Challenges to US space sustainability

With space now crucial to such a wide range of activities on Earth, the USA must ensure the sustainability of its efforts, a task that involves technological feasibility and political will. Near-term challenges include US human access to space and the Shuttle transition, funding NASA sufficiently in a time of recession, and rebuilding the country's space industrial base. Longer-term challenges will be better protecting the space environment (including the electromagnetic spectrum) from overcrowding and the effects of space weather and NEOs, and defining responsibilities for distributing climate change data and recognition of property rights for the commercial development of in-space resources. As an aid to dealing with these challenges the USA must ask itself whether there is a human future in space and seek to answer the question in the course of human and robotic exploration beyond Earth.     

美国导弹防御系统发展及对国际军控影响研究

大力推进导弹防御系统(MD)的研制和部署是美谋求绝对优势的重要举措。系统分析了美国导弹防御系统(BMDS)发展的基本态势和未来走向,以及其对国际军备控制的影响。     

国外一次性运载火箭改进计划及其对我国的启迪

引言近年来航天技术的发展十分迅速，越来越多的军用和民用任务正在向空间转移。航天运载能力涉及到一个国家自主进入空间的能力，是保持空间优势的核心能力之一，因而一直受到各航天国家的重视。美国在《空军２０２５年计划》中称：“航天运载器是美国空间优势核心能力的关键支柱，航天运载能力的丧失将会对美国的空间优势造成毁灭性的影响。”《美国航天司令部长期规划——２０２０年设想》中则有这样的表述：“控制空间首先要确保进入空间。进入空间必须做到灵活、廉价和按需到达，以部署、重构、补充、更新、扩充和维护空间体系。”由于…     

美军宽带全球系统及其关键技术

美军宽带全球卫星通信系统(WGS)是美国目前最为先进的军用通信卫星.参考大量资料,重点介绍和说明WGS的基本概况、系统组成与功能、用途和作战使用方式,并分析了其关键技术及技术特点.有助于未来军用通信卫星的研究与设计.     

美军天基通用数据链及发展

现代战争的作战样式已经发展到由指挥控制系统、侦察监视系统、联合火力打击系统等各种系统构成的作战体系的对抗.而这种体系对抗的胜负是取决于所有参战武器装备所构成的体系的整体作战效能.这就在客观上要求不同的武器系统之间实现互联、互通和互操作,各种资源被充分共享.通过数据链,可以将众多复杂的武器平台以及指挥控制平台有机地连为一体,实现战场态势共享,缩短决策时间,提高指挥控制速度及协同作战能力,发挥体系的整体作战效能.天基通用数据链(Space CDL)作为美军“作战响应空间”(ORS)计划下重点发展的关键技术之一,成功验证了成像侦察卫星的战术应用能力,并将成为美军构建多源战场情报体系的重要手段.     

European thoughts on the new US defence strategy: A major repositioning in a difficult budgetary context

The USA adopted a new defence strategy in 2012 which responds to the changing geopolitical landscape and straightened economic circumstances. The emphasis is on leaner, more flexible and diversified operations, while priority areas have shifted from Europe to the Asia-Pacific (in acknowledgement of China's growing military might) and the Middle East. This will have consequences for Europe, which is now expected to take a greater share of the strategic burden. The major developments in the strategy – such as eschewing the pursuit of lengthy engagements on more than one front, and using the military to complement diplomatic and economic initiatives – are discussed. Europe is urged to respond by maintaining its national strategic and industrial autonomy, including in access to space and missile defence.     

The impact of US export controls on the Canadian space industry

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) govern the export of defense-related technologies and services from the USA. In 1999 Canada's exemption to ITAR was suspended because of American objections over some Canadian companies retransferring US technology to third countries. This paper is a first attempt to quantify the impact of ITAR on the Canadian space industry. Thirty-two space-related companies were contacted and a total of nine responses were received, representative of around 60% of the Canadian space industry in terms of workforce and revenue. According to the results, the Canadian space industry has been relatively effective in meeting the challenges imposed by ITAR. However, these workarounds do not diminish its negative impacts, particularly with respect to cost and schedule. It is expected that ITAR will continue to affect the Canadian space industry, as no near-term relief from the current regulatory environment is on the horizon.     

美国作战及时响应空间计划及其技术发展预测

美国的作战及时响应空间（ORS）计划是为战术应用而建立的,目的是发展低成本、灵活性的快速响应能力,也就是说,把各军种的战术卫星和近空间系统（及时响应有效载荷）与航天发射系统及航天发射场四个系统作为一个ORS整体或一个综合系统。美国目前正在逐步完善其ORS系统,并全面推进。简要讲述了ORS的作战原理及特点,分析了当前的ORS的几个计划,提出了2025年ORS计划的技术预测。     

航天器组件声振组合环境试验与仿真技术

研究了某航天器太阳电池板的声振组合环境试验技术,并使用FE-SEA混合方法和耦合FE/BEM方法建立了太阳电池板的仿真模型,进行了声振组合激励下的响应仿真预示。仿真结果和试验结果的对比分析结果表明:声振组合试验对航天器组件的考核更充分;耦合FE/BEM方法更适合进行低频响应分析,而FE-SEA混合方法在中高频段更具优势,且两种方法的仿真预示响应和试验结果基本一致。     

