Stability and chaos of a damped satellite partially filled with liquid

The stability and chaotic motions of a damped satellite partially filled with liquid which is subjected to external disturbance are investigated in this paper. With linearization analysis, the stability of the two non-trivial equilibrium points is studied. The homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits are found by using the undetermined coefficient method, and the convergence of the series expansions of these two types of orbits is proved. It analytically demonstrates that there exist homoclinic orbits of the Si’lnikov type that join the two non-trivial equilibrium points to themselves, and therefore smale horseshoes and the horseshoe chaos occur for this system via the Si’lnikov criterion. In addition, there also exists a heteroclinic orbit connecting the two non-trivial equilibrium points. Numerical simulations are also given, which verify the analytical results. The system can be chaotic through period-doubling bifurcations as the amplitude of the external disturbance varies, and backward period-doubling bifurcations as the angular momentum of the rotor varies.     

Comment on ‘Stability and chaos of a damped satellite partially filled with liquid’ [Acta Astronautica 65 (2009) 1628–1638]

In the commented paper the authors consider a model for a damped satellite partially filled with liquid. They claim to prove the existence of Sil'nikov homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits using the undetermined coefficient method. It is enough to read their Theorem 3 to understand that their results are incorrect: according to it, if the equilibria are saddle-foci the existence of Sil'nikov homoclinic and heteroclinic connections is guaranteed. As we show along this comment, their conclusions are erroneous because the form of the function they assume for the global connections is incongruous.     

基于快速终端滑模的航天器自适应容错控制

针对存在不确定的执行机构部分失效故障和未知外界扰动的航天器姿态跟踪控制问题,提出了一种基于自适应快速终端滑模控制的容错控制方法。在没有故障检测与诊断信息的情况下,采用快速终端滑模控制原理,利用自适应算法在线估计得到的故障信息,设计具有鲁棒性的容错控制器,使系统在执行机构故障发生时,能在有限时间内以指数收敛,实现系统有限时间渐近稳定,以及对航天器的容错控制和干扰的抑制。仿真结果表明,与基于普通滑模控制器的容错控制相比,该方法在保证系统鲁棒性和可靠性的同时,具有更快的收敛速率,实现执行机构故障时有效的航天器姿态跟踪控制。     

Chaos and its avoidance in spinup dynamics of an axial dual-spin spacecraft

Attitude dynamics of a dual-spin spacecraft (DSSC) and a torque-free angular motion of a coaxial bodies system are considered. Some regimes of the heteroclinic chaos are described. The local chaotization of the DSSC is investigated at the presence of polyharmonic perturbations and small nutation restoring/overturning torques on the base of the Melnikov method and Poincaré Maps. Reasons of the chaotic regimes initiation at the spinup maneuver realization are studied. An approach for the local heteroclinic chaos escape/avoidance at the modification of the classical spinup maneuver is suggested.     

一类受周期扰动航天器的混沌姿态运动

研究了航天器从绕最小惯量主轴到最大惯量主轴旋转的姿态机动过程中的混沌现象。考虑到航天器内部或外部的振动部件的影响,假设两个主轴的转动惯量为时间的周期函数,同时还考虑了航天器内结构阻尼以及稀薄气体阻力的影响。应用高维的Melnikov方法,求解姿态机动过程中产生混沌的条件的解析表达式,且得到的阀值条件是扰动系统参数的函数。最后对该阀值条件进行了数值验证。     

Satellite dynamics under the influence of gravitational and aerodynamic torques. A study of stability of equilibrium positions

The dynamics of the rotational motion of a satellite, moving in the central Newtonian force field under the influence of gravitational and aerodynamic torques, is investigated. The paper proposes a method for determining all equilibrium positions (equilibrium orientations) of a satellite in the orbital coordinate system for specified values of aerodynamic torque and the major central moments of inertia; the sufficient conditions for their existence are obtained. For each equilibrium orientation the sufficient stability conditions are obtained using the generalized energy integral as the Lyapunov function. The detailed numerical analysis of the regions where the stability conditions of the equilibrium positions are satisfied is carried out depending on four dimensionless parameters of the problem. It is shown that, in the general case, the number of satellite’s equilibrium positions, for which the sufficient stability conditions are satisfied, varies from 4 to 2 with an increase in the value of the aerodynamic torque magnitude.     

