Theoretical Aspects of the Ballistic-Navigation Design of an Advanced Space Navigation System

The capability of an orbital constellation to generate a global radio navigation field (RNF) of perfect quality is theoretically analyzed. The optimum geometrical network formed on the orbital sphere is the basis of this analysis. We invoke a criterial apparatus for estimating the ballistic-navigation characteristics of an orbital constellation and its elements, as well as specific navigation properties of an RNF. The numerical data concerning some structural parameters of orbital constellations are obtained for existing and advanced space navigation systems (SNS).     

Elegant propositions of the boundary-value problem

The fundamental ellipse of the two-body, two-point orbital boundary-value problem of orbital mechanics is introduced and its key role in the basic geometry of this famous problem is developed. Analytic formulas for the orbital parameters of conjugate orbits are derived together with further interesting properties of the mean point-locus.     

Pervasive orbital eccentricities dictate the habitability of extrasolar earths

The long-term habitability of Earth-like planets requires low orbital eccentricities. A secular perturbation from a distant stellar companion is a very important mechanism in exciting planetary eccentricities, as many of the extrasolar planetary systems are associated with stellar companions. Although the orbital evolution of an Earth-like planet in a stellar binary system is well understood, the effect of a binary perturbation on a more realistic system containing additional gas-giant planets has been very little studied. Here, we provide analytic criteria confirmed by a large ensemble of numerical integrations that identify the initial orbital parameters leading to eccentric orbits. We show that an extrasolar earth is likely to experience a broad range of orbital evolution dictated by the location of a gas-giant planet, which necessitates more focused studies on the effect of eccentricity on the potential for life.     

水平推力作用下共面椭圆轨道的最优转移

本文研究在两次水平推力作用下共面椭圆轨道的转移问题,给出了冲量大小和作用点位置的计算公式,文中还讨论了圆到圆、椭圆到圆这两种特殊情况的轨道转移,并给出了数值例子。     

基于逼近理想解排序法的航天器初始轨道选优

针对航天器入轨段，如何从多组初始轨道中选择一组最优或最符合客观实际轨道根数问题，进行了深入地理论分析，提出了基于逼近理想解排序法的航天器初始轨道根数选优算法。描述了逼近理想解排序法的设计思想以及求解的六个基本步骤；针对航天器初始轨道的设计特点，巧妙地利用标称轨道作为理想解，偏差轨道作为负理想解，成功地应用逼近理想解排序法建立了初始轨道根数选优的决策数学模型，并以一颗典型的太阳同步轨道卫星为例，验证了其数学模型和选优算法的合理性和正确性。     

Modifying the atlas of low lunar orbits using inert tethers

For long enough tethers, the coupling of the attitude and orbital dynamics may show non-negligible effects in the orbital motion of a tethered satellite about a central body. In the case of fast rotating tethers the attitude remains constant, on average, up to second order effects. Besides, for a tether rotating in a plane parallel to the equatorial plane of the central body, the attitude–orbit coupling effect is formally equal to the perturbation of the Keplerian motion produced by the oblateness of the central body and, therefore, may have a stabilizing effect in the orbital dynamics. In the case of a tethered satellite in a low lunar orbit, it is demonstrated that feasible tether lengths can help in modifying the actual map of lunar frozen orbits.     

Control of the deployment of an orbital tether system that consists of two small spacecraft

Control of an orbital tether system that consists of two small spacecraft has been considered. The proposed control laws are based on the modification of well-known programs for the deployment of tether system systems under the assumption that the masses of spacecraft and the tether are comparable in magnitude. To construct nominal deployment programs, we have developed a mathematical model of the motion of the given system in an orbital moving coordinate system taking into account the specific features of this problem. The performance of the proposed deployment programs is assessed by a mathematical model of the orbital tether system with distributed parameters written in the geocentric coordinate system. The test calculations involve a linear regulator that implements feedback on the tether length and velocity.     

