ESCAP space technology applications programme

Between 19–24 September 1994, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - ESCAP, the largest of the UN regional bodies - held a series of meetings to inaugurate a new program in space technology applications. This program will have a strong Earth Observation component, and is designed to strengthen environmentally sound and sustainable development in the Asia Pacific region, in line with recommendations of Agenda 21 arising from the Rio Summit in 1992. Jeff Kingwell reports on two of the meetings, the ministerial conference and the space technology exhibition.     

Capacity building in space technology development: A new initiative within the United Nations programme on space applications

Since 1971 the UN Programme on Space Applications, implemented by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, has been organizing workshops, symposiums and expert meetings and providing training opportunities in the practical applications of space technology. In 2009 the Office launched the Basic Space Technology Initiative (BSTI). The BSTI encompasses a range of activities in support of capacity building in space technology development in response to the growing interest of academic and governmental organizations in many countries to establish basic, indigenous capabilities to develop nano- and small satellites. Considerations such as the education and training of experts, the creation of required testing and building infrastructure, opportunities for international cooperation and the applicable legal and regulatory frameworks are therefore of particular interest to these organizations. The BSTI aims to assist them with their efforts. This paper describes the origins of the initiative, the activities that have been conducted to date and the work planned for 2011 and beyond.     

Assessment of nanosystems for space applications

This paper first gives an overview of the applications of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in space. Microsystems are advertised for their extremely low size and mass, along with their low power consumption and in some case their improved performances. Examples of actual flown MEMS and future missions relying on MEMS are given. Microsystems are now enjoying a dynamic and expanding interest in the space community. This paper intends to give an idea about the next step in miniaturization, since the microelectronic industry is already looking at nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) driven by the more-than-Moore philosophy. We show that the impact of nanosystems should not be reduced at a homothecy in size, weight and power consumption. New forces appear at this scale (Casimir force…) which have to be considered in the system design. The example of a nano-mechanical memory is developed. We also show that performances of nanosystems are not systematically better than their microscopic counterparts through the study of the impact of dimension reduction on an accelerometer resolution and sensitivity. We conclude with the idea that nanosystems will find their greatest applications in distributed intelligent networks that will allow new mission concepts for space exploration.     

空问化学推进技术的发展

空间化学推进技术包括双组元推进、单组元推进和微推进技术。双组元推进技术的发展，一方面依赖于采用高能推进剂和提高燃烧室压力，另一方面依赖于推进剂提高密度、降低毒性和降低冰点。硝酸羟铵基单组元推进剂密度比无水肼大40％，蒸汽无毒，冰点低于-20℃，有望取代无水肼。现在比较成熟的两个配方硝酸羟铵-甘氨酸-水体系和硝酸羟铵-甲醇-水体系。纳米卫星则需要从微牛级到毫牛级推力的微推进技术。     

国外网络电磁空间攻防技术发展

目前,美国、俄罗斯、德国、韩国等国均成立了网络电磁空间作战部队,保证己方网络电磁空间安全,同时具备杀伤别国网络电磁空间的能力,网电作战研究已经展开。尤其是最近,韩国和朝鲜之间的网络战,引发各国的强烈关注。在分析网络电磁空间概念与内涵的基础上,阐述了网络电磁空间与其他空间的关系,并分析了国外网络电磁空间技术的发展,为相关技术的研究提供参考。     

Projecting technology change to improve space technology planning and systems management

Projecting technology performance evolution has been improving over the years. Reliable quantitative forecasting methods have been developed that project the growth, diffusion, and performance of technology in time, including projecting technology substitutions, saturation levels, and performance improvements. These forecasts can be applied at the early stages of space technology planning to better predict available future technology performance, assure the successful selection of technology, and improve technology systems management strategy.Often what is published as a technology forecast is simply scenario planning, usually made by extrapolating current trends into the future, with perhaps some subjective insight added. Typically, the accuracy of such predictions falls rapidly with distance in time. Quantitative technology forecasting (QTF), on the other hand, includes the study of historic data to identify one of or a combination of several recognized universal technology diffusion or substitution patterns. In the same manner that quantitative models of physical phenomena provide excellent predictions of system behavior, so do QTF models provide reliable technological performance trajectories.In practice, a quantitative technology forecast is completed to ascertain with confidence when the projected performance of a technology or system of technologies will occur. Such projections provide reliable time-referenced information when considering cost and performance trade-offs in maintaining, replacing, or migrating a technology, component, or system.This paper introduces various quantitative technology forecasting techniques and illustrates their practical application in space technology and technology systems management.     