Manifold dynamics in the Earth–Moon system via isomorphic mapping with application to spacecraft end-of-life strategies

Recently, manifold dynamics has assumed an increasing relevance for analysis and design of low-energy missions, both in the Earth–Moon system and in alternative multibody environments. With regard to lunar missions, exterior and interior transfers, based on the transit through the regions where the collinear libration points L₁ and L₂ are located, have been studied for a long time and some space missions have already taken advantage of the results of these studies. This paper is focused on the definition and use of a special isomorphic mapping for low-energy mission analysis. A convenient set of cylindrical coordinates is employed to describe the spacecraft dynamics (i.e. position and velocity), in the context of the circular restricted three-body problem, used to model the spacecraft motion in the Earth–Moon system. This isomorphic mapping of trajectories allows the identification and intuitive representation of periodic orbits and of the related invariant manifolds, which correspond to tubes that emanate from the curve associated with the periodic orbit. Heteroclinic connections, i.e. the trajectories that belong to both the stable and the unstable manifolds of two distinct periodic orbits, can be easily detected by means of this representation. This paper illustrates the use of isomorphic mapping for finding (a) periodic orbits, (b) heteroclinic connections between trajectories emanating from two Lyapunov orbits, the first at L₁, and the second at L₂, and (c) heteroclinic connections between trajectories emanating from the Lyapunov orbit at L₁ and from a particular unstable lunar orbit. Heteroclinic trajectories are asymptotic trajectories that travels at zero-propellant cost. In practical situations, a modest delta-v budget is required to perform transfers along the manifolds. This circumstance implies the possibility of performing complex missions, by combining different types of trajectory arcs belonging to the manifolds. This work studies also the possible application of manifold dynamics to defining suitable, convenient end-of-life strategies for spacecraft orbiting the Earth. Seven distinct options are identified, and lead to placing the spacecraft into the final disposal orbit, which is either (a) a lunar capture orbit, (b) a lunar impact trajectory, (c) a stable lunar periodic orbit, or (d) an outer orbit, never approaching the Earth or the Moon. Two remarkable properties that relate the velocity variations with the spacecraft energy are employed for the purpose of identifying the optimal locations, magnitudes, and directions of the velocity impulses needed to perform the seven transfer trajectories. The overall performance of each end-of-life strategy is evaluated in terms of time of flight and propellant budget.     

General dynamics in the Restricted Full Three Body Problem

The problem of a binary system and a spacecraft in its gravity field is studied. As the mass distribution of the bodies is considered, the two problems are referred as the Full Two Body Problem (F2BP) and the Restricted Full Three Body Problem (RF3BP), respectively. The conditions for relative equilibria and their stability in the F2BP were derived for an ellipsoid–sphere system. As the non-equilibrium problem is more common in nature, we look at periodic orbits in the F2BP close to the relative equilibrium conditions. It is found that families of periodic orbits can be computed where the minimum energy state of one family is the relative equilibrium state. An approximation method was derived in order to facilitate the computation of periodic orbits near relative equilibria while keeping the interesting dynamical features. The next step is to make the connection between the dynamics of the RF3BP and the F2BP. In the current paper, we solve for the dynamics of the F2BP and substitute this model in the RF3BP. We provide a basic investigation of the dynamics of a particle in the gravitational field of this binary system. We show results in the F2BP and the RF3BP.     

Novel mission concepts for polar coverage: An overview of recent developments and possible future applications

The paper provides a survey of novel mission concepts for continuous, hemispheric polar observation and direct-link polar telecommunications. It is well known that these services cannot be provided by traditional platforms: geostationary satellites do not cover high-latitude regions, while low- and medium-orbit Sun-synchronous spacecraft only cover a narrow swath of the Earth at each passage. Concepts that are proposed in the literature are described, including the pole-sitter concept (in which a spacecraft is stationary above the pole), spacecraft in artificial equilibrium points in the Sun–Earth system and non-Keplerian polar Molniya orbits. Additionally, novel displaced eight-shaped orbits at Lagrangian points are presented. For many of these concepts, a continuous acceleration is required and propulsion systems include solar electric propulsion, solar sail and a hybridisation of the two. Advantages and drawbacks of each mission concept are assessed, and a comparison in terms of high-latitude coverage and distance, spacecraft mass, payload and lifetime is presented. Finally, the paper will describe a number of potential applications enabled by these concepts, focusing on polar Earth observation and telecommunications.     

Optimum parameters of a gravitational satellite-stabilizer system

Dynamics of a satellite-stabilizer system is studied. It is supposed that there is a viscous friction in a hinge connecting two bodies, but there is no elasticity. The attitude motion in a plane of circular orbit is considered, and parameters are determined, at which natural oscillations near a stable equilibrium position in the orbital coordinate system are damped out most rapidly. The rate of transient processes is estimated by a value of the degree of stability of linearized equations of motion. The optimization of the degree of stability is sequentially performed in dimensionless damping coefficient (the first stage) and in inertial system parameters (the second stage). The result of the first stage is the partition of system parameter space into the regions, in each of which the maximum of the degree of stability is reached on a particular configuration of roots of the characteristic equation. It is shown at the second stage that the global maximum is reached at two points of parameter space, where one of system bodies degenerates into a plate, and the characteristic equation has four equal real roots.     