基于地球引力变轨的日冕探测器轨道设计

研究了相对黄道面有一定倾角的探测器轨道设计的问题。以金星借力轨道设计为例,分析了轨道偏心率与轨道倾角增量之间的关系。根据C3匹配原理搜索了“地球-中间天体-地球”多天体交会的发射窗口。最后,设计了与地球轨道周期相等的三次地球借力轨道,该轨道倾角可以达到黄纬30°以上。理论分析及仿真结果表明:基于地球引力设计此类轨道时,应采用多天体交会方案,才能既保证地球逃逸能量低,又保证首次飞入地球影响球前轨道偏心率较大的双重指标;同时应采用多次地球借力方案,该方案具有每次借力后轨道偏心率逐渐减小的特点,当其减小到零时,再次借力后轨道倾角不会继续增加。     

Orbital corrections by a single-input impulsive control applied along the geomagnetic field

This paper examines the possibility of regular orbital corrections for a satellite controlled by an impulsive force applied along the induction vector of the local geomagnetic field. The main purpose of the correcting considered in the paper is to eliminate the drift in secular variation of the relative orbital parameters over the orbital period. The obtained results are applied to the formation flying problem. The developed method is tested using numerical simulation.     

Orbital corrections by a single-input impulsive control applied along the geomagnetic field

This paper examines the possibility of regular orbital corrections for a satellite controlled by an impulsive force applied along the induction vector of the local geomagnetic field. The main purpose of the correcting considered in the paper is to eliminate the drift in secular variation of the relative orbital parameters over the orbital period. The obtained results are applied to the formation flying problem. The developed method is tested using numerical simulation.     

观测轮廓显著性耦合时的轨道根数反演方法

针对脉冲轮廓显著性数据耦合情况下无法直接根据显著性数据反演轨道根数的问题,提出了一种根据脉冲轮廓显著性数据的方差特征进行解耦,并逐步实现轨道六根数估计的方法。利用X射线脉冲星实测数据完成了基于观测轮廓显著性数据方差特征的导航验证,实验结果表明根据显著性数据的方差特征可逐次解耦显著性数据,并以方差最小准则得到轨道根数的估计值,且定位误差为7.31 km。本文方法既不依赖标准脉冲轮廓,同时适用于轨道六根数均存在偏差的实际情况,在X射线脉冲星导航的实际应用中更具优势。     

编队卫星相对运动描述方法综述

对于近地轨道卫星编队飞行的相对运动理论研究,可以采用的方法包括直角坐标法和 轨道要素法。利用直角坐标法得到的相对运动动力学方程可以用于编队队形控制研究,轨道 要素法能够给出相对运动的运动学描述,便于定量研究摄动影响和进行编队队形设计。分析 了直角坐标法在描述卫星长期编队飞行方面的局限性,综述了利用轨道要素描述编队卫星相 对运动的各种研究方法,包括轨道要素差法、相对轨道要素法和参照轨道要素法等。     

卫星姿态控制稳定度对星座结构稳定性的影响

针对三轴姿态稳定卫星,推导了在考虑航天器姿态控制偏差时轨道控制偏差的计算公式。在考虑脉冲推力情况下得到了存在姿态控制偏差时的轨道控制误差,并分析了姿态控制稳定度导致的轨道参数偏差对星座结构稳定性的长期影响。最后对姿态控制稳定度导致的星座结构稳定性的长期影响进行了仿真分析。     

Geostationary station keeping control of a space elevator during initial cable deployment

This paper presents a basic concept to derive an orbital control strategy to achieve the full deployment and the geostationary station keeping of a space elevator during its initial cable deployment. The space elevator model is composed of a main spacecraft, a sinker mass and a massive cable connecting them. The cable elasticity, flexibility and taper of the cross-sectional area are omitted for simplification. A reference trajectory is designed so that the space elevator and its center of mass ascend vertically along the geostationary position with keeping the geostationary orbital rate. From the reference trajectory analyses, an orbital control that leads the space elevator orbit to the reference one is derived. However it is found that the reference trajectory is unstable throughout the deployment and a linear feedback control is introduced for stabilization. It is also clarified that the libration destabilizes the orbital control because the orbital acceleration caused by the libration always acts in the opposite direction to the orbital control. Therefore, a libration control is also introduced to stabilize the coupled orbital and librational motions. Numerical simulation result clearly shows that these controls facilitate the full deployment and the geostationary station keeping of the space elevator within the feasible thrust force and amount of propellant.     

