Novel orbits of Mercury,Venus and Mars enabled using low-thrust propulsion

Exploration of the inner planets of the Solar System is vital to significantly enhance the understanding of the formulation of the Earth and other planets. This paper therefore considers the development of novel orbits of Mars, Mercury and Venus to enhance the opportunities for remote sensing of these planets. Continuous acceleration is used to extend the critical inclination of highly elliptical orbits at each planet and is shown to require modest thrust magnitudes. This paper also presents the extension of existing sun-synchronous orbits around Mars. However, unlike Earth and Mars, natural sun-synchronous orbits do not exist at Mercury or Venus. This research therefore also uses continuous acceleration to enable circular and elliptical sun-synchronous orbits, by ensuring that the orbit's nodal precession rate matches the planets mean orbital rate around the Sun, such that the lighting along the ground-track remains approximately constant over the mission duration. This property is useful both in terms of spacecraft design, due to the constant thermal conditions, and for comparison of images. Considerably high thrust levels are however required to enable these orbits, which are prohibitively high for orbits with inclinations around 90°. These orbits therefore require some development in electric propulsion systems before becoming feasible.     

Toward a new cosmic consciousness: Psychoeducational aspects of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations

This study presents a new approach to the concept of cosmic consciousness integrated in current neuroscience knowledge and discusses implications for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It also examines different aspects related to consciousness and how it may play a key role in the understanding of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and life in the Universe and its implications. Subjects (n=116) were college students from Spain, the United States, and Italy. Subjects responded to a questionnaire comprising five different sections: (A) religious beliefs, (B) environment and general opinion, (C) astronomy, (D) contact, and (E) attention and perception. The results showed the importance of several modular aspects that affect Space awareness in humans. Preliminary results are discussed with regard to current neuroscience, factor analysis, and possible implications for the understanding of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The roles of education, new search strategies, and possible contact scenarios are also discussed.     

A novel SETI strategy targeting the solar focal regions of the most nearby stars

Many hypotheses have been raised to explain the famous Fermi paradox. One of them is that self-replicating probes could have explored the whole Galaxy, including our Solar System, and that they are still to be detected. In this scenario, it is proposed here that probes from neighboring stellar systems could use the stars they orbit as gravitational lenses to communicate efficiently with each other. Under this hypothesis, a novel SETI approach would be to monitor the solar focal regions of the most nearby stars to search for communication devices. The envisioned devices are probably not detectable by imagery or stellar occultation, but an intensive multi-spectral monitoring campaign could possibly detect some communication leakages. Another and more direct option would be to message the focal regions of nearby stars in an attempt to initiate a reaction.     

Human exploration of near earth asteroids: Mission analysis for chemical and electric propulsion

This paper presents a mission analysis comparison of human missions to asteroids using two distinct architectures. The objective is to determine if either architecture can reduce launch mass with respect to the other, while not sacrificing other performance metrics such as mission duration. One architecture relies on chemical propulsion, the traditional workhorse of space exploration. The second combines chemical and electric propulsion into a hybrid architecture that attempts to utilize the strengths of each, namely the short flight times of chemical propulsion and the propellant efficiency of electric propulsion. The architectures are thoroughly detailed, and accessibility of the known asteroid population is determined for both. The most accessible asteroids are discussed in detail. Aspects such as mission abort scenarios and vehicle reusability are also discussed. Ultimately, it is determined that launch mass can be greatly reduced with the hybrid architecture, without a notable increase in mission duration. This demonstrates that significant performance improvements can be introduced to the next step of human space exploration with realistic electric propulsion system capabilities. This leads to immediate cost savings for human exploration and simultaneously opens a path of technology development that leads to technologies enabling access to even further destinations in the future.     

Role of sample return and sample science in low cost missions

Sample return is an essential component of solar system exploration. Samples provide a unique data set that is critical for understanding formation and evolution of our solar system. This uniqueness is based on the scale of observations, precision of measurements, the ability to modify experiments as logic and technology dictate, and the ability to use instruments free of the constraints on mass, power, reliability, and data rate of flight instruments. Advances in analytical capabilities in recent years enable fundamental measurements to be made on extremely small samples, greatly reducing mass constraints on robotic sample return spacecraft. Sample studies provide irreplaceable ground truth for remotely-sensed data on planetary surfaces and fit within a variety of architectures for human exploration of the solar system.     

