Strategies of developing advanced lunar power systems

Electric and thermal power have to be available at the base site on the lunar surface before the first lunar crew arrives. Unlimited solar energy is available during the lunar day, but this must be stored for use during the lunar night unless nuclear energy systems are available. State-of-the-art candidate systems are reviewed and the production of solar cells on the moon is discussed. Various options for developing a lunar power plant are proposed. These must be simulated and optimized in a real life-cycle systems scenario to provide operations and cost data essential for choosing a strategy.     

Strategies of developing advanced lunar power systems

Electric and thermal power have to be available at the base site on the lunar surface before the first lunar crew arrives. Unlimited solar energy is available during the lunar day, but this must be stored for use during the lunar night unless nuclear energy systems are available. State-of-the-art candidate systems are reviewed and the production of solar cells on the moon is discussed. Various options for developing a lunar power plant are proposed. These must be simulated and optimized in a real lifecycle systems scenario to provide operations and cost data essential for choosing a strategy.     

Towards a lunar base programme

When the requisite technology exists, the US political process will inevitably include lunar surface activities as a major space objective. This article examines a manned lunar base in terms of three distinct functions: the scientific investigation of the Moon and its environment; development of the capability to use lunar resources for beneficial purposes throughout the Earth-Moon systems; and conduct of R&D leading to a self-sufficient and self-supporting manned lunar base. Three scenarios are outlined with respect to each possible function.     

一种综合式载人月球基地总体方案及建造规划设想

构建载人月球基地是实现对月球资源深度开发和利用的重要手段之一,文章提出了刚性舱、刚性＋柔性结构以及建造式等三种典型结构的载人月球基地方案,并对三种典型方案的优缺点进行对比分析,在此基础上提出了一种综合式载人月球基地方案设想,基地内部主体创新性地采用充气式柔性连接的方式,外部主体包括月壤防护层、植物密封舱和应急救生飞船,活动系统包括月球车和月球机器人。围绕该方案并结合文章提出的载人月球基地主要技术指标,并对载人月球基地选址、结构设计和构建、空间辐射防护、热管理、能源、通信与导航、生命保障和应急救生技术等关键技术方案进行了分析,为中国未来建设载人月球基地提供了参考。     

Further analyses of the slide lander and of drop delivery systems for improved lunar surface access

The paper discusses two methods for lunar surface access. One method is characterized by very little propellant consumption for landing (lunar slide lander, LSL); the other (drop delivery method, DDM) avoids release of propellant gases at the lunar surface. The LSL is of particular promise and importance. Its analysis and development introduces a new field of cosmic dynamics—harenodynamics, the science and technology of interaction of surfaces with dust and sand at near-orbital speeds down to low velocities. Although the data base is small so far and needs to be enlarged, analyses of the LSL so far indicate promise as to feasibility. Its realization will revolutionize present conventional concepts of lunar development. The DDM offers cost-effective alternatives to conventional lunar landing by retrothrust, but on a more selective basis, because propellant-savings are secondary to avoiding gas releases into the lunar high-vacuum environment. It was found that stationary energy absorption systems (EAS) are required, because vehicle-attached absorption systems are entirely inadequate. This requires large structures which can be built on the lunar surface only after a somewhat higher degree of industrial capability has been established. However, they can be built entirely of lunar materials. Altogether, the LSL is the more significant of the two both in terms of economy and of operational scope.     

