天基激光清除空间碎片方案与可行性研究

介绍了激光烧蚀驱动机理和空间碎片降轨清除原理,通过分析计算确立了空间碎片降轨清除判据和2 种降轨清除模式。理论计算给出了清除1200、800 和500 km 三个典型低地球轨道上空间碎片所必须的速度增量、激光器功率、单脉冲能量、激光发射镜直径等主要参数值。对比分析显示现有的硬件指标和条件能够满足清除低地球轨道上空间碎片的设计要求,因此,天基激光清除空间碎片方案从技术角度是可行的。     

天基激光驱动空间碎片降轨效果仿真研究

在当前天基激光移除碎片方案设计中,通常采用k J级高能激光器、100 m/s大速度增量和简单降轨模型计算移除系统参数,然而k J级天基高能激光器尚未实现。文章基于目前实验室现有的J级激光器水平,参考现阶段碎片移除方案,针对特定区域的目标空间碎片,结合碎片轨道特性信息建立降轨模型,仿真研究目标碎片在低能量天基激光驱动下的运动过程和降轨效果,分析了影响目标碎片降轨效果的因素。对部署在500 km轨道高度的天基平台移除附近碎片的仿真结果表明,速度增量和降轨高度的变化具有累积效应,提高频率、增大有效作用距离等可延长激光烧蚀驱动时间,进而增强碎片降轨效果。分析表明,J级小能量激光器通过长时间的烧蚀,也可有效驱动和移除1~10 cm碎片。     

天基轻气炮发射清除低轨碎片方案及关键技术分析

文章分析了现有的空间碎片清除方式,并以800~1200 km低地球轨道高度上1~10 cm量级的空间碎片为清除目标,提出了天基轻气炮清除碎片的新方法。首先分析了轻气炮有效载荷在典型参数下的弹丸加速能力;之后根据将碎片降轨使其坠入大气层烧毁的设想,提出天基轻气炮共面清除碎片的方式,并选择轨道高度800 km的圆轨道作为碎片运行轨道进行可行性分析。计算表明,对半径10 cm、厚度1 cm的铝合金圆板碎片(质量211.95 g),使用初速1 km/s、重10 g的黏性弹丸可按任务方案达到清除效果。此外,计算出该参数弹丸对轨道高度800~1200 km的圆轨道上可清除的最大碎片质量为500~825 g,证明轻气炮弹丸对1~10 cm的碎片具有较强的清除能力。最后,分析了以轻气炮为有效载荷的航天器在完成清除碎片任务时的关键技术。     

空间柔性绳网多碎片捕获动力学研究

随着空间碎片数量的增加,其对近地轨道中的在轨卫星产生越来越严重的威胁,空间多碎片的高效清理在近年来也成为了学界关注的热点问题。针对柔性绳网在一次任务中同时对多个碎片进行捕获清理的问题,建立了柔性绳网的动力学模型和与碎片接触动力学模型,并对捕获过程中柔性绳网与碎片的运动进行了仿真模拟。针对绳网的最大拉伸力、质量块位移速度等变量,深入分析捕获过程中绳网与碎片的运动特性。数值仿真结果表明,在一次任务中,柔性绳网可以对多个旋转空间碎片进行捕获,并实现稳定的包裹缠绕,展示了柔性绳网良好的捕获能力。     

激光移除空间碎片过程的三维仿真与建模

基于轨道力学和激光与物质相互作用理论建立激光移除空间碎片的三维变轨模型。该模型利用激光站/卫星与碎片位置和速度矢量作为初始数据,通过设定激光参数,实时计算和更新速度增量矢量,能够真实地反映碎片的移除过程。该模型包括地基和天基两种类型,根据激光作用临界条件与降轨效果计算碎片的降轨过程,能够实时输出碎片轨道信息,图形化输出使结果更加直观。考虑到速度增量分量对轨道倾角的影响,该模型增加了碎片逃逸情况的判断。最后,利用该模型计算了地基/天基系统移除多种空间碎片材料的过程和效果,发现钢材料碎片移除难度最大,而移除多层绝缘材料的效率最高。     

