Progress on Space Solar Telescope in 2004 - 2006

The progress on Chinese Space Solar Telescope (SST) in 2004-2006 is introduced. The scientific objectives are further clarified and the ground operation system has been planned. The 7 key technical problems of SST satellite platform and payloads have been tackled, which lay solid scientific and technological foundations for engineering prototype phase of the SST project. At present the SST project undergoes evaluation by CNSA and CAS so as to enter the engineering prototype phase of the SST project if it is finally approved.     

一种可收拢展开的X截面伸杆设计及力学性能分析

对比分析了不同截面形式管状伸杆的力学性能，发现TRAC截面比STEM和CTM截面具有更大的截面惯性矩与收拢高度之比，但其截面厚度较大，且弯心与形心不重合，导致局部弯扭组合屈曲.提出了一种管状伸杆的新型截面形式XTEM，其具有两个对称轴，弯心与形心重合；设计并建立了四种截面形式的伸杆有限元模型，分析得到了四个截面的截面惯性矩.结果表明，在同样的收拢高度下，XTEM截面伸杆在厚度增加较小的情况下，两个轴向的截面惯性矩比CTM截面分别增加了77%和35%，比STEM截面分别增加了30倍和6.7倍.      

Advancing participation of blind students in Science,Technology, Engineering,and Math

Like their sighted peers, many blind students in elementary, middle, and high school are naturally interested in space. This interest can motivate them to learn fundamental scientific, quantitative, and critical thinking skills, and sometimes even lead to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines. However, these students are often at a disadvantage in science because of the ubiquity of important graphical information that is generally not available in accessible formats, the unfamiliarity of teachers with non-visual teaching methods, lack of access to blind role models, and the low expectations of their teachers and parents. We discuss joint efforts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Federation of the Blind’s (NFB) National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS) to develop and implement strategies to promote opportunities for blind youth in science. These include the development of tactile space science books and curriculum materials, science academies for blind middle school and high school students, and college-level internship and mentoring programs. The partnership with the NFB exemplifies the effectiveness of collaborations between NASA and consumer-directed organizations to improve opportunities for underserved and underrepresented individuals.     

New educational tools to encourage high-school students' activity in stem

Many students have to choose their future profession during their last years in the high school and therefore to choose a university where they will get proper education. That choice may define their professional life for many years ahead or probably for the rest of their lives.Bauman Moscow State Technical University conducts various events to introduce future professions to high-school students. Such activity helps them to pick specialization in line with their interests and motivates them to study key scientific subjects.The paper focuses on newly developed educational tools to encourage high school students’ interest in STEM disciplines. These tools include laboratory courses developed in the fields of physics, information technologies and mathematics. More than 2000 high school students already participated in these experimental courses. These activities are aimed at increasing the quality of STEM disciplines learning which will result in higher quality of training of future engineers.     

Ballooning activities in Japan

The Scientific Balloon Center of ISAS/JAXA has carried out two balloon campaigns at Sanriku, Iwate, Japan every year. Ten to twelve balloon vehicles are launched annually for scientific and engineering experiments. Since 2005, a Brazilian balloon campaign has also been conducted in cooperation with INPE. In the 2006 Brazilian campaign, large and heavy payloads up to 1500 kg for astronomy will be launched. New generation balloons, such as super-pressure balloons and high-altitude balloons with ultra-thin films, are being developed. The current status and prospect of the Japanese scientific ballooning are discussed.     

基于工程约束的火星着陆区选择

火星着陆区选择是火星着陆及巡视任务的重要工作之一,着陆区选择需要兼顾科学目标和工程约束,考虑高风险的任务特点,火星着陆任务的工程约束更为重要。工程约束涉及着陆区表面特征、任务轨道、大气等。表面特征包括地理高程、斜坡及地形起伏、岩石分布、尘土厚度、光照、热约束情况。这些因素将影响探测器进入、下降和着陆(EDL)过程的安全性和火星车移动能力。首先针对这些工程约束进行了排序与筛选;然后建立了基于模糊算法的分析模型,通过模糊推理得到各着陆区域的评价指标,从而进行着陆区选择;最后基于ExoMars2020任务的备选着陆区进行了方法验证。     

中国首次火星探测任务地面应用系统

中国首次火星探测任务(HX-1)计划2020年通过一次发射实现火星环绕和着陆巡视,对火星开展全球性、综合性的环绕探测,在火星表面开展区域巡视探测。地面应用系统是首次火星探测任务工程五大系统之一,主要负责科学探测计划制定,有效载荷运行管理,探测数据的接收、处理、解译和管理,组织开展科学数据的应用和研究等任务。在分析国外类似系统和火星探测地面应用系统的特点和难点基础上,从系统的主要任务和技术指标出发,介绍了系统总体布局、分系统主要功能、组成和设计。     

Analog environments for a Europa lander mission

This paper reviews the utility of analog environments in preparations for a Europa lander mission. Such analogs are useful in the demonstration and rehearsal of engineering functions such as sample acquisition from an icy surface, as well as in the exercise of the scientific protocols needed to identify organic, inorganic and possible biological impurities in ice. Particular attention is drawn to Antarctic and Arctic analog sites where progress in these latter areas has been significant in recent years.     