带机械臂的月面巡视探测器的路径规划方法研究

针对巡视探测器路径规划和机械臂路径规划的不同和两者需要依次执行的连接需求,文章将月面巡视探测器的路径规划过程分为三个阶段：巡视探测器的路径规划、机械臂的路径规划、器臂动态联合的路径规划,针对不同的规划分别提出了不同的规划方法,并进行了仿真验证。研究结果表明,巡视探测器的整个路径规划是一个复杂的运算规划过程,在非结构化月面环境下,基于月面三维数字高程图采用改进的启发式搜索（A＊）算法,可以比较高效地完成巡视探测器的路径规划;在采用蒙特卡罗法建立机械臂可达工作空间的基础上,可以比较简单、准确地获取机械臂的规划路径;巡视探测器整个就位探测过程的实现需要两种规划的动态联合。     

Proposal for a new radiation dose control system for future manned space flights

Radiation risk on a future long-duration manned space mission appears to be one of the basic factors in planning and designing the mission. Since 1988 different active dosimetric investigations has been performed on board the MIR space station by the Bulgarian-Russian dosimeter-radiometer LIULIN and French tissue-equivalent proportional counters CIRCE and NAUSICAA. A joint French-Bulgarian-Russian dosimetry experiment and the dosimetry-radiometry system RADIUS-MD have been developed for the future MARS-96 mission. On the base of the results and experience of these investigations a conception for a new radiation dose control system for the future orbital stations, lunar bases and interplanetary space ships is proposed. The proposed system which consists of different instruments will allow personal radiation control for crew members, radiation monitoring inside and outside each habitat, analysis and forecasting of the situation and will suggest procedures to minimize the radiation risk.     

无人月球基地总体初步设想

构建月球基地是月球探测的核心目标之一。作为一个巨型项目,月球基地总体建设涉及空间运输、能源、结构构建、月面移动、资源利用、科学探索、测控通信等诸多方面。文章尝试论述构建无人月球基地的任务目标、核心功能与组成、概念方案、实施步骤等核心要素,提出构建无人月球基地的总体思路,为未来月球基地任务的实施提供参考。     

Recent advances in lunar base simulation

This article reports about the results of the latest computer runs of a lunar base simulation model. The lunar base consists of 20 facilities for lunar mining, processing and fabrication. The infrastructure includes solar and nuclear power plants, a central workshop, habitat and farm. Lunar products can be used for construction of solar power systems (SPS) or other spacecraft at several space locations. The simulation model evaluates the mass, energy and manpower flows between the elements of the system as well as system cost and cost of products on an annual basis for a given operational period. The 1983 standard model run over a fifty-years life cycle (beginning about the year 2000) was accomplished for a mean annual production volume of 78 180 Mg of hardware products for export resulting in average specific manufacturing cost of 8.4 $/kg and total annual cost of 1.25 billion dollars during the life cycle. The reference space transportation system uses LOX/LH₂ propulsion for which at the average 210 500 Mg LOX per year is produced on the moon. The sensitivity analysis indicates the importance of bootstrapping as well as the influence of market size, space transportation cost and specific resources demand on the mean lunar manufacturing cost. The option using lunar resources turns out to be quite attractive from the economical viewpoint. Systems analysis by this lunar base model and further trade-offs will be a useful tool to confirm this.     

有人月球基地构建方案设想

有人月球基地的建设能将人类的活动区域扩展到月球,实现月球资源的深度开发和利用,服务于人类社会发展。中国开展月球基地建设,在技术上是空间站工程和载人登月工程的有效结合,也有利于其载人航天工程的可持续发展。文章针对有人月球基地的构建,将有人月球基地构建的基本途径分为刚性舱组装、柔性舱组装和月面建筑式三大类,并指出在月球基地发展的不同阶段构建途径的选择原则,再结合中国国情,提出了中国在有人月球基地发展初期的构建方案,最后对有人月球基地构建中的一些关键问题进行了分析总结。     

载人登月舱概念设计阶段多方案比较方法初探

载人登月舱是完成载人登月任务的关键环节,也是登月飞行器系统的核心部分。由于登月舱推进剂占总质量的70％以上,因此在概念设计阶段,多方案比较应重点针对推进剂类型及其对应的构型开展对比分析,从而明确总体方案的深入方向。文章给出了该多方案比较的基本思路,并利用美国Altair登月舱作为实例具体说明该方法的基本流程,首先开展月面着陆器的分级方案选择分析、多种推进剂选择分析,并根据推进剂选择分析的结果,完成上升级、二级方案下降级、三级方案制动级的构型方案分析以及气闸舱的布局分析,最后给出组合多种可行方案,并对多种方案进行综合评价,开展比较分析,筘得帚倦对比音塞曲詹缝铖人签目舱柏袷证工椎打下了基础。     