Radioisotope-powered free-piston Stirling engine for space applications

The paper presents a preliminary conceptual design of a 2kW(e) autonomous power system consisting of a radioisotopic heat source, free-piston Stirling engine, reciprocating induction generator and a space radiator. The proposed design features a direct thermal interfacing of the Pu-238 heat source with the Stirling engine head, low heat losses during normal operation, and provides an auxiliary/emergency cooling system in the case of the engine failure of stopping. The Stirling engine is of the free-displacer, free-piston type invented by Beale and uses helium as the working fluid. The engine piston is integrated with the armature of a simple linear alternator which is used for electric generation. Waste heat is rejected by a four-finned space radiator sized for a geosynchronous orbit. Specific power and efficiency of the Stirling isotope power system are compared with the present and predicted performance of other power conversion systems suitable for the same power range.     

Potential of laser-induced ablation for future space applications

This paper surveys recent and current advancements of laser-induced ablation technology for space-based applications and discusses ways of bringing such applications to fruition. Laser ablation is achieved by illuminating a given material with a laser light source. The high surface power densities provided by the laser enable the illuminated material to sublimate and ablate. Possible applications include the deflection of Near Earth Objects – asteroids and comets – from an Earth-impacting event, the vaporisation of space structures and debris, the mineral and material extraction of asteroids and/or as an energy source for future propulsion systems. This paper will discuss each application and the technological advancements that are required to make laser-induced ablation a practical process for use within the space arena. Particular improvements include the efficiency of high power lasers, the collimation of the laser beam (including beam quality) and the power conversion process. These key technological improvements are seen as strategic and merit greater political and commercial support.     

国外航天元器件发展现状与思考

以航天元器件供应与采购问题为中心,分析国外航天元器件发展现状和国外宇航机构在航天元器件发展方面的主要做法与成功经验,并在借鉴吸收的基础上,结合我国的实际,对我国航天元器件的发展提出建议.     

Fast-track development of space technology in China

China's space industry faces challenges from the rapid growth in domestic demand for satellite services, international competition from the other members of the space club and infiltration of its domestic markets by foreign space companies. To counter this the country is making space a priority in current plans to improve national economic and social development, paying particular attention to applications satellites. Policies aimed at accelerating development include increasing state support for space, improving management - especially of invested funds - creating a better infrastructure and aiming for serial production of satellite components. It is acknowledged that much can be learnt from other countries and China is keen to pursue cooperative endeavours, but it intends also to retain its independence.     

空间信息对抗仿真技术发展前瞻

分析了当前空间信息对抗仿真应用的缺陷,根据仿真技术的发展动态,指出基于HLA和Agent技术搭建仿真平台是将来开展空间信息对抗系统论证与效能评估的有效途径.并提出了基于认知域、信息域与物理域的信息对抗Agent建模框架以及复杂空间信息对抗仿真系统的体系结构.     

空间推进技术需求与发展分析

在分析国内外空间推进技术（内容涵盖了星、船、弹、箭、器等领域）现状的基础上,梳理了空间推进技术的发展趋势和对我国的启示。在对未来任务和技术需求分析的基础上,对空间推进技术的发展趋势进行了预测,对存在的差距进行了分析,提出了发展思路和重点发展方向建议。     