Transfer orbits to/from the Lagrangian points in the restricted four-body problem

The well-known Lagrangian points that appear in the planar restricted three-body problem are very important for astronautical applications. They are five points of equilibrium in the equations of motion, what means that a particle located at one of those points with zero velocity will remain there indefinitely. The collinear points (L₁, L₂ and L₃) are always unstable and the triangular points (L₄ and L₅) are stable in the present case studied (Earth–Sun system). They are all very good points to locate a space-station, since they require a small amount of ΔV (and fuel), the control to be used, for station-keeping. The triangular points are especially good for this purpose, since they are stable equilibrium points.In this paper, the planar restricted four-body problem applied to the Sun–Earth–Moon–Spacecraft is combined with numerical integration and gradient methods to solve the two-point boundary value problem. This combination is applied to the search of families of transfer orbits between the Lagrangian points and the Earth, in the Earth–Sun system, with the minimum possible cost of the control used. So, the final goal of this paper is to find the magnitude of the two impulses to be applied in the spacecraft to complete the transfer: the first one when leaving/arriving at the Lagrangian point and the second one when arriving/living at the Earth.The dynamics given by the restricted four-body problem is used to obtain the trajectory of the spacecraft, but not the position of the equilibrium points. Their position is taken from the restricted three-body model. The goal to use this model is to evaluate the perturbation of the Sun in those important trajectories, in terms of fuel consumption and time of flight. The solutions will also show how to apply the impulses to accomplish the transfers under this force model.The results showed a large collection of transfers, and that there are initial conditions (position of the Sun with respect to the other bodies) where the force of the Sun can be used to reduce the cost of the transfers.     

Two-craft tether formation relative equilibria about circular orbits and libration points

The relative equilibria of a two spacecraft tether formation connected by line-of-sight elastic forces moving in the context of a restricted two-body system and a circularly restricted three-body system are investigated. For a two spacecraft formation moving in a central gravitational field, a common assumption is that the center of the circular orbit is located at the primary mass and the center of mass of the formation orbits around the primary in a great-circle orbit. The relative equilibrium is called great-circle if the center of mass of the formation moves on the plane with the center of the gravitational field residing on it; otherwise, it is called a nongreat-circle orbit. Previous research shows that nongreat-circle equilibria in low Earth orbits exhibit a deflection of about a degree from the great-circle equilibria when spacecraft with unequal masses are separated by 350 km. This paper studies these equilibria (radial, along-track and orbit-normal in circular Earth orbit and Earth–Moon Libration points) for a range of inter-craft distances and semi-major axes of the formation center of mass. In the context of a two-spacecraft Coulomb formation with separation distances on the order of dozens of meters, this paper shows that the equilibria deflections are negligible (less than 10^?6°) even for very heterogeneous mass distributions. Furthermore, the nongreat-circle equilibria conditions for a two spacecraft tether structure at the Lagrangian libration points are developed.     

地月低能轨道转移的混沌控制方法

针对航天器在混沌区域的滑行时间过长，提出一种低能地月轨道转移的混沌控制方法。首先通过地月圆形限制性三体问题(CRTBP)的庞加莱截面图，将混沌区域进行分层并分析其规律，再利用混沌轨道对初始状态高度敏感的特性，在尽可能减少运送时间的前提下实现地月低能轨道转移。该方法的优点是利用混沌区域的固有规律，不需要依靠周期轨道特性。仿真结果表明，本文提出方法仅需施加2~4次脉冲，明显缩短混沌区域的滑行时间，从而实现地月低能转移。     

Gravity-oriented satellite dynamics subject to gravitational and active damping torques

The dynamics of the rotational motion of a satellite moving in the central Newtonian field of force over a circular orbit under the effect of gravitational and active damping torques, which depend on the satellite angular velocity projections, has been investigated. The paper proposes a method of determining all equilibrium positions (equilibrium orientations) of a satellite in the orbital coordinate system for specified values of damping coefficients and principal central moments of inertia. The conditions of their existence have been obtained. For a zero equilibrium position where the axes of the satellite-centered coordinate system coincide with the axes of the orbital coordinate system, the necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability are obtained using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. A detailed analysis of the regions where the conditions of the asymptotic stability of a zero equilibrium position are fulfilled have been obtained depending on three dimensionless parameters of the problem, and the numerical study of the process of attenuation of satellite’s spatial oscillations for various damping coefficients has been carried out. It has been shown that there is a wide range of damping parameters from which, by choosing the necessary values, one can provide the asymptotic stability of satellite’s zero equilibrium position in the orbital coordinate system.     