月球基地结构形式设想

月球基地建设是载人航天、深空探测技术发展的一个重要方面。根据月面环境特点和航天工程需要,对充气式结构和硬式结构的月球基地结构形式进行了分析,讨论了两种结构形式的优势和不足,并提出了基于两种结构形式的组合型月球基地的设想,为将来月球基地的建设提供参考。     

Production possibility frontiers for a cis-lunar transportation system

A cis-lunar transportation system (CLTS) can be designed to provide combinations of two services: lunar export and lunar import. The set of all such combinations is called the production possibility frontier (PPF), which in turn is a familiar concept from micro-economics. The CLTS envisioned operates flights between space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) and low lunar orbit (LLO), and flights between LLO and lunar base (LB). A system of 28 equations is presented which models the interactions between structure, payload and propellants in the CLTS. The traffic ratio of LB-LLO-LB flights to LEO-LLO-LEO flights is determined to be a key parameter for achieving high lunar export/import ratios. It is also shown that the CLTS can achieve a significant net mass gain in LEO, thus creating the possibility of lunar exports generating revenues for the colony by competing on price in LEO with terrestrial exports.     

100 kWe月面核电站方案研究

随着太空探索活动的深入开展,在月球表面建立有人基地成为必然选择。与常规化学能或太阳能相比,月面核电源具有诸多优点,是月球基地的最佳能源选择之一。本文提出了电功率100 kWe的核反应堆电源系统方案,给出了该方案的关键系统参数。针对反应堆模块,展开方案选型、参数优化、常规物理参数分析、初步热工分析和特种临界安全分析等工作。计算结果显示:燃料包壳温度小于使用限值,掉落事故工况下有效增值因数均小于0.98。该设计方案满足各项技术指标和设计准则。     

Scientific investigations at a lunar base.

Scientific investigations to be carried out at a lunar base can have significant impact on the location, extent, and complexity of lunar surface facilities. Among the potential research activities to be carried out are: (1) Lunar Science: Studies of the origin and history of the Moon and early solar system, based on lunar field investigations, operation of networks of seismic and other instruments, and collection and analysis of materials; (2) Space Plasma Physics: Studies of the time variation of the charged particles of the solar wind, solar flares and cosmic rays that impact the Moon as it moves in and out of the magnetotail of the Earth; (3) Astronomy: Utilizing the lunar environment and stability of the surface to emplace arrays of astronomical instruments across the electromagnetic spectrum to improve spectral and spatial resolution by several orders of magnitude beyond the Hubble Space Telescope and other space observatories; (4) Fundamental physics and chemistry: Research that takes advantage of the lunar environment, such as high vacuum, low magnetic field, and thermal properties to carry out new investigations in chemistry and physics. This includes material sciences and applications; (5) Life Sciences: Experiments, such as those that require extreme isolation, highly sterile conditions, or very low natural background of organic materials may be possible; and (6) Lunar environmental science: Because many of the experiments proposed for the lunar surface depend on the special environment of the Moon, it will be necessary to understand the mechanisms that are active and which determine the major aspects of that environment, particularly the maintenance of high-vacuum conditions. From a large range of experiments, investigations and facilities that have been suggested, three specific classes of investigations are described in greater detail to show how site selection and base complexity may be affected: (1) Extended geological investigation of a complex region up to 250 kilometers from the base requires long range mobility, with transportable life support systems and laboratory facilities for the analysis of rocks and soil. Selection of an optimum base site would depend heavily on an evaluation of the degree to which science objectives could be met. These objectives could include lunar cratering, volcanism, resource surveys or other investigations; (2) An astronomical observatory initially instrumented with a VLF radio telescope, but later expanding to include other instruments, requires site preparation capability, "line shack" life support systems, instrument maintenance and storage facilities, and sortie mode transportation. A site perpetually shielded from Earth is optimum for the advanced stages of a lunar observatory; (3) an experimental physics laboratory conducting studies requiring high vacuum facilities and heavily instrumented experiments, is not highly dependent on lunar location, but will require much more flexibility in experiment operation and EVA capability, and more sophisticated instrument maintenance and fabrication facilities.     