地球同步轨道卫星结构爆炸解体碎片的轨道仿真

为快速确定与预报卫星在轨爆炸解体产生的大量空间碎片的轨道,提出了一种基于ANSYS/AUTODYN、MATLAB、STK等多软件平台联合仿真分析卫星结构爆炸解体碎片运行轨道的方法。利用ANSYS/AUTODYN对典型薄壁圆柱模拟地球同步轨道卫星结构进行爆炸数值分析,得到碎片的数量、质量分布和速度特性信息。再利用MATLAB软件对卫星爆炸仿真得到的碎片参数进行处理,将处理后的数据导入到STK软件的通用摄动SGP4模型中,得出卫星爆炸碎片的早期轨道数据。最后对爆炸碎片的轨道分布、速度增量、轨道演化等进行分析。结果表明:该方法能满足大量爆炸碎片的轨道仿真要求,能有效提高碎片轨道信息转换效率,对目前难以跟踪的cm级以下碎片,也能提供相应的初始轨道数据,使用方便,通用性好。研究结果可为快速捕获卫星爆炸碎片,及时规避航天器碰撞风险提供参考。     

空间碎片软捕获姿轨控模型构建与仿真

为构建利用柔性机械臂捕获空间碎片的系统仿真模型,首先分析梳理空间碎片捕获典型任务流程,包括轨道转移、位置保持、路径规划、动量稳定控制等阶段;然后针对任务流程分别搭建基于Simu Link的路径规划、动量缓冲控制、姿态控制、动力学和轨道仿真等子系统;各个子系统之间以TCP/IP的方式进行数据交互,最终完成空间碎片软捕获任务姿轨控仿真系统的构建。     

空间碎片环境的现状,未来及防护

在调研国外碎片研究活动基础上,分析了空间碎片的类型、增长及空间分布规律,根据气体动力学理论,估算了航天器与轨道碎片的碰撞几率和碰撞速度,介绍了NASA的“PIB”近地轨道空间碎片环境予示模型,关于空间碎片问题的对策,综述了国际上已采用的一些予防措施,清除空间碎片的各种技术方案正在深入研究之中,该文只作了一般概念性介绍。     

火星探测器使命轨道捕获策略研究

分析了火星探测器使命轨道捕获策略研究需求,给出了三种可用的典型捕获策略,建立了速度纵向平面内的飞行动力学方程,对三种典型策略进行了飞行动力学仿真,给出了各策略完成捕获所需速度增量、任务耗时及过。通过对仿真结果的分析比较,得出研究结论为：直接制动捕获任务耗时及过载较小,但速度增量需求较大;多次穿越后捕获任务耗时较长,但速度增量需求和过载较小;一次穿越后捕获速度增量需求较小且任务耗时较短,但过载较大。     

弹丸超高速撞击单层和多层板结构的碎片特征研究

针对空间碎片撞击航天器典型结构形成的碎片特征问题,开展了单层板和多层板在4.4～5.8 km／s速度下的超高速撞击试验,利用激光阴影照相技术和碎片软回收方法获得了不同试验状态下碎片尺寸及质量分布等信息,同时采用数值仿真方法分析了碎片的形成机理。研究结果表明,碎片数量随弹丸及靶材尺度的增大、撞击速度的提高而增加,且随碎片尺寸的减小呈指数关系增长。碎片尺寸与其形成机理有关,小碎片主要是在应变率较高的冲击加载和相变作用下形成,对撞击速度的变化更为敏感;大碎片则是在较低应变率下,因靶材的穿孔损伤造成局部强度下降,在冲击作用下材料沿薄弱处撕裂并脱落而形成。     

Evaluation of a satellite constellation for active debris removal

This paper analyzes an example of a three-dimensional constellation of debris removal satellites and proposes an effective constellation using a delta-V analysis that discusses the advisability of rendezvousing satellites with space debris. Lambert?s Equation was used to establish a means of analysis to construct a constellation of debris removal satellites, which has a limit of delta-V injection by evaluating the amount of space debris that can be rendezvoused by a certain number of removal satellite. Consequently, we determine a constellation of up to 38 removal satellites for debris removal, where the number of space debris rendezvoused by a single removal satellite is not more than 25, removing up to 584 pieces of debris total. Even if we prepare 38 removal satellites in their respective orbits, it is impossible to remove all of the space debris. Although many removal satellites, over 100 for example, can remove most of the space debris, this method is economically disproportionate. However, we can also see the removal satellites are distributed nearly evenly. Accordingly, we propose a practical two-stage strategy. The first stage is to implement emergent debris removal with the 38 removal satellites. When we find a very high probability of collision between a working satellite and space debris, one of the removal satellites in the constellation previously constructed in orbit initiates a maneuver of emergent debris removal. The second stage is a long-term space debris removal strategy to suppress the increase of space debris derived from collisions among the pieces of space debris. The constellation analyzed in this paper, which consists of the first 38 removal satellites, can remove half of the over 1000 dangerous space debris among others, and then the constellation increases the number of the following removal satellites in steps. At any rate, an adequate orbital configuration and constellation form is very important for both space debris removal and economic efficiency. Though the size of constellation of debris removal satellites would be small originally, such a constellation of satellites should be one of the initial constellations of removal satellites to ensure the safety of the future orbital environment.     