General background and approach to multibody dynamics for space applications

Multibody dynamics for space applications is dictated by space environment such as space-varying gravity forces, orbital and attitude perturbations, control forces if any. Several methods and formulations devoted to the modeling of flexible bodies undergoing large overall motions were developed in recent years.Most of these different formulations were aimed to face one of the main problems concerning the analysis of spacecraft dynamics namely the reduction of computer simulation time. By virtue of this, the use of symbolic manipulation, recursive formulation and parallel processing algorithms were proposed. All these approaches fall into two categories, the one based on Newton/Euler methods and the one based on Lagrangian methods; both of them have their advantages and disadvantages although in general, Newtonian approaches lend to a better understanding of the physics of problems and in particular of the magnitude of the reactions and of the corresponding structural stresses. Another important issue which must be addressed carefully in multibody space dynamics is relevant to a correct choice of kinematics variables. In fact, when dealing with flexible multibody system the resulting equations include two different types of state variables, the ones associated with large (rigid) displacements and the ones associated with elastic deformations. These two sets of variables have generally two different time scales if we think of the attitude motion of a satellite whose period of oscillation, due to the gravity gradient effects, is of the same order of magnitude as the orbital period, which is much bigger than the one associated with the structural vibration of the satellite itself. Therefore, the numerical integration of the equations of the system represents a challenging problem.This was the abstract and some of the arguments that Professor Paolo Santini intended to present for the Breakwell Lecture; unfortunately a deadly disease attacked him and shortly took him to death, leaving his work unfinished. In agreement with Astrodynamics Committee it was decided to prepare a paper based on some research activities that Paolo Santini performed during almost 50 years in the aerospace field. His researches spanned many arguments, encompassing flexible space structures, to optimization, stability analysis, thermal analysis, smart structure, etc. just to mention the ones more related to the space field (Paolo Santini was also one the pioneers of the studies of composite wing structures, aeroelasticity and unsteady aerodynamics for aeronautical applications). Following notes have been prepared by Paolo Gasbarri who was one of Paolo Santini collaborators for almost 15 years, they will attempt to offer a sketch of Professor Santini's activity by focusing on three main topics: the stability of flexible spacecrafts, the dynamics of multibody systems and the use of the smart structure technology for the space applications.     

多比特相位量化仿真技术及应用研究

为了在基于信号的系统仿真中构建与原始信号有一定关联性的新信号,需要充分利用脉冲信号的脉内信息进行各种调制处理,提出了一种多比特相位量化仿真模型。通过对两种原始信号与利用相位信息进行重构得到的信号进行波形或频谱的比较,验证了这种多比特相位量化仿真模型的正确性。仿真试验证明,采用多比特相位量化和信号重构能方便地实现移频调制和各种带宽的噪声调制。     

多源图像融合技术的发展与军事应用研究

多源图像融合能根据各波段传感器获得信息的互补性和冗余性,综合多个传感器的信息,获取对同一目标或场景全面而详尽的表述,从而得出更为准确、可靠的结论.首先分析了多源图像融合的主要研究内容,进而探讨了发展现状和存在的问题,在此基础上,总结了图像融合中常用的传感器和应用方向.     

气动增压器技术及其在空间推进系统的应用

液体火箭发动机用气动增压器技术在航天器推进系统中的应用,产生了一种全新的推进系统一气动增压式推进系统。介绍了气动增压器技术,分析了气动增压器技术应用于空间推进系统的优势和关键技术,并展望了应用前景。     

深空探测天线技术发展现状及趋势

为了满足我国新世纪深空探测任务的需求,文章结合国内外部分典型深空探测项目,介绍了有关探测器上天线系统的设计思路,从而了解深空探测天线技术的发展现状,并根据目前星载天线技术发展和深空探测领域测控通信系统的需求,归纳和总结了未来深空探测领域中探测器上天线技术的发展趋势,为我国深空探测天线技术的发展提供参考。     

空间信息对抗能力与技术需求

在陆、海、空、天、电战争范畴,空间攻防对抗是战略制高点。从美军的空间对抗的发展和变化,折射出未来的空间对抗需求已由“确保摧毁”向“确保生存”的战略概念转变,由“硬杀伤”向“软能力”倾斜。从需求出发,提出未来空间信息对抗能力设想,以及实现这些能力的主要关键技术。