定时定点月面着陆全程轨道控制设计

针对定时定点月面着陆的目标要求,提出了全程轨道控制设计方法。进行了包括地月转移、近月制动、环月降轨和动力下降的全程轨道控制的分段设计和联合规划,实现在入轨轨道偏差条件下的定时定点月面着陆。分别构建了中途修正、近月制动、环月降轨三段轨道控制的规划变量和目标参数;根据轨道倾角建立了动力下降点与着陆点的匹配转换关系。设计了中途修正、近月制动、环月降轨、动力下降的全程轨道控制策略的联合规划。建立了着陆位置偏差与轨道倾角偏差、着陆时间偏差与轨道半长轴偏差的修正关系,修正设计了中途修正目标倾角和近月制动目标半长轴。仿真算例表明,在入轨偏差轨道条件下,保证了中途修正后的飞行轨道与标称轨道基本一致,实现了与标称状态基本一致的定时定点月面着陆。可应用于月球着陆、月球采样返回以及载人登月等实施月面定时定点着陆任务的轨道设计和控制实施。     

利用地月间空间站的载人登月飞行模式分析

为提高空间站利用率,降低载人登月任务成本,有效开发地月空间,研究了基于地月空间不同轨道空间站的载人登月飞行模式。首先对比直接往返登月飞行模式,对基于空间站的载人登月飞行模式进行任务分析,通过空间站将载人登月任务解耦为载人天地往返任务和登月任务两部分;其次通过轨道设计和稳定性分析提出考虑登月任务需求的地月间空间站可运行轨道和停泊点;最后建立一套飞行模式评价模型,从速度增量需求、飞行时间、空间环境、登月任务窗口、测控条件、交会对接技术难度、后续任务支持性和任务可靠性方面对6种不同位置空间站的登月飞行模式进行分析和定量评价。评价结果表明基于L2点Halo轨道空间站的载人登月飞行模式为更优飞行模式。     

我国返回式卫星发展前景及关键技术问题

返回式卫星现阶段在经济与军事等方面有其巨大的应用价值,同时它也为航天高技术的核心——建立永久性载人空间站的两个先决条件——裁人技术与在轨技术提供试验条件,因此具有十分诱人的发展前景。我国返回式卫星具有自己的优势,充分发掘其潜力将产生很好的经济效益。尽早地安排一些关键技术的研究与试验,统筹兼顾主战场任务与航天高技术发展的需要,将使返回式卫星在发展我国航天高技术的总体规划中立新功。     

月球地质形貌及其环境概述

文章重点介绍了月球的地质形貌和月球环境.针对在月球上建立生产基地和居住基地,提出了需要重点开展的一些研究工作.     

基于粒子群优化算法的月面巡视器全局路径规划

在月面巡视器遥操作系统中,路径规划分为任务级路径规划、全局路径规划和局部路径规划。根据巡视器全局路径规划的应用要求,引入粒子群优化算法应用于全局导航点的规划。针对粒子群算法在路径规划中容易造成不收敛或病态收敛的问题,对算法进行了修改,去掉了速度更新中的速度惯性因子,只保留自身认识因子和社会认识因子,使其在全局路径规划中能够快速收敛;同时引入经典遗传算法中的变异因子以增强算法的全局优化能力。仿真结果表明该算法具有计算简单、全局寻优能力强等特点,能够快速地找到优化的全局导航点。同时在不同的模拟月面地形上进行仿真试验,针对存在的问题提出了对应的二次优化方法,结果表明该方法较好地满足了巡视器全局路径规划的应用需求。