Vision-based pose estimation for cooperative space objects

Imaging sensors are widely used in aerospace recently. In this paper, a vision-based approach for estimating the pose of cooperative space objects is proposed. We learn generative model for each space object based on homeomorphic manifold analysis. Conceptual manifold is used to represent pose variation of captured images of the object in visual space, and nonlinear functions mapping between conceptual manifold representation and visual inputs are learned. Given such learned model, we estimate the pose of a new image by minimizing a reconstruction error via a traversal procedure along the conceptual manifold. Experimental results on the simulated image dataset show that our approach is effective for 1D and 2D pose estimation.     

空间核爆对地面与航天活动的影响

空间核爆具有与地面及大气核爆完全不同的物理过程、景观现象与引发效应。空间核爆导致的核电磁脉冲、瞬时能量沉积、附加电离层、人造辐射带可以造成弹道导弹和卫星的毁伤、电子设施瘫痪、电力和网络系统被切断、无线电通信受到干扰等;其软杀伤能力显著,对日常生活和正常活动会产生一系列影响。文章综述了空间核爆的物理效应及其对地面与航天活动的影响,以为后续研究提供参考。     

Review and analysis of the register of space objects

Parties to the Registration Convention are committed to providing the United Nations with certain information about objects they launch into space. This report describes the categories of information required, outlines the inadequacies of the present Register and suggests modifications.     

深度学习技术在空间激光通信中的应用

与射频通信相比,空间激光通信具有传输速率高、保密性能强、终端功耗低等优点,目前已成为当前通信领域的一个研究热点。同时,空间激光通信也面临着一些严峻的技术挑战,如大气湍流导致空间激光通信的信道情况十分复杂,复杂的信道会引发信号光强度起伏剧烈,信标光跟踪与瞄准困难,接收端的信号光场波前畸变严重等。为了提升空间激光通信在复杂信道环境中的性能,学者们将深度学习技术引入到空间激光通信系统中。多项研究表明,深度学习在空间激光通信的诸多方面表现出了优越的信息处理能力。对近年来深度学习技术在空间激光通信信号处理与检测,信标光捕获与跟踪以及波前畸变探测与校正等方面的应用做一全面梳理,并对用于空间激光通信的深度学习技术的前景进行展望。     

Performance relationships between ground model and space prototype of deployable space antennas

Performance testing is very useful in the design of deployable space antennas. It is arduous and costly to carry out the prototype experiments on the ground because of the large aperture of the antenna and the difficulty of simulating space environments. Thus, a smaller replica of the antenna, called scale model, is used to achieve the performance testing for reasons of economy, convenience, and saving in time. In this paper, a two-step approach is proposed to predict the prototype performance of the antenna in the space environment according to the performance testing of the scale model. The first step is to analyze the similarity between the prototype and the model in the same environment. Different methods are adopted according to the different performance of the antenna. The scaling laws of the driving force of the deployable Astromesh antenna are established through the differential equations on the basis of the deployment dynamic equations, while the scaling laws of frequency are derived by the dimensional analysis method. The second step is to analyze the performance relationships of the scale model in the different environments. Experiments on the scale model can be performed to obtain the performance relationships. Finally, a complete example of the natural frequency analysis is given to illustrate the two-step method.     

空间目标雷达截面积的测量理论与实践

文章从对空间目标雷达截面积测量的需求出发,给出了目标雷达截面积的基本概念与定义,对雷达截面积测量理论与方法进行了系统的阐述,并结合空间目标探测工程实际对测量精度做了理论分析,给出了常用的校准方法。     

Enhancing ground communication of distributed space systems

The functionality of a distributed system can be significantly enhanced by exploring non-traditional approaches that leverage on inherent aspects of distributed systems in space. Till now, the benefit of distributed systems in space has been limited to enhancing coverage, multipoint sensing, creating virtual baselines (e.g. interferometry) or to enhance redundancy. The list of benefits can be further expanded by understanding the nature of distributed systems and by productively incorporating it into mission and spacecraft design. For example, prior knowledge of the spatial evolution of such systems can lead to innovative communication architectures for these distributed systems. In this paper, different communication scenarios are investigated that can enhance the communication link between the distributed system and ground.The increasing trend towards highly miniaturized spacecraft (nano- to femto-satellites) and proposals to launch hundreds or even thousands of them in massively distributed space missions have expanded the interest in distributed systems with miniature spacecraft. It is important to understand how and which, functionalities and systems, scale with size and number. Scalable systems are defined and addressed at a basic level and the utility of scaling rules and trends in identifying optimal configurations of distributed systems is explored.In this paper we focus on the communication capability and identify methods to enhance the communication link between a distributed space segment, consisting of a number of simplistic, resource limited femto-satellites, and earth. As an example, the concept of forming a dynamic phased array in space with the elements of a distributed space system in low-earth orbit is investigated. At the ground receiver, the signals from different satellites forming the array should not differ in phase by more than one-third the transmission wavelength, to ensure constructive superposition. Realizing such a phased array places strict accuracy requirements on time synchronization and knowledge of relative separation between the satellites with respect to the ground receiver. These constraints are derived and discussed.     