激光驱动典型几何形状碎片运动建模研究

在以往的激光烧蚀驱动移除空间碎片研究中,均假设激光光束覆盖整个所关注的空间碎片。文章提出了焦斑式激光辐照下球体、圆柱体和立方体碎片反喷冲量和运动姿态的计算模型,研究了激光辐照在3种形状碎片不同位置处所产生的反喷冲量和姿态变化规律。结果表明:碎片运动规律与碎片几何形状和激光作用位置有关,当反喷冲量过质心时,碎片获得平动冲量;不过质心时,则会改变碎片的角速度或姿态。研究结果可为激光移除空间碎片研究提供理论参考。     

Study on the eddy current damping of the spin dynamics of space debris from the Ariane launcher upper stages

This paper addresses the topic of damping of the spin dynamics of a spatial debris orbiting around the Earth. Such debris, which can consist of parts of heavy launchers such as the Ariane rocket under consideration in this article, are impacted by torques generated by eddy currents as their conducting non-ferromagnetic body orbits through the Earth magnetosphere. Several previous works have focused on describing this induction phenomenon and have proposed analysis of empirical observations of this particular and important effect which has attracted much attention since the number of spatial debris has emerged as a problem for the future of space programs, especially in low orbits. In this paper, we present a relatively comprehensive modeling of the induction phenomenon, by means of Maxwell's equations inside the conducting and non-ferromagnetic body. Through the generalized Ohm's law, we show how one can obtain a partial differential equation with Neumann's boundary conditions problem that, once solved, e.g. through a finite elements method, yields the values of induced currents and braking torques. The case of a depleted upper stage of a heavy launcher, having a cylindrical shape and thin walls is particularly studied. We show a methodology to estimate the decay-rate of the spinning velocity, which is proven to satisfy a first-order asymptotically stable linear dynamics. Special cases consisting of typical orbit of space debris are treated.     

Wholesale debris removal from LEO

Recent advances in electrodynamic propulsion make it possible to seriously consider wholesale removal of large debris from LEO for the first time since the beginning of the space era. Cumulative ranking of large groups of the LEO debris population and general limitations of passive drag devices and rocket-based removal systems are analyzed. A candidate electrodynamic debris removal system is discussed that can affordably remove all debris objects over 2 kg from LEO in 7 years. That means removing more than 99% of the collision-generated debris potential in LEO. Removal is performed by a dozen 100-kg propellantless vehicles that react against the Earth's magnetic field. The debris objects are dragged down and released into short-lived orbits below ISS. As an alternative to deorbit, some of them can be collected for storage and possible in-orbit recycling. The estimated cost per kilogram of debris removed is a small fraction of typical launch costs per kilogram. These rates are low enough to open commercial opportunities and create a governing framework for wholesale removal of large debris objects from LEO.     

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.     

CAST激光驱动微小飞片及其超高速撞击效应研究进展

激光驱动飞片技术(LDFT)在模拟微米级空间碎片对航天器的超高速撞击效应方面具有独特的优势。文章全面介绍了北京卫星环境工程研究所在激光驱动飞片技术与微米级空间碎片超高速撞击效应地面模拟研究中取得的若干进展,包括激光驱动飞片的理论计算、超高速飞片的稳定发射技术、超高速飞片速度瞬态测量技术、航天器外露表面的超高速撞击特性、超高速撞击累积损伤评价方法,以及微米级空间碎片超高速撞击防护技术探索等研究。同时,展望了激光驱动飞片技术以及微米级空间碎片累积撞击实验研究的发展方向。