Multiple-task performance on a computer-simulated life support system during a space mission simulation

This paper presents an experiment which examined the effects of isolation and confinement during a simulation of a short-term space mission. During the 7-day spaceflight simulation, four Canadian astronauts were tested daily on a 30-min performance task. The task, CAMS (Cabin Air Management System), represents a computer-based simulation of a generic life support system. As a multiple-task environment, it allows the measurement of a wide range of task management variables such as primary and secondary task performance, and system control activities. Measures of subjective state variables were also taken. The results did not show any evidence of serious performance decrements for any crew member. The analysis revealed different adjustment patterns with which crew members responded as a function of mission duration and variations in workload. Among the secondary tasks employed, prospective memory was found to be more sensitive than reaction time to increases in workload. The paper concludes with a discussion of the utility of spaceflight simulations and computer-based simulations of space work.     

Moments applied in the manual assembly of space structures: EASE biomechanics results from STS-61B

Measurements of the level and pattern of moments applied in the manual assembly of a space structure were made in extravehicular activity (EVA) and neutral buoyancy simulation (NBS). The Experimental Assembly of Structures in EVA program included the repeated assembly of a 3.6 m tetrahedral truss structure in EVA on STS-61B after extensive neutral buoyancy crew training. The flight and training structures were of equivalent mass and geometry to allow a direct correlation between EVA and NBS performance. A stereo photographic motion camera system was used to reconstruct in three dimensions rotational movements of structural beams during assembly. Moments applied in these manual handling tasks were calculated on the basis of the reconstructed movements taking into account effects of inertia, drag and virtual mass. Applied moments of 2.0 Nm were typical for beam rotations in EVA. Corresponding applied moments in NBS were typically up to five times greater. Moments were applied as impulses separated by several seconds of coasting in both EVA and NBS. Decelerating impulses were only infrequently observed in NBS.     

载人月面着陆地形障碍探测与规避方案研究

月面地形障碍是影响载人着陆安全的关键因素之一,可能引起着陆器倾斜、结构损坏甚至倾覆。载人月面着陆除在总体任务规划时要选取平坦安全的着陆区外,还要进行实时在线的地形探测和障碍规避。文章对“阿波罗”计划和“星座”计划中的月面着陆飞行方案和飞行器进行调研,分析了载人月面着陆避障的任务要求和技术特点;结合着陆飞行任务,提出考虑避障的飞行方案,分为高速运动中的粗避障和接近悬停后的精避障两个阶段;考虑月面着陆飞行状态以及光照、月尘等外部环境,设计载人月面着陆时由激光高度计、多普勒激光雷达以及闪光激光雷达组成避障敏感器系统;提出载人避障机动方案,采用接近段中制导目标调整、机动段六自由度控制以及缓速下降段滚动姿态机动等方法,并引入了航天员目测以检查月面地形障碍、选择月面着陆点以及手控进行终端避障机动控制。     

Dextre: Improving maintenance operations on the International Space Station

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), known as “Dextre”, is currently slated to launch in February 2008 for deployment on the International Space Station (ISS) as the final component of Canada's Mobile Servicing System (MSS). Dextre's primary role on the Space Station is to perform repair and replacement (R&R) maintenance tasks on robotically compatible hardware such as Orbital Replaceable Units (ORUs), thereby eventually easing the burden on the ISS crew.This burden on the on-orbit crew translates practically into crew time being a limited resource on the ISS, and as such, finding ways to assist the crew in performing their tasks or offloading the crew completely when appropriate is a bonus to the ISS program. This is already accomplished very effectively by commanding as many non-critical robotics tasks as possible, such as powering up and free-space maneuvering of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), known as “Canadarm2”, from the Ground.Thus, beyond its primary role, and based on an increasing clarity regarding the challenges of external maintenance on the ISS, Dextre is being considered for use in a number of ways with the objective of improving ISS operations while reducing and optimizing the use of crew time through the use of ground control for various tasks, pre-positioning hardware, acting as a temporary storage platform to break an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) day into manageable timelines, and extending the physical reach and range of the Canadarm2.This paper discusses the planned activities and operations for Dextre an rationale for how these will help optimize the use of crew resources on the ISS.     