Lunar ground penetrating radar: Minimizing potential data artifacts caused by signal interaction with a rover body

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is the leading geophysical candidate technology for future lunar missions aimed at mapping shallow stratigraphy (<5 m). The instrument’s exploration depth and resolution capabilities in lunar materials, as well as its small size and lightweight components, make it a very attractive option from both a scientific and engineering perspective. However, the interaction between a GPR signal and the rover body is poorly understood and must be investigated prior to a space mission. In doing so, engineering and survey design strategies should be developed to enhance GPR performance in the context of the scientific question being asked. This paper explores the effects of a rover (simulated with a vertical metal plate) on GPR results for a range of heights above the surface and antenna configurations at two sites: (i) a standard GPR testing site with targets of known position, size, and material properties, and; (ii) a frozen lake for surface reflectivity experiments. Our results demonstrate that the GPR antenna configuration is a key variable dictating instrument design, with the XX polarization considered optimal for minimizing data artifact generation. These findings could thus be used to help guide design requirements for an eventual flight instrument.     

美国2020火星车着陆区遴选进展及对2020中国火星任务着陆探测部分的一些思考

总结了近20年来火星探测的重要发现以及生命、气候和地质3个方面尚未解决的关键科学问题;介绍了美国国家航空航天局(NASA)2020火星探测任务的科学目标、科学载荷和着陆区选择的工程条件限制,并重点分析了经过3次着陆区选择研讨会,上百位行星科学家投票选取的排名前3的预选着陆区的地质情况。在此基础上,提出了对我国2020年火星任务的着陆探测部分的一些思考,并根据不同的任务目标(聚焦生命、气候和地质问题;支持载人火星探测的资源勘察;工程技术验证)提出了3个候选着陆区。     

Science Missions Using CubeSats

As the role of missions and experiments carried out in outer space becomes more and more essential in our understanding of many earthly problems, such as resource management, environmental problems, and disaster management, as well as space science questions, thanks to their lower cost and faster development process CubeSats can benefit humanity and therefore, young scientists and engineers have been motivated to research and develop new CubeSat missions. Not very long after their inception, CubeSats have evolved to become accepted platforms for scientific and commercial applications. The last couple of years showed that they are a feasible tool for conducting scientific experiments, not only in the Earth orbit but also in the interplanetary space. For many countries, a CubeSat mission could prompt the community and young teams around the world to build the national capacity to launch and operate national space missions. This paper presents an overview of the key scientific and engineering gateways opened up to the younger scientific community by the advent and adaptation of new technology into CubeSat missions. The role of cooperation and the opportunities for capacity-building and education are also explored. Thus, the present article also aims to provide useful recommendations to scientists, early-career researchers, engineers, students, and anyone who intends to explore the potential and opportunities offered by CubeSats and CubeSats-based missions.      

我国首次火星探测任务

我国首次火星探测任务于2016年立项实施。综合介绍了国际火星探测的历史和现状,我国首次火星探测任务的工程目标和科学目标、总体技术方案、关键技术难点、预期创新成果。我国首次火星探测任务将通过一次发射,实现火星环绕和着陆巡视,对火星开展全球性普查和局部的精细探测,推进火星地形地貌与地质构造、土壤特征与水冰分布、表明物质组成、大气电离层和气候环境、物理场与内部构造等方面的研究。实现火星探测任务目标,针对火星探测面临的各种特殊环境,需突破长期自主管理与控制等8类关键技术,取得的一系列创新成果,将为我国建立独立自主的深空探测基础工程体系,掌握深空探测基础共性技术,形成开展深空探测的基础工程能力。     

中国首次火星探测任务有效载荷地面综合测试系统设计

介绍了中国首次火星探测任务有效载荷分系统的试验矩阵,以及地面综合测试系统的技术要求。面向2个探测器、5种场景的测试任务需求,设计由接口适配、业务处理、数据管理组成的3层统一架构,实现了不同场景下测试系统的功能和外部接口适配;根据星上科学数据处理与传输机制,设计地面科学数据处理流程,满足了13类载荷科学数据判读需求;针对单星1 900维工程遥测、400条数据注入指令的高维特性,设计基于规则的数据判读软件,实现了载荷遥测数据及数据注入指令的自动化判读。任务执行结果表明该系统满足不同试验模式下有效载荷测试任务的需求,有效保障了载荷测试任务的顺利实施。     

How far is far enough? Requirements derivation for planetary mobility systems

The origination of duration and distance requirements on planetary mobility systems (generally, rovers) are reviewed in detail. It is found that a ‘clean’ flow down from scientific objectives to requirement to capability is rarely presented. Rather, the historical record shows that the capability of emerging designs has been adopted post-hoc as a requirement, simple comparative superiority to predecessor missions has been invoked in competitive situations, or the requirement has been driven by capability of other elements of a mission architecture, such as delivery precision or astronaut life support. These deviations from the idealized systems engineering process have nonetheless resulted in missions that have generally been considered highly successful.     

