanism. How prebiotic building blocks self-assemble and transform themselves into a minimal living system can be broken into two questions: (1) How can prebiotic building blocks form containers, metabolic networks, and informational polymers? (2) How can these three components cooperatively organize to form a protocell that satisfies the minimal requirements for a living system? The functional integration of these components is a difficult puzzle that requires cooperation among all the aspects of protocell assembly: starting material, reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics, and the integration of the inheritance, metabolism, and container functionalities. Protocells may have been self-assembled from components different from those used in modern biochemistry. We propose that assemblies based on aromatic hydrocarbons may have been the most abundant flexible and stable organic materials on the primitive Earth and discuss their possible integration into a minimal life form. In this paper we attempt to combine current knowledge of the composition of prebiotic organic material of extraterrestrial and terrestrial origin, and put these in the context of possible prebiotic scenarios. We also describe laboratory experiments that might help clarify the transition from nonliving to living matter using aromatic material. This paper presents an interdisciplinary approach to interface state of the art knowledge in astrochemistry, prebiotic chemistry, and artificial life research.     

A survey and assessment of the capabilities of Cubesats for Earth observation

In less than a decade, Cubesats have evolved from purely educational tools to a standard platform for technology demonstration and scientific instrumentation. The use of COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) components and the ongoing miniaturization of several technologies have already led to scattered instances of missions with promising scientific value. Furthermore, advantages in terms of development cost and development time with respect to larger satellites, as well as the possibility of launching several dozens of Cubesats with a single rocket launch, have brought forth the potential for radically new mission architectures consisting of very large constellations or clusters of Cubesats. These architectures promise to combine the temporal resolution of GEO missions with the spatial resolution of LEO missions, thus breaking a traditional trade-off in Earth observation mission design. This paper assesses the current capabilities of Cubesats with respect to potential employment in Earth observation missions. A thorough review of Cubesat bus technology capabilities is performed, identifying potential limitations and their implications on 17 different Earth observation payload technologies. These results are matched to an exhaustive review of scientific requirements in the field of Earth observation, assessing the possibilities of Cubesats to cope with the requirements set for each one of 21 measurement categories. Based on this review, several Earth observation measurements are identified that can potentially be compatible with the current state-of-the-art of Cubesat technology although some of them have actually never been addressed by any Cubesat mission. Simultaneously, other measurements are identified which are unlikely to be performed by Cubesats in the next few years due to insuperable constraints. Ultimately, this paper is intended to supply a box of ideas for universities to design future Cubesat missions with high scientific payoff.