基于HLA的载人航天器飞行任务仿真平台研究与实现

面向载人航天器飞行任务仿真需求,根据载人航天器的特点以及高层体系结构(HLA)技术,提出了基于高层体系结构的载人航天器飞行任务仿真平台方案,设计实现了由运行管理、飞行指令、数据记录、数据可视化等功能,以及涵盖轨道、姿态、能源、动力学等多个专业仿真模型组成的仿真平台,给出了应用实例,并就仿真平台开发中的联邦开发过程、仿真模型接口软件、飞行场景三维可视化等关键部分进行了探讨。与单一的飞行任务仿真软件相比,该分布式仿真平台覆盖的专业面更全,验证内容更丰富,可扩展性更强。随着载人航天器系统飞行任务复杂程度的提高,通过对仿真平台的扩展和重用,可适应新的任务验证需求。该仿真平台可为复杂载人航天器的飞行任务设计验证提供依据,并对基于HLA的其他航天器仿真系统的联邦设计与开发具有一定的参考价值。     

Challenges of assuring crew safety in space shuttle missions with international cargoes

The top priority in America's manned space flight program is the assurance of crew and vehicle safety. This priority gained greater focus during and after the Space Shuttle return-to-flight mission (STS-26). One of the interesting challenges has been to assure crew safety and adequate protection of the Space Shuttle, as a national resource, from increasingly diverse cargoes and operations. The control of hazards associated with the deployment of complex payloads and cargoes has involved many international participants. These challenges are examined in some detail along with examples of how crew safety has evolved in the manned space program and how the international partners have addressed various scenarios involving control and mitigation of potential hazards to crew and vehicle safety.     

Yuanzheng 3 Upper Stage

Upper stage is an indispensable vehicle in the space transportation system.For its role in multi-satellite transportation area in China,the development of the Yuanzheng 3 upper stage was approved.The article introduces in detail the Yuanzheng 3 upper stage development requirements,task definition and systems as well as main features and performance including payload capacity and insertion accuracy for typical orbits,interfaces with satellites.The article also presents the development cycle of Yuanzheng 3 upper stage,which is divided into 3 stages including concept demonstration stage,prototype stage and flight proof stage.The Yuanzheng 3 upper stage,which will make its maiden flight in 2018,is capable of restarting more than 20 times,and operating for more than 48 hours.It is equivalent to mainstream upper stages in the world in terms of performance,such as restart times,in-orbit operation time,independent digital control system,and adaptable behavior for various tasks.Technologies tackled and accumulated in the development of the Yuanzheng 3 upper stage will lay a solid foundation for the development of future space transportation vehicles.     

Study of the psychological adaptation of the crew during a 135 days space simulation

The purpose of this study is to examine human adaptation of a three members' crew during a 135 days MIR flight simulation and to compare and validate psychological methods for monitoring and support in flight. The main findings showed that isolation was not a key factor for the subjects who were more concerned by recreational activities, family, and work. The individual reactions to stress of the crew members were to project their problems on the others. These reactions had some consequences upon the group: Although the three subjects developed a weak tendency to "group think", one of the crew members was considered as less integrated to the group by the other two subjects, who, however, acted to protect (successfully) the general cohesion and mood of the crew. From a methodological point of view, baseline data predicted the difficulties that occurred for one of the crew member. Both quantitative and qualitative tools were adequate, although qualitative tests gave a closer approach to the actual situation that developed during the simulation.     

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。     

嵌入式计算机在雷达伺服系统中的应用

针对雷达数字伺服系统对控制计算机的要求，分析了嵌入式计算机系统PC／104的特点和基本应用方法，提出了以嵌入式计算机系统PC／104为核心数字控制部件的精密跟踪雷达伺服系统硬件设计要点，专用控制软件的设计思想及实现，仿真和飞行试验表明，该精密跟踪雷达数控伺服系统的设计是成功的。     

Considerations for development of countermeasures for physiological decrements associated with long-duration space missions

Countermeasures are necessary to offset or minimize the deleterious changes in human physiology resulting from long duration space flight. Exposure to microgravity alters musculoskeletal, neurosensory, and cardiovascular systems with resulting deconditioning that may compromise crew health and performance. Maintaining health and fitness at acceptable levels is critical for preserving performance capabilities required to accomplish specific mission tasks (e.g.—extravehicular activity) and to optimize performance after landing. To enable the goals of the exploration program, NASA is developing a new suite of exercise hardware such as the improved loading device, the SchRED. This presentation will update the status of current countermeasures, correlate hardware advances with improvements in exercise countermeasures, and discuss future activities for safe and productive exploration missions.     