Characterizing the near-earth object hazard and its mitigation

Within observational constraints and analytic orbit determinations, potential NEO hazards and mitigations are characterized in terms of orbit displacements to establish (arbitrary) “safe” closest approach distances and corresponding energies that must be externally applied to achieve appropriate orbit displacements from the Earth. Required orbital velocity changes depend on projected closest Earth approach distances and time to (near) impact. Energy to achieve orbital displacement depends on NEO mass, required orbital velocity change, and the energy–momentum coupling coefficient. Errors in these parameters introduce uncertainties into hazard index and mitigation procedures. Hazard avoidance levels and mitigation indices for nine near-Earth asteroids, including 1997 XF₁₁ and 1999 AN₁₀, with non-zero Earth-impact probabilities are computed as examples of the proposed methodology, generating insight into the dilemma of predicting near impacts. This zeroth order approximation should not be construed as solving an orbital mechanics problem, nor establishing a particular set of criteria for mitigation action, but rather as a “survival index”.     

地球静止轨道在轨服务技术研究现状与发展趋势

地球静止轨道(GEO)是人类仅有的一条独特卫星轨道,是极其珍贵的轨道资源。首先分 析了GEO环境现状和未来趋势,然后从“GEO轨道保护”和“GEO卫星在轨维护”两方面论述 了GEO在轨服务技术的内涵、服务机会和效益,介绍了世界各国GEO在轨服务技术的主要研究 进展,归纳了其中的关键技术。最后,对未来的发展趋势进行了展望。
     

Investigation of national policy shifts to impact orbital debris environments

Low earth orbit has become increasingly congested as the satellite population has grown over the past few decades, making orbital debris a major concern for the operational stability of space assets. This congestion was highlighted by the collision of the Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 satellites in 2009. This paper addresses the current state of orbital debris regulation in the United States and asks what might be done through policy change to mitigate risks in the orbital debris environment. A brief discussion of the nature of orbital debris addresses the major contributing factors including size classes, locations of population concentrations, projected satellite populations, and current challenges presented in using post-mission active debris removal to mitigate orbital debris. An overview of the current orbital debris regulatory structure of the United States reveals the fragmented nature of having six regulating bodies providing varying levels of oversight to their markets. A closer look into the regulatory policy of these agencies shows that, while they all take direction from The U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, this policy is a guideline with no real penalty for non-compliance. Various policy solutions to the orbital debris problem are presented, ranging from a business as usual approach to a consolidated regulation system which would encourage spacecraft operator compliance. The positive aspects of these options are presented as themes that would comprise an effective policy shift towards successful LEO conservation. Potential economic and physical limitations to this policy approach are also addressed.     

航天器环绕小行星Ivar的运动分析

将小行星Ivar近似为三轴椭球体，给出了非球形引力势函数，建立了航天器环绕小行星Ivar的轨道动力学方程。利用Jacobi积分常数绘制了航天器在Ivar周围的零速度曲线，并分析了航天器的可能运动区域，给出了航天器不碰撞小行星Ivar的边界条件及不同偏心率下的近拱点半径。分析了小行星Ivar扁率和椭率对环绕轨道的影响，数学仿真结果表明：在一个轨道周期内，顺行轨道的开普勒能量、轨道角动量、偏心率和近拱点半径变化较大，而逆行轨道的相应参数变化较小。     

五自由度气浮仿真试验台的动力学建模

五自由度气浮仿真试验台是在地面模拟微小卫星空间运动的一种重要仿真设备。通过分 析试验台的系统结构,定义世界系、轨道系及本体系三个坐标系,建立了其所模拟微小卫星 空间运动的一般情况下轨道动力学和姿态动力学模型,最后根据试验台目前执行机构为冷气 推进装置的实际工作情况导出了试验台状态方程,为下一步试验台模拟微小卫星的自治飞行 提供了理论基础。
     

基于地面图像和卫星图像集成的火星车定位新方法

提出了一种基于地面图像和卫星图像集成的火星车定位新方法,该方法利用由导航相机立体图像得到的火星表面的点云数据提取石块,同时对高分辨率卫星图像局部灰度统计提取石块,通过地面和卫星图像中石块分布模式的匹配,实现火星车在卫星图像中的定位,从而消除仅利用地面传感器和影像定位产生的累计误差。采用NASA勇气号火星车在多个摄站获取的地面图像以及HiRISE卫星图像进行了实验验证,结果表明这种方法在石块较多的地区能够取得很好的自动定位结果,定位误差小于HiRISE卫星图像的一个像素（0．25m）。