Spacecraft telemetry link performance in a transfer orbit

There are several critical periods early in the mission of a geo-stationary communication satellite. The first is the period from launch vehicle ignition until the upper stage final successful burn. The second is after the above span until the vehicle reaches its final altitude of a synchronous orbit. For a nominal low thrust apogee boost ascent subsystem during that later time, almost continuous telemetry is mandatory. This is especially true during the crucial periods of main engine burns and attitude correction phases. Maintaining a strong telemetry link throughout this phase requires an adequate RF signal link from the spacecraft to a ground station in the telemetry RF channel. An analysis of this link performance during each orbit until final position has two major aspects. One, the location of the spacecraft in relation to the ground tracking station at each moment in the mission is a matter of geometry and Keplerian physics. The other is the RF signal and its supporting subsystems, both on the ground and aboard the vehicle. The fundamental theoretical considerations or both the orbit parameters and radio link components are examined and then the individual parameter sensitivities are analyzed. Next, a nominal cast for a generic mission is studied. This survey considers the telemetry performance during each major stage of the flight from the launch through the transfer orbit to the postinjection period to the final orbit. Then abnormal situations due to both orbit and RF faults are examined. Finally, some design and operation concepts which may lessen the impact of the previous anomalies, are presented     

载人登月着陆器奔月窗口搜索方法

对环月轨道共面交会的载人登月任务中,着陆器(LM)奔月零窗口与轨道参数精确快速设计方法进行了研究。任务采用人货分离奔月模式,着陆器于载人飞船到达环月轨道前抵达环月共面交会轨道,着陆器近月点一次共面减速完成近月制动。提出一种三层快速精确奔月窗口搜索方法:第一层采用地心二体轨道理论解析计算月窗口及奔月轨道参数初值,作为正确性基本参考;第二层采用改进的双二体解析动力学模型求解月窗口内奔月轨道参数变化规律;第三层采用高精度轨道动力学模型和SQP_Snopt优化求解奔月零窗口及轨道参数精确解。仿真结果表明,本文提出的三层逐级奔月窗口搜索方法能快速精确求解载人登月任务中着陆器奔月窗口及精确轨道参数,也揭示了影响着陆器奔月窗口的主次因素和规律,为中国未来载人登月工程提供参考。     

Minimax Approach to Trajectory Optimization of Multistage Launch Vehicles

An optimum pitch steering program is developed, using a minimax technique, for a multistage launch vehicle in the presence of large parameter uncertainties. The uncertainties are characterized by deterministic bounds on the respective parameters. The pitch steering program is obtained by maximizing two independent scalar performance ance indexes. 1) the coast apogee velocity for a specified altitude; 2) the perigee of the satellite orbit. The product of dynamic pressure and angle of attack is constrained so as to minimize the structural loads during the atmospheric flight. The values of the uncertain parameters are determined by minimizing the same performance indexes in order to achieve a worst case design. The existence of saddle point solution to this class of problems is shown using the techniques of differential game theory. The conjugate gradient algorithm has been used for computer er aided design of the minimax technique.     

Conversations. With Norman Thagard [interview by Johan Benson

This article is an interview with U.S. astronaut Norman Thagard. He was on the Russian Mir 18 mission. Launched to the space station from Baikonur on March 14, 1995, he returned to Earth on the Shuttle 115 days later. With the completion of that mission, Thagard holds the U.S. record for the most time spent in space. Topics of discussion during the interview include: the cultural isolation faced by an American astronaut on a Russian space facility; the physiological and psychological effects of long-duration space flight; the problems of loss of bone and the radiation environment; readaptation to gravity on Earth; and, recommendations to the designers of the Alpha station.     

Parametric Identification of a Return Space Vehicle during Vertical Landing

Real values of parameters for a space vehicle and its steering devices are specified by using the motion parameters measured in flight based on solving the differential equations of motion.     

Mir: a health report

The current equipment and safety status of the Russian space station Mir is discussed. Mir has operated past its expected life expectancy and has been having an increasing number of equipment failures and problems. The Russian system of addressing equipment repairs and maintenance is examined along with implications for the future International Space Station.     

Lunar habitat concept employing the space shuttle external tank

The space shuttle external tank, which consists of a liquid oxygen tank, an intertank structure, and a liquid hydrogen tank, is an expendable structure used for approximately 8.5 min during each launch. A concept for outfitting the liquid oxygen tank-intertank unit for a 12-person lunar habitat is described. The concept utilizes existing structures and openings for both man and equipment access without compromising the structural integrity of the tank. Living quarters, instrumentation, environmental control and life support, thermal control, and propulsion systems are installed at Space Station Freedom. The unmanned habitat is then transported to low lunar orbit and autonomously soft landed on the lunar surface. Design studies indicate that this concept is feasible by the year 2000 with concurrent development of a space transfer vehicle and manned cargo lander for crew changeover and resupply.     