基于三阶解析解的小行星平衡点附近halo轨道确定方法研究

尽管周期解的存在性已经被证明,但要在给定的动力学系统中寻找到满足一定精度要求的周期解依然是一件极富挑战性的工作.提出如下方法确定小行星平衡点附近精确的周期轨道(halo轨道).首先扩展运动方程:将小行星平衡点附近轨道运动方程的右端项在平衡点处展成三阶幂级数.从而将非线性运动学方程扩展为拟线性微分方程.然后求近似解析解:应用Lindstedt-Poincaré方法求解扩展后的运动方程组,将周期解和其运动频率展开成三阶幂级数,并将二者代人扩展后的拟线性微分方程中.这样就可以得到三个不同阶的线性运动方程,逐次求解三个微分方程并消除解中的永年项即可得到hal.轨道的三阶解析解.最后微分校正:将周期轨道在三阶解析解附近线性化,得到状态转移矩阵,并使用状态转移矩阵和轨道终端状态的偏差修正轨道初值,从而得到满足精度要求的精确引力场中的halo轨道.     

Artificial equilibrium points for a solar balloon in the α Centauri system

This paper discusses the generation, stability, and control of artificial equilibrium points for a solar balloon spacecraft in the α Centauri A and B binary star system. The continuous propulsive acceleration provided by a solar balloon is shown to be able to modify the position of the (classical) Lagrangian equilibrium points of the three-body system on a locus whose geometrical form is known analytically. A linear stability analysis reveals that the new generated equilibrium points are usually unstable, but part of them can be stabilized with a simple feedback control logic.     

On plane oscillations of a pendulum with variable length suspended on the surface of a planet’s satellite

The problem of planar oscillations of a pendulum with variable length suspended on the Moon’s surface is considered. It is assumed that the Earth and Moon (or, in the general case, a planet and its satellite, or an asteroid and a spacecraft) revolve around the common center of mass in unperturbed elliptical Keplerian orbits. We discuss how the change in length of a pendulum can be used to compensate its oscillations. We wrote equations of motion, indicated a rule for the change in length of a pendulum, at which it has equilibrium positions relative to the coordinate system rotating together with the Moon and Earth. We study the necessary conditions for the stability of these motions. Chaotic dynamics of the pendulum is studied numerically and analytically.     

基于参数化外形的通用大气飞行器建模与分析

提出了一类翼身组合升力体外形通用大气飞行器(Common Aero Vehicle, CAV)的参数化外形建模方法,采用气动工程预估方法计算CAV的气动系数,拟合得到能用于再入飞行器制导与控制仿真的气动模型,并通过分析,得到该模型静稳定性、气动效率及气动控制特性等方面的结论。结合飞行器再入飞行的运动方程,选取平衡工作点,基于小扰动线性化模型得到系统特征根分布来分析其稳定性,发现固定姿态的滑翔飞行时系统有正半平面极点,需主动控制调节;为了分析机动性,提出了以星下点轨迹曲率求取CAV转弯半径的方法,可快速获取机动性评估与参考指标,结果表明,该模型具有较好的转弯机动能力。     

三角平动点附近高阶解在轨道位置保持中的应用

首先给出三角平动点附近的高阶解析解,并计算了三种特殊的运动类型。以日–地+月系三角平动点附近无长周期运动分量的拟周期轨道作为目标轨道,探讨轨道保持问题。针对三角平动点任务的轨道保持问题,我们研究了两种轨道保持策略,分别为多点打靶轨道保持与重构目标轨道的策略。计算中,将轨道控制问题转化为非线性规划问题,并以优化方法求解。仿真表明优化方法在轨道保持问题求解方面非常有效。     

圆型限制性三体问题相对运动解析研究

针对圆型限制性三体问题共线平动点附近周期/拟周期轨道下的相对运动问题,提出一种新的、通用的解析研究方法。在周期/拟周期轨道近似解析解的基础上,结合微分修正方法,获得了精确的周期/拟周期轨道。对周期/拟周期轨道的单值矩阵进行分析,同时借鉴Floquet理论核心思想,建立了六个相对运动模态,并将相对运动表示为六个相对运动模态的线性组合,获得了相对运动的近似解析解。最后在地-月系统圆型限制性三体问题下,以L1点作为研究对象,分别以Halo轨道、Lissajous轨道和Lyapunov轨道为参考轨道,对相对运动模态和相对运动进行仿真分析,说明了相对运动模态的正确性以及相对运动近似解析解的有效性。