微重力条件下泡沫复合相变材料蓄热装置数值仿真

相变材料由于相变过程中吸收或者释放大量能量且过程近似等温这一特性而有巨大的应用潜力,将相变材料蓄热装置应用于航天器是维持航天器内各个单元工作温度的一种有效方法.提出一种基于正二十烷的相变蓄热结构方案,分别填充泡沫铜与泡沫碳作为基体材料来强化相变材料的传热性能.通过对该模型进行数值仿真计算,得到相变蓄热装置温度、固液相界面位置随时间的变化等有效数据,分析泡沫相变蓄热材料在微重力条件下相变界面的演变过程.结果显示,得益于其较高的导热系数,泡沫复合相变材料可将热源热量有效分散到其他区域,减缓热源面温度上升速度,并且降低重力变化对传热的影响.所得数据结果为泡沫复合相变材料的工程应用提供了科学依据.      

火星探测VLBI测定轨技术

我国将于2020年首次发射由环绕器和着陆巡视器组成的火星探测器,火星探测器的跟踪及精密测定轨是完成工程任务和科学探测的基础。火星探测器的跟踪和测定轨,目前主要采用基于地面无线电测量的测距、测速和甚长基线干涉VLBI测角3种手段。主要针对VLBI技术予以介绍,主要内容为:△DOR型VLBI技术在国内外的应用情况、火星探测器VLBI测定轨技术分析、基于同波束VLBI的火星车定位技术、火星探测器VLBI观测等。这些内容对我国的火星探测器测定轨有重要的应用价值。     

地外天体着陆点选择综述与展望

行星表面具有科学研究价值的区域往往地形复杂,对着陆的安全性提出了很高的要求。如何选择既满足工程约束又具有很好科学价值的着陆点,在提高任务可靠性的同时获得最优的科学回报,成为未来行星着陆任务需要解决的首要问题之一。回顾了以往地外天体着陆任务的着陆点分布情况,总结归纳了着陆点选取过程中需要考虑的因素,分析了当前的研究现状并给出一般选取流程,最后针对我国未来深空探测任务着陆点选择问题提出了一些思考与建议。     

电动静液作动器设计方法综述

电动静液作动器(EHA)是一种起源于航空领域的新型高性能伺服作动装置,正逐渐成为各类大型装备的通用基础元部件,鉴于其机电液控热多学科耦合较大且要达到的综合指标又高,所以迫切需要一套高效科学的设计方法。从EHA完整设计过程的角度,综述其中的设计方法,为今后EHA产品的设计开发流程提供了基本支撑和多样化的技术手段。总结出基于自动化系统设计和多学科联合详细设计的EHA设计方法,并对其中的综合指标建立、建模仿真、优化设计、控制设计等关键技术进行了分析,给出适合不同设计任务特点的各步骤实现途径。展望了自动化详细设计、基于模型系统工程、3D打印等最新技术在EHA设计中的应用,为后续进一步提升EHA设计水平提供了参考。     

中国航天器工程的成就与展望

中国航天器工程 40多年来经历了技术准备阶段、技术试验阶段和工程应用阶段 ,已形成了返回式遥感卫星系列 ,通信广播卫星系列 ,气象卫星系列和科学探测与技术试验卫星系列 ,而地球资源卫星系列和导航定位卫星系列也即将形成 ;至今中国已发射成功人造地球卫星 5 1颗 ,发射成功试验载人飞船 4艘 ,取得了举世瞩目的成就 ,为国民经济、国防建设、文化教育和科学研究作出了重大的贡献。进入 2 1世纪 ,根据中国航天近期和远期的发展目标 ,中国航天器工程将迎来新的辉煌     

三相线钉扎的大液滴蒸发实验

利用实践十号返回式科学实验卫星蒸发对流箱,开展了三相线处于钉扎状态且接触半径大于毛细长度的无水乙醇大滴在加热PTFE表面蒸发的地基科学实验.实验发现,液滴体积随时间线性递减,但钉扎大液滴蒸发过程中没有出现恒定接触角(CCA)阶段.与小液滴蒸发的恒定接触半径(CCR)阶段相同,大液滴的平均蒸发速率也与初始体积无关,表明受...