Effect of Multi-wall System Composition on Survivability for Spacecraft Impacted by Orbital Debris

Long-duration spacecraft in low earth orbit such as the International Space Station (ISS) are highly susceptible to high-speed impacts by pieces of debris from past earth-orbiting missions. Among the hazards that accompany the penetration of a pressurized manned spacecraft are critical crack propagation in the module wall, crew hypoxia, and uncontrolled thrust due to air rushing out of the module wall hole. A Monte Carlo simulation tool was used to determine the effect of spacecraft wall construction on the survivability of ISS modules and crew following an orbital debris penetration. The simulation results indicate that enhanced shield wall designs (i.e., multi-wall systems with heavier inner bumpers) always lead to higher overall survivability of the station and crew due to an overwhelming decrease in likelihood of module penetration. The results of the simulations also indicate that changes in crew operations, equipment locations, and operation procedures can significantly reduce the likelihood of crew or station loss following an orbital debris penetration.     

飞行器半实物仿真装备研究进展与展望

根据制导体制不同，分别从光学制导仿真、射频制导仿真、光学/射频复合制导仿真等方面介绍了国内外半实物仿真装备研究进展。结合飞行器对半实物仿真技术提出新的发展需求，提出了全角度空间制导仿真、特殊环境/背景制导仿真、绕飞伴飞仿真、弹体气动伺服弹性仿真等特殊背景的半实物仿真方案。最后，结合飞行器技术和半实物仿真技术发展趋势，对飞行器半实物仿真装备的发展趋势进行了展望。     

Strategic,technological and ethical aspects of establishing colonies on Moon and Mars

With the vast experience gained by Aerospace Community in the last five decades, the natural future course of action will be to expand Space Exploration. Our understanding of Moon is relatively better with a number of unmanned satellite missions carried out by the leading Space Agencies and manned missions to Moon by USA. Also a number of unmanned satellite missions and surface rover missions were carried out to Mars by those Space agencies generating many new details about Mars. While the future exploration efforts by global community will also be centered obviously on Moon and Mars, it is noteworthy that already NASA had declared its plans for establishing a Surface Base on Moon and developing the technical infrastructure required. Surface Bases on Moon and Mars give rise to a number of strategic, technical and ethical issues both in the process of development, and in the process of establishing the bases. The strategic issues related to Moon and Mars Surface Bases will be centered around development of enabling technologies, cost of the missions, and international cooperation. The obvious path for tackling both the technological development and cost issues will be through innovative and new means of international cooperation. International cooperation can take many forms like—all capable players joining a leader, or sharing of tasks at system level, or all players having their independent programmes with agreed common interfaces of the items being taken to and left on the surface of Moon/Mars. Each model has its own unique features. Among the technical issues, the first one is that of the Mission Objectives—why Surface Bases have to be developed and what will be the activity of crew on Surface Bases? Surface Bases have to meet mainly the issues on long term survivability of humans on the Mars/Moon with their specific atmosphere, gravity and surface characteristics. Moon offers excellent advantages for astronomy while posing difficulties with respect to solar power utilization and extreme temperature variations. Hence the technical challenges depend on a number of factors starting from mission requirements. Obviously the most important technical challenge to be addressed will be in the areas of crew safety, crew survivability, adequate provision to overcome contingencies, and in-situ resource utilization. Towards this, new innovations will be developed in areas such as specialized space suits, rovers, power and communication systems, and ascent and descent modules. The biggest ethical issue is whether humankind from Earth is targeting ‘habitation’ or ‘colonization’ of Moon/Mars. The next question will be whether the in-situ resource exploitation will be only for carrying out further missions to other planets from Moon/Mars or for utilization on Earth. The third ethical issue will be the long term impact of pollution on Moon/Mars due to technologies employed for power generation and other logistics on Surfaces. The paper elaborates the views of the authors on the strategic, technical and ethical aspects of establishing Surface Bases and colonies on Moon and Mars. The underlying assumptions and gray areas under each aspect will be explained with the resulting long-term implications.     