APSCO: Opportunities and Challenges Together

The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an inter-governmental organization.In November 1992, China, Pakistan and Thailand jointly proposed the institution-alization of the mechanism Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA). After 16     

Experimental modeling of impact of space dust and debris on flying vehicles and their components

For modeling the space dust and debris effect on flying vehicles, an investigation of the low-velocity impact of corundum and tungsten powders, accelerated by explosion, with particle size up to 50 microns on steel and duralumin targets was carried out. Also studied was the impact of sewing needles against metal and dielectric barriers, antimeteor shield models, and duralumin containers with hard materials, gunpowder, and explosives. At impact of powders at velocities of up to 2 km/s and needles at a velocity of up to 0.5 km/s against metals, the channels arose with lengths greater than 100 and 50 diameters of a striker. At impact of needles, the containers with hard explosive materials were destroyed because of ignition of their contents, and containers with plastic explosive were punched through, and no burning occurred. The energy, released at destruction of plexiglas blocks and containers with hard materials, many times exceeded the impact energy due to release of the elastic energy stored in them.     

Micro/Nano-Satellites: Opportunities and Challenges

At an accelerating development pace, Micro-Nano Satellite technology has become one of the most active research topics in the current aerospace field. Its applications have been extended from engineering education and technology demonstration into various other fields, such as communication, remote sensing, navigation and scientific experiments just to name a few. In this paper issues raised on Micro/Nano-Satellites in recent news are reviewed and the opportunities and challenges confronting Micro/Nano-Satellites are analyzed. Then the Micro/nano-Satellites of National University of Defense Technology(NUDT) are briefly introduced. Finally, some suggestions on the development of Micro/Nano-Satellites in the future are proposed.     

光学器件的空间粉尘高速撞击效应研究

文章利用静电加速器模拟研究了微小空间碎片及微流星体(空间粉尘)高速撞击镀膜石英玻璃,光学透镜和反射镜的撞击效应与累积损伤特性.扫描电镜观察结果表明,被撞击试样表面的损伤形式为不连续的点缺陷,可发现撞击坑、机械破裂、局部熔化和粉尘微粒子附着;分光光度计测试结果显示,经粉尘累积撞击后,光学透镜的透射率和反射镜的反射率均发生...     

返回料比例对K4002合金成分和持久性能的影响

研究了返回料对K4002合金杂质元素和持久性能的影响。返回料的比例分别为30%、40%、50%进行试验。结果表明采用经净化处理后的合金返回料锭,其杂质元素含量与全新料相近;返回料比例不超过50%时,持久性能满足技术条件的要求。     

EVA: European plans

The current status of European EVA (extravehicular activity) plans is reviewed. The major difference to already existing EVA scenarios in U.S.A. and Soviet Union consists in the adoption of a higher suit pressure, namely 500 hPa. The results of a study concerned with the physiological consequences of this adoption are presented, including recommendations for protective procedures and their necessary experimental validation. A certain discrepancy between laboratory experimental decompression data and EVA operational results is discussed, leading to the identification of several items which may influence space decompression. Microgravity and the influence of the space suit itself are most likely factors in the explanation of this discrepancy, and both experimental procedures and technological developments are proposed to clarify their role for the future design of EVA procedures.     

An Asian perspective on the new US space policy: The emphasis on international cooperation and its relevance to Asia

This viewpoint examines the likely reasons behind the renewed focus on international cooperation in the new US National Space Policy, noting that the rise of various Asian space powers is one factor. It demonstrates the increase in US-Asian space cooperation that is already underway, arguing that such cooperation can only be to the good in providing Asian countries with a greater degree of cutting-edge technology and know-how, as well as contributing to the overall safety and security of outer space. Nevertheless, there will doubtless be problems such as cost overruns and delays and effort will have to be applied if cooperation is to work.     

Current US remote sensing policies: opportunities and challenges

This article examines recent progress in US land remote sensing policies by reviewing the evolution of policy on commercial imaging satellites from 1992 to the present and charting developments in the Landsat programme. Key features of the new (2003) commercial remote sensing policy are described, which go far in addressing the ambiguities of the earlier (PDD-23) framework that, in practice, hampered development of a commercial industry. In the case of Landsat, problems, particularly those of assured data provision, remain. The key to solving them lies in integrating civil, military and commercial elements more coherently, rather than considering them in isolation.     

Santini memorial lecture: Space Challenges and Opportunities for Human Benefit

Since the beginning of the Space Age the public was fascinated by the great challenges that needed to be overcome, but also inspired by the potential benefits that might arise from the utilization of space systems. This lecture examines the major technological breakthroughs that were necessary for many of the key space programs to succeed, and postulates the immediate and future benefits to humanity that became evident as a result of these advances. A dozen programs ranging from Sputnik and Apollo to the Global Navigation Satellite System are reviewed in view of the technical challenges in elements such as propulsion, power, structures, computing, guidance and control, spectrum management and payloads. Challenges in the cost of space launch, large structures, debris mitigation, humans in space and commercial promise are discussed and opportunities for improvements in the future are postulated.     

European space governance: The outlook

For the third year in a row, the Paris-based French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), and the Secure World Foundation (SWF) joined together to organise their annual space conference. The event took place in Brussels on 13 September 2011, under the banner “European space governance: the outlook”. This report summarises the main outputs of this event.