Venus transfer design by combining invariant manifolds and low-thrust arcs

The design of interplanetary trajectories based on patched circular restricted three body models is gradually becoming a valuable alternative to the classical patched conic approach. The main advantage offered by such a model is the possibility to exploit the manifold dynamics to move naturally far from or toward a body. Generally, propulsive maneuvers are required to match these structures. Low-thrust arcs offer the possibility to have a significant propellant mass reduction when moving from manifold to manifold. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology to design low-thrust trajectories between two planetary orbits connecting the manifolds of two circular three body systems. The approach is based on a grid search on the main parameters governing the solution to identify those trajectories moving within the manifold images on given Poincarè sections. The value of the Jacoby constant of the target libration point periodic orbit is chosen as stop condition for the thrusting phases. Ballistic arcs follow up to the proper Poincarè section intersection. A grid search for an Earth to Venus transfer is presented as test case.     

Better ways of getting into the space business: microeconomic reform in Australian space affairs

This personal view of trends in global space enterprise suggests that, unless they adapt and re-structure, large-scale national and regional space agencies built on traditional lines may struggle to survive, at least in the developed world. With the growing maturity of speculative private sector space initiatives, the role of traditional space agencies as project managers and mediators between providers and the market may become redundant, while in the absence of a cogent national security argument, public interest in space is no longer to be relied upon to deliver large national space budgets. Australia’s newest space mission, the FedSat scientific microsatellite, was announced at the same time as the former national space program was terminated. This process and its consequences are examined as an instance of microeconomic reform, which seeks to improve productivity and competitiveness by producing a regulatory and infrastructure environment that gives business more flexibility. Historical circumstances unique to Australia may have contributed to this change of direction, but many contributing elements also apply elsewhere. The features of the new approach are identification of public sector space needs; selecting the most suitable team from both public and private sectors to manage the project; and the acceptance of a large proportion of the risk by the proponents.     

An exploration of the effectiveness of artificial mini-magnetospheres as a potential solar storm shelter for long term human space missions

If mankind is to explore the solar system beyond the confines of our Earth and Moon the problem of radiation protection must be addressed. Galactic cosmic rays and highly variable energetic solar particles are an ever-present hazard in interplanetary space.     

Venus Express: Scientific goals, instrumentation, and scenario of the mission

The first European mission to Venus (Venus Express) is described. It is based on a repeated use of the Mars Express design with minor modifications dictated in the main by more severe thermal environment at Venus. The main scientific task of the mission is global exploration of the Venusian atmosphere, circumplanetary plasma, and the planet surface from an orbiting spacecraft. The Venus Express payload includes seven instruments, five of which are inherited from the missions Mars Express and Rosetta. Two instruments were specially designed for Venus Express. The advantages of Venus Express in comparison with previous missions are in using advanced instrumentation and methods of remote sounding, as well as a spacecraft with a broad spectrum of capabilities of orbital observations.     

行星际空间环境对探测器可靠性影响分析

空间环境是影响航天器可靠性的重要因素。与地球轨道航天器相比,行星际探测任务可能会遭受更加恶劣的空间环境,例如极端温度环境,辐射环境,腐蚀性大气环境、宇宙尘等,再加上行星际任务寿命长,采用先进的器件和材料,空间环境对行星际探测器的可靠性构成严重的威胁,直接关系到探测目标能否实现。因此考虑空间环境对行星际探测器的影响,开展相关的预先研究无论是对于制定行星际空间探测计划,还是搭载仪器的设计都具有非常重要的意义。文章分析了极端温度、辐射环境和行星表面综合环境对探测器的影响,并对开展相关研究提出了建议。     

Investigation of the Venus atmosphere and surface by the method of radiosounding using Venera-9 and 10 satellites

Using the Venera-9 and 10 satellites radio occultation measurements of the atmosphere and bistatic radar measurements of the surface of the planet Venus were realized from October 1975 to March 1976. The altitude dependence of the molecular number density, pressure and temperature on the night and day sides were derived.An analysis is made of the stratified structure and turbulence in the atmosphere of Venus. The results of pressure measurements on the surface by the method of bistatic radar are presented. The diagrams and the tables of the parameters of the atmosphere are given.     