Strategic, technological and ethical aspects of establishing colonies on Moon and Mars

With the vast experience gained by Aerospace Community in the last five decades, the natural future course of action will be to expand Space Exploration. Our understanding of Moon is relatively better with a number of unmanned satellite missions carried out by the leading Space Agencies and manned missions to Moon by USA. Also a number of unmanned satellite missions and surface rover missions were carried out to Mars by those Space agencies generating many new details about Mars. While the future exploration efforts by global community will also be centered obviously on Moon and Mars, it is noteworthy that already NASA had declared its plans for establishing a Surface Base on Moon and developing the technical infrastructure required. Surface Bases on Moon and Mars give rise to a number of strategic, technical and ethical issues both in the process of development, and in the process of establishing the bases. The strategic issues related to Moon and Mars Surface Bases will be centered around development of enabling technologies, cost of the missions, and international cooperation. The obvious path for tackling both the technological development and cost issues will be through innovative and new means of international cooperation. International cooperation can take many forms like—all capable players joining a leader, or sharing of tasks at system level, or all players having their independent programmes with agreed common interfaces of the items being taken to and left on the surface of Moon/Mars. Each model has its own unique features. Among the technical issues, the first one is that of the Mission Objectives—why Surface Bases have to be developed and what will be the activity of crew on Surface Bases? Surface Bases have to meet mainly the issues on long term survivability of humans on the Mars/Moon with their specific atmosphere, gravity and surface characteristics. Moon offers excellent advantages for astronomy while posing difficulties with respect to solar power utilization and extreme temperature variations. Hence the technical challenges depend on a number of factors starting from mission requirements. Obviously the most important technical challenge to be addressed will be in the areas of crew safety, crew survivability, adequate provision to overcome contingencies, and in-situ resource utilization. Towards this, new innovations will be developed in areas such as specialized space suits, rovers, power and communication systems, and ascent and descent modules. The biggest ethical issue is whether humankind from Earth is targeting ‘habitation’ or ‘colonization’ of Moon/Mars. The next question will be whether the in-situ resource exploitation will be only for carrying out further missions to other planets from Moon/Mars or for utilization on Earth. The third ethical issue will be the long term impact of pollution on Moon/Mars due to technologies employed for power generation and other logistics on Surfaces. The paper elaborates the views of the authors on the strategic, technical and ethical aspects of establishing Surface Bases and colonies on Moon and Mars. The underlying assumptions and gray areas under each aspect will be explained with the resulting long-term implications.     

自适应学习率的增量强化学习飞行控制

针对预先设定学习率的增量强化学习(IRL)飞行控制律失败率较高,并且无法适应飞行器大范围动力学特性变化下的稳定控制问题,提出一种自适应学习率的增量强化学习(ALRIRL)控制方法.首先,基于小波分析方法构造控制系统稳定度评价函数,用于评估控制器稳定度.然后,基于梯度下降法设计学习率在线迭代计算方法,以提升强化学习控制器...     

At the intersection of automation and culture

The crash of an automated passenger jet at Nagoya, Japan, in 1995, is used as an example of crew error in using automatic systems. Automation provides pilots with the ability to perform tasks in various ways. National culture is cited as a factor that affects how a pilot and crew interact with each other and equipment.     

Using computer graphics to enhance astronaut and systems safety.

Computer graphics is being employed at the NASA Johnson Space Center as a tool to perform rapid, efficient and economical analyses for man-machine integration, flight operations development and systems engineering. The Operator Station Design System (OSDS), a computer-based facility featuring a highly flexible and versatile interactive software package, PLAID, is described. This unique evaluation tool, with its expanding data base of Space Shuttle elements, various payloads, experiments, crew equipment and man models, supports a multitude of technical evaluations, including spacecraft and workstation layout, definition of astronaut visual access, flight techniques development, cargo integration and crew training. As OSDS is being applied to the Space Shuttle, Orbiter payloads (including the European Space Agency's Spacelab) and future space vehicles and stations, astronaut and systems safety are being enhanced. Typical OSDS examples are presented. By performing physical and operational evaluations during early conceptual phases. supporting systems verification for flight readiness, and applying its capabilities to real-time mission support, the OSDS provides the wherewithal to satisfy a growing need of the current and future space programs for efficient, economical analyses.