L׳ADROIT – A spaceborne ultraviolet laser system for space debris clearing

Small (1–10 cm) debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are extremely dangerous, because they spread the breakup cascade. Pulsed laser active debris removal using laser ablation jets on target is the most cost-effective way to re-enter the small debris. No other solutions address the whole problem of large (~100 cm, 1 t) as well as small debris. Physical removal of small debris (by nets, tethers and so on) is uneconomical because of the energy cost of matching orbits. In this paper, we present a completely new proposal relative to our earlier work. This new approach uses rapid, head-on interaction in 10–40 s rather than 4 minutes, using 20–40 kW bursts of 100 ps, 355 nm UV pulses from a 1.5 m diameter aperture on a space-based station in LEO. The station employs “heat-capacity” laser mode with low duty cycle to create an adaptable, robust, dual-mode system which can lower or raise large derelict objects into less dangerous orbits, as well as clear out the small debris in a 400-km thick LEO band. Time-average laser optical power is less than 15 kW. The combination of short pulses and UV wavelength gives lower required fluence on target as well as higher momentum coupling coefficient. An orbiting system can have short range because of high interaction rate deriving from its velocity through the debris field. This leads to much smaller mirrors and lower average power than the ground-based systems we have considered previously. Our system also permits strong defense of specific assets. Analysis gives an estimated cost less than $1 k each to re-enter most small debris in a few months, and about 280 k$ each to raise or lower 1-ton objects by 40 km. We believe it can do this for 2000 such large objects in about four years. Laser ablation is one of the few interactions in nature that propel a distant object without any significant reaction on the source.     

用激光驱动飞片的试验装置

文章介绍了Kirtland空军基地的Phillips实验室的激光驱动飞片装置,对其设计原则、驱动方法和试验结果进行分析,并指出这种方法的优点和不足。     

Will space run out of space? The orbital debris problem and its mitigation

An appraisal of current and future risks from space debris is presented with the aid of calculations carried out by the MASTER model. The efficacy of various technical options -- such as fuel venting, de-orbiting and use of a graveyard orbit -- for counteracting the problem is discussed. The article then focuses on governmental and international cooperative measures and looks at the recent work done by subcommittees of the UN COPUOS.     

对欧空局轨道碎片模型的评价

文章评价了颗粒大于1cm的碎片模型,它包含大于10cm的一组粒子和介于1～10cm之间的粒子,它们是由空间暴露模拟得到的。接着讨论了尺寸范围介于0.1～10mm之间的小粒子束流。假定这些粒子主要是由小粒子与卫星碰撞产生的。这种碰撞主要发生在450～500kin的高度范围内(空间站高度),碰撞与否还取决于轨道高度和离心率。     

对美国宇航公司使用的轨道碎片模型的评价

文章介绍了碰撞程序和碎片程序,并进行了评价。前一个程序说明了碎片撞击的破裂特性;后一个程序给出了当一个空间物体进入碎片云时的撞击概率。     

低地球轨道航天器的轨道碎片环境

文章介绍了一种适用于低地球轨道航天器的轨道碎片环境模型。对建立这个模型的数据源及设计标准进行了详细的叙述。并评价这个数据模型对未来空间环境的预测和测量中的不确定性。     

Space debris and the need for space traffic control

This report summarises the presentations which took place at the ‘Space Traffic Control – Is the Space Debris Problem Solvable?’ conference hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society on the 2nd July 2013. The conference sought to promote discussion over methods to deal with the issue of space debris in particular and speakers included representatives from the European Space Agency, the United Kingdom Space Agency, practitioners and academia. Themes which emerged during the conference included the urgency of the problem of space debris, the need for short-term and long-term solutions, the necessity for the development and implementation of space debris remediation technologies to complement existing mitigation efforts and, last but not least, the wider applications of space traffic control. Regarding the sub-title of the conference, ‘is the space debris problem solvable?’, it would appear from the presentations that while there is the potential for future management of the issue through debris remediation and harmonised mitigation efforts, no comprehensive solutions exist at the time of writing.     

ESA和NASA空间碎片模型的比较

文章介绍了欧空局MASTER、美国NASA90和NASA96三种空间碎片模型的概念设计,并通过不同目标的轨道特征,对其定量预示进行比较。特别指出了:在直径大于1cm或者是在1mm以下的范围,不同模型之间存在一个量级以上的相当大的差异。     

低地轨道空间碎片环境建模与分析

根据“箱中粒子”（PIB）的模型和气体分子运动学理论，建立了估算低地轨道（LEO）上空间碎片总数的微分方程，参考国外文献提供的有关空间碎片统计数据和初始条件，求解方程，并分析了空间碎片环境的短期和长期变化趋势。     