采用 DGCMG 的空间站扰动辨识动量管理

研究长期在轨空间站的动量管理问题。针对动量管理过程中力矩平衡姿态的求解与稳定性进行分析,应用李亚普诺夫方法,给出一种考虑常值姿态干扰的动量管理控制方法,使用双框架控制力矩陀螺作为姿态控制执行机构,进行动量管理控制仿真。仿真结果表明该方法控制准确、收敛快速,可以作为空间站姿态控制的工程参考。     

An epoch state filter for use with analytical orbit models of low earth satellites

Kalman filters provide a well established means for satellite orbit determination. In combination with space based sensors like GPS, DORIS or PRARE, accurate estimates of the spacecraft position and velocity can be obtained in real-time on-board the space vehicle. Traditionally, numerical methods of varying complexity are applied for propagating the state vector between measurements and updates of the state vector are referred to the epoch of the latest sensor output. In the present study a different approach is followed, which offers increased on-board autonomy and is particularly promising for small satellites with moderate accuracy requirements. An analytical orbit model is used to describe the spacecraft trajectory and mean elements at epoch are estimated instead of the instantaneous, osculating state vector. This adds the capability of performing on-board orbit prediction over time scales of up to one week, which is required, for instance, for the autonomous forecast of eclipse times or station contacts. Making use of the SGP4 orbit model that is compatible with NORAD twoline elements, an epoch state Kalman filter has been implemented and tested with GPS flight data of GPS/MET (MicroLab-1) and MOMSNAV (MIR). It is demonstrated that the proposed method provides an accuracy compatible with that of the analytical model and is robust enough to handle large data gaps in case of limited on-board resources for GPS operations. By adjusting the ballistic coefficient along with the mean elements, a considerable improvement of mid-term orbit predictions is achieved over methods that are restricted to the estimation of the state vector alone.     

Nonlinear dynamic modeling and simulation of an atmospheric re-entry spacecraft

This paper discusses the dynamic modeling and simulation techniques for the X-38 re-entry spacecraft, a prototype crew return vehicle (CRV) for the international space station (ISS). A general simulator for atmospheric re-entry dynamics (GESARED) was developed in the Matlab/Simulink environment. The 6 degree-of-freedom re-entry flight dynamics were modeled to achieve minimum restrictions and singularities. Quaternion representation of vehicle attitude was used to avoid computational singularities in angular kinematic model equations. The Earth's atmosphere, Earth's shape and gravitational potential were modeled appropriately. The vehicle's aerodynamic characteristics, navigation sensors, and the actuator dynamics were also modeled and implemented. Several numerical simulation tests and analyses were conducted to evaluate the performance of the model equations and the simulator.     

Application of the Conjugate Gradient Method to a Problem on Minimum Time Orbit Transfer

This correspondence considers the problem of optimally controlling the thrust steering angle of an ion-propelled spaceship so as to effect a minimum time coplanar orbit transfer from the mean orbital distance of Earth to mean Martian and Venusian orbital distances. This problem has been modelled as a free terminal time-optimal control problem with unbounded control variable and with state variable equality constraints at the final time. The problem has been solved by the penalty function approach, using the conjugate gradient algorithm. In general, the optimal solution shows a significant departure from earlier work. In particular, the optimal control in the case of Earth-Mars orbit transfer, during the initial phase of the spaceship's flight, is found to be negative, resulting in the motion of the spaceship within the Earth's orbit for a significant fraction of the total optimized orbit transfer time. Such a feature exhibited by the optimal solution has not been reported at all by earlier investigators of this problem.     

Near term approach to data relay for satellites under test

The increasing need for a continuous communications link with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) spacecraft during test missions in low Earth orbit (LEG) has resulted in greater interest in geosynchronous data relay services. This may be a more economical alternative to building additional remote tracking stations for the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), and avoids tying up operational assets for a test mission. A low-cost near-term approach for such a space-based data relay system would utilize two existing Defense Satellite Communication System III spacecraft, two existing ground terminals, and a small, standardized terminal using autonomous antenna pointing for the space vehicle under test. Such a system design is presented     

Astronaut-induced disturbances to the microgravity environment of the Mir Space Station