深空自主飞艇探测器技术发展

介绍了美国典型自主飞艇探测器的研究现状、总体技术方案和关键支撑技术。针对我国未来的深空飞艇技术发展,提出以火星应用为重点,促进在智能自主控制、新型材料、同位素热电等关键技术领域的技术发展,并与地球临近空间飞艇技术的发展彼此借鉴等建议,可为我国未来深空探测提供参考。     

Radio Occultation Measurements of the Radio Wave Absorption and the Sulfuric Acid Vapor Content in the Atmosphere of Venus

The results of the determination of centimeter ( = 5 cm) radio waves absorption in the radio occultation experiments, carried out using the Venera-15and Venera-16spacecraft, are presented. The altitude distribution of the absorber substance is analyzed. The absorbing layer is shown to exist at altitudes of 64 to 58 km in the near-polar regions of the planet. At middle latitudes such an absorbing layer was not found. In the altitude range from 56 to 46 km the radio wave absorption by the sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) vapor is observed. The content of the sulfuric acid vapor is shown to increase with decreasing altitude: in the mid-latitude region at altitudes of 56.7 and 53 km it equals 5 and 20 ppm, respectively, and at polar latitudes the same content of H₂SO₄vapor is observed at altitudes of 51.2 and 47 km, respectively. A comparison of these results with the data of radio wave absorption in the = 13 cm band, obtained in the Pioneer Venus Orbiterradio occultation experiments, leads to the conclusion that the obtained values of the sulfuric acid vapor content well agree in the regions of overlap of the data.     

线性活化能法预估推进剂贮存寿命研究

通过理论推导得出了表观活化能与温度的函数关系,将其应用于推进剂贮存寿命预估,得到了新的预估公式,提出了线性活化能法。通过对实际算例进行相关性检验,得出该体系线性活化能计算式的相关系数r＝98．74％,置信概率P＞85％,同时通过与常温自然贮存推进剂实测性能的比较,确认这种新方法更能准确预估推进剂的长期贮存性能及使用寿命。     

固体火箭发动机寿命预估研究的发展和展望

阐述了近年来固体火箭发动机寿命预估研究领域的进展,并讨论了发动机“延寿”和修复过程的一些做法,根据最近的研究动态和测试技术的发展,展望了这一研究领域未来的发展趋势。     

大学生闲暇生活及闲暇教育的现状分析及对策

闲暇生活是在校大学生生活的一个重要组成部分。通过对在校大学生的闲暇生活现状的问卷调查,了解目前廊坊市大学生闲暇生活的特点和存在问题,为教育学界和社会学界研究大学生的闲暇生活提供一些的实证数据,同时,对于加强大学生的闲暇教育、提高大学生的闲暇生活质量也具有一定的实践意义。     

固体火箭发动机药柱可靠性及寿命预估研究

以某型号固体火箭发动机推进剂力学性能随贮存时间变化引起药柱点火工作瞬时结构可靠性降低为衡量指标,预估了发动机寿命。首先研究了发动机自然贮存2、4、12、14、16 a后推进剂的力学性能参数及其分布规律,然后用随机有限元法分析了发动机点火过程中的应力、应变的统计分布,并用应力-强度干涉模型计算了贮存不同时期药柱的点火瞬时可靠性,以此为依据确定了发动机可靠寿命。研究结果表明,该型号发动机以0.97为可靠性下限的寿命约为15 a。     

液体火箭发动机涡轮泵用轴承寿命试验研究

基于液体火箭发动机涡轮泵轴承工作要求的特殊性,介绍了一种考核液体火箭发动机涡轮泵用轴承寿命的试验方法,设计了轴承试验方案,并研制了专门的试验系统.以某型号发动机氧泵用轴承为研究对象,对其进行了常温水介质和低温液氮介质运转试验.试验系统运转良好,并且通过该方法试验后的同批次轴承参加发动机热试车工作正常.     

某动力调谐陀螺挠性接头抗冲击能力分析

挠性接头是动力调谐陀螺中最薄弱的部分，在运输时，外界和弹体自身的振动和冲击不可避免地对挠性接头的薄弱环节造成较大的影响，对接头抵抗冲击能力的研究可以帮助制定储运策略。为了弄清某型动力调谐陀螺的挠性接头承受冲击载荷的能力，论文首先建立了陀螺的离散动力学模型，通过直接积分法得到系统在特定冲击作用下的响应，并根据响应得到挠性结构的变形；然后采用有限元方法计算挠性部分的应力和变形的对应关系，进而获得接头挠性结构处的应力；最后运用累积损伤理论对挠性接头的疲劳寿命进行了估算。结果表明该型陀螺能承受的极限冲击加速度约为150g-180g。     

电磁阀磁路结构对动作寿命的影响

针对某发动机电磁阀寿命故障问题,分析了电磁阀衔铁卡滞的原因,确定了由于衔铁在壳体部件腔体内上下受力不均匀,产生了扭转力矩,导致在运动过程中的局部剧烈摩擦是故障的根本原因,基于此,提出了电磁阀的改进方案,验证结果表明改进磁路结构有效解决了寿命失效问题。