天基雷达观测空间碎片的研究现状及关键技术分析

文章针对空间碎片观测中尚未得到确切观测数据的危险碎片的观测需求,综合分析了国内外的研究水平和现状,对天基雷达观测的需求和关键技术开展研究,提出了天基空间碎片观测有三个关键技术需要解决,即如何确定雷达工作体制和平台轨道以提高观测效率,如何有效探测尺度只有几个毫米-几个厘米的细小目标,如何对观测到的空间碎片进行分类和精确定轨。     

在轨物体接近算法研究

根据NORAD公布的在轨物体(空间碎片或航天器) 的轨道数据,给出了计算在轨物体两两间发生接近事件的方法。该方法结合了计算在轨物体 接近的运动学筛选法和相对距离函数法,以提高计算效率。以该方法为基础,提出了特定航 天器与全体在轨物体间的接近事件算法。算法采用了改进后的几何筛选法。该方法并不求解 两轨道的最近点,而是求解包含最近点的时间窗口,从而解决了原方法漏报接近事件的问题 。该方法在理论上可以检测到所有的接近事件,数值仿真验证支持了该结论。在计算效率 上新方法相对于原算法也有约10倍的提高。     

空间碎片环境的长期演化建模方法

针对空间碎片环境的长期演化问题,从宏观和微观两个方面,分别构建了碎片环境的整体演化模型和数值演化计算模型,并在此基础上研究了不同条件下碎片环境的长期演化分布特点,分析了碎片环境的稳定性和主要影响因素。低地球轨道碎片环境在未来200年内的演化结果表明,空间目标的相互碰撞解体,是空间碎片不断增加的主要因素;即使停止一切航天发射活动,空间碎片的数量仍在不断增加,表明低地球轨道空间碎片规模已经超越稳定临界点;进一步的发射活动会增强空间碎片环境演化的不稳定性,加剧“碰撞-目标解体-碰撞”反馈连锁碰撞效应。     

Passive optical detection of submillimeter and millimeter size space debris in low Earth orbit

Understanding of the space debris environment and accuracy of its observation-validated models are essential for optimal design and safe operation of satellite systems. Existing ground-based optical telescopes and radars are not capable of observing debris smaller than several millimeters in size. A new experimental and instrumental approach – the space-based Local Orbital Debris Environment (LODE) detector – aims at in situ measuring of debris with sizes from 0.2–10 mm near the satellite orbit. The LODE concept relies on a passive optical photon-counting time-tagging imaging system detecting solar photons (in the visible spectral range) reflected by debris crossing the sensor field of view. In contrast, prior feasibility studies of space-based optical sensors considered frame detectors in the focal plane. The article describes the new experimental concept, discusses top-level system parameters and design tradeoffs, outlines an approach to identifying and extracting rare debris detection events from the background, and presents an example of performance characteristics of a LODE sensor with a 6-cm diameter aperture. The article concludes with a discussion of possible sensor applications on satellites.     

单层及双层板的超高速碰撞试验(速度超过10km/s)的数值模拟

文章介绍了在Sandia国家实验室所进行的3个精确控制的超高速碰撞试验,使用两种复杂的流体码即多维流体动力学代码CTH和平滑粒子流体动力学代码SPH,对该试验进行数值模拟。该试验用质量为克大小的飞片及球形射弹以大约10km/s的速度撞击薄铝板及钢板(厚度小于1cm)。并分析了碎片云动力学计算预示结果及这些试验中金属板的损坏。     

球形弹丸高速撞击航天器防护结构的数值模拟分析

给出了空间碎片超高速撞击航天器双层防护结构模型,采用非线性有限元方法中的光滑粒子流体动力算法,计算了球形弹丸对航天器双层防护墙结构超高速撞击过程,获得了弹丸穿过第一层防护墙后,碎裂形成颗粒云团及其对第二层防护墙的损伤效应。计算结果表明多层防护墙结构能够有效地缓减高速空间碎片对航天器的破坏作用。     

星座设计中的安全性问题研究

如何避免星座中卫星之间发生碰撞是星座安全性设计需要考虑的重要问题,给出了预测星座中卫星发生碰撞的一种方法,提出保证星座安全性需要考虑的三个问题并研究了如何避免星座中工作卫星、备份卫星和寿命终止卫星与工作卫星发生碰撞的措施。     

利用等离子体加速器发射超高速微小空间碎片的研究

文章介绍了国内外微小空间碎片超高速撞击地面模拟实验研究的现状,描述了国内等离子体微小空间碎片加速器的研制进展和初步实验结果,分析了该加速器在空间碎片防护研究工作中的应用.在初步调试阶段,在系统设计满负荷储能6﹪和35﹪的条件下,分别将100μm和200μm的玻璃微粒加速至5.5 km/s和9.3 km/s.利用该加速器可以模拟研究10～1 000μm的微小空间碎片对卫星功能材料的撞击损伤特性,可以加速模拟研究卫星关键部件或分系统在大量微小空间碎片撞击下的失效机理和失效模式,为卫星防护微小空间碎片的设计提供技术支持.该加速器还能为国内发展星载空间微小碎片探测仪器的设计和标定提供模拟实验条件.