In preparation for the International Space Station, the Enhanced Dynamic Load Sensors Space Flight Experiment measured the forces and moments astronauts exerted on the Mir Space Station during their daily on-orbit activities to quantify the astronaut-induced disturbances to the microgravity environment during a long-duration space mission. An examination of video recordings of the astronauts moving in the modules and using the instrumented crew restraint and mobility load sensors led to the identification of several typical astronaut motions and the quantification of the associated forces and moments exerted on the spacecraft. For 2806 disturbances recorded by the foot restraints and hand-hold sensor, the highest force magnitude was 137 N. For about 96% of the time, the maximum force magnitude was below 60 N, and for about 99% of the time the maximum force magnitude was below 90 N. For 95% of the astronaut motions, the rms force level was below 9.0 N. It can be concluded that expected astronaut-induced loads from usual intravehicular activity are considerably less than previously thought and will not significantly disturb the microgravity environment.     

航天器快捷交会技术分析

快捷交会对航天乘员与飞行任务都是非常有利的。快捷交会的基本原理是减少调相段飞行圈数;为此,需设计可完成一系列交会程序的较短的飞行时间,并获得与飞行时间相匹配的较小的初相角。快捷交会的关键技术包括提高入轨精度,增强追踪飞行器的自主计算与轨道控制能力,扩大地面站覆盖范围,以及对目标飞行器轨道的精准调整。     

动能拦截器助推段导引方案研究

针对大气层外高速飞行的目标, 提出了一种可用于动能拦截器助推段的导引方法.建立了拦截器和目标的运动模型, 在分析可拦截约束条件的基础上推导出转移轨道计算方法, 同时通过对拦截器可发射区域中的转移轨道优化得到满足约束条件的有效发射区域, 并以点火时刻待增速度为性能指标来寻优计算获得发射参数.仿真结果表明, 该方法能有效实现拦截器助推段的制导控制.      

小卫星编队飞行的相对运动学方程研究

以运动学方法为基础研究了编队卫星相对运动的一种更直接方法，利用不同天体力学特性，将相对位置和速度与相对轨道参数建立了联系，首先，详细推导了以运动学方法为基础的相对运动方程，据此可直接得出环绕卫星的轨道根数，其次，为有利于相对轨道分析和设计，对相对运动方程进行了简化，最后，通过例子验证了该方法的正确性，仿真结果表明该方法是有效可行的。     

Aircraft health management network: A user interface

Network management is one of the most discussed topics in the networking fraternity. The efficiency of the network management suit is measured by the number of parameters/components handled by the application while making decisions. In the case of internet-enabled aircrafts, along with network security, even aircraft safety needs to be considered as a factor while designing the Network Management suit. This requires the Network Management suit to monitor/analyze the aircraft-related data (avionics data, physical security parameters, etc.) while determining the proper functioning of the overall system. Herein, these authors present a framework for Network Management suit that, along with network health, monitors inputs from avionics, video surveillance system, weather monitoring system, and manual pilot alarms, and based on the situation, reconfigures the on-board networking devices to stream appropriate flight-critical data to the ground station. The proposed framework attempts to provide a comprehensive user interface for the flight health monitoring crew with all relevant data.     

Rendezvous Guidance Trajectory Shaping

The Space Station will bring a great increase in rendezvous traffic. Formerly, rendezvous has been expensive in terms of time and crew involvement. Multiple trajectory adjustments on separate orbits have been required to meet safety, lighting, and geometry requirements. This paper describes a new guidance technique in which the approach trajectory is shaped by a sequence of velocity increments in order to satisfy multiple constraints within a single orbit. The approach phase is planned before the mission, leaving a group of free parameters that are optimized by onboard guidance. Fuel penalties are typically a few percent, compared to unshaped Hohmann transfers, and total fuel costs can be less than those of more time-consuming ways of meeting the same requirements.     

Current status, architecture, and future technologies for theInternational Space Station electric power system

The Electric Power System (EPS) being built for the International Space Station has undergone several significant changes over the last year, as major design decisions have been made for the overall station. While the basic topology and system elements have remained the same, there are important differences in connectivity, assembly sequence, and start-up. The key drivers for these changes in architecture have been the goal to simplify verification, and most significantly, the introduction of extensive Russian participation in the program. Having the Russians join the international community in this project has resulted in an expanded station size, larger crew, and almost doubled the observable surface of the Earth covered by the station. For the power system it has meant additional interfaces for power transfer, and new challenges for solar tracking at the higher inclination orbit. This paper reviews the current architecture and emphasizes the new features that have evolved, as the design for the new, larger station has developed. Additionally, the possible application of developing technology to the station, and other future missions is considered