Goals and preparation method for ground operations for the manned space flight Altair

The mission's success fully depends on the Payload Operations conducted during the space flight. The Ground Team has to be trained to assist the Space Crew, to replan the cosmonaut's activities when contingengies occurr onboard and to change or cancel Payload activities when required. In order to act efficiently during the mission, the Ground Team must be prepared in advance of the flight and able to operate special tools for tracking the mission's progress, anticipating problems and taking decisions in realtime.

This document sets out the approach for conducting such a preparation for Ground Operation. It will be focused on the Altaïr mission performed in July 1993 onboard the Russian Mir space station.     

Application of a Multiple Hypothesis Filter to near GEO high area-to-mass ratio space objects state estimation

Optical surveys have identified a class of high area-to-mass ratio (HAMR) objects in the vicinity of the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) regime. The nature of these objects is not well known, though their proximity to the GEO belt implies origins from space objects (SOs) near GEO. These HAMR objects pose a collision hazard as they transit through the vicinity of active GEO satellites. Due to their high area-to-mass ratios (AMRs), ranging from 0.1 to 20 m²/kg and higher, the effective solar radiation pressure perturbs their orbits significantly. Improvements in detection sensitivity will result in large numbers of uncorrelated tracks from surveys. A Multiple Hypothesis Filter (MHF) approach to the initial state estimation and track association provides a potentially automated and efficient approach to the processing of multiple un-correlated tracks.The availability of long-term optical angles data collected for a set of near GEO HAMR objects provides the means for testing candidate estimation processes such as the MHF. A baseline orbit determination (OD) process uses an Extended Kalman Filter/Smoother to manually estimate the 6 orbital elements and the effective area-to-mass ratio (AMR) which drives the solar radiation pressure perturbations on the orbital trajectories. In addition to allowing the characterization of the long-term behavior of the AMR, this process establishes a pseudo-truth trajectory to which the MHF analysis can be compared. An Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) is applied in the MHF estimation process to estimate the 6 orbital elements and AMR, with no a priori state assumptions, and the results are compared to the pseudo-truth results for validation.The work to be presented summarizes the UKF/MHF process and assesses state estimation performance based on selected data for selected near GEO HAMR objects having a range of AMR value and variations. The prediction accuracy is also assessed by comparing predictions derived from filter updates to segments of the pseudo-truth trajectory determined from data not included in the updates.     

Application of a Multiple Hypothesis Filter to near GEO high area-to-mass ratio space objects state estimation

Optical surveys have identified a class of high area-to-mass ratio (HAMR) objects in the vicinity of the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) regime. The nature of these objects is not well known, though their proximity to the GEO belt implies origins from space objects (SOs) near GEO. These HAMR objects pose a collision hazard as they transit through the vicinity of active GEO satellites. Due to their high area-to-mass ratios (AMRs), ranging from 0.1 to 20 m²/kg and higher, the effective solar radiation pressure perturbs their orbits significantly. Improvements in detection sensitivity will result in large numbers of uncorrelated tracks from surveys. A Multiple Hypothesis Filter (MHF) approach to the initial state estimation and track association provides a potentially automated and efficient approach to the processing of multiple un-correlated tracks.The availability of long-term optical angles data collected for a set of near GEO HAMR objects provides the means for testing candidate estimation processes such as the MHF. A baseline orbit determination (OD) process uses an Extended Kalman Filter/Smoother to manually estimate the 6 orbital elements and the effective area-to-mass ratio (AMR) which drives the solar radiation pressure perturbations on the orbital trajectories. In addition to allowing the characterization of the long-term behavior of the AMR, this process establishes a pseudo-truth trajectory to which the MHF analysis can be compared. An Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) is applied in the MHF estimation process to estimate the 6 orbital elements and AMR, with no a priori state assumptions, and the results are compared to the pseudo-truth results for validation.The work to be presented summarizes the UKF/MHF process and assesses state estimation performance based on selected data for selected near GEO HAMR objects having a range of AMR value and variations. The prediction accuracy is also assessed by comparing predictions derived from filter updates to segments of the pseudo-truth trajectory determined from data not included in the updates.     

空间激光通信调制技术的研究进展

空间激光通信系统具有传输速率高、体积小、质量轻、功耗低等特点,适用于卫星高速数据传输。激光通信调制技术作为空间激光通信系统的一项关键技术,是影响系统通信性能的主要因素之一。首先,介绍空间激光通信调制技术的原理及其分类,并对其优缺点做比较分析,再对激光调制的关键技术进行阐述;然后,从发展阶段与应用环境角度对国内外已报道的空间激光通信调制技术研究进展进行总结;最后,对空间激光通信调制技术的发展趋势进行展望。     

A method for determination of gamma-ray direction in space

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are short and most intense bursts of gamma-rays that come from random direction in space. Their origins are still unknown and they originate likely from cosmological distances, probably after birth of a new black hole or death of a giant star. In this work, Geant simulations of a detector array aiming identification of gamma-ray directions in space were performed and a method was used for this identification. The array consists of three quadratic NaI(Tl) scintillators which are facing different directions. The method is based on the difference of the counts registered in these three detectors. This form of the array which can scan three dimensions in space is crucial to pinpoint origin of the GRBs. The array would also be applicable in various fields where identifications of the gamma-ray directions are necessary.     

人-船-服热真空联合试验技术

人-船-服热真空联合试验对于保证航天员的安全和飞行任务的成功非常重要.航天员可通过试验熟悉空间环境、增强心理承受力,通过试验还可暴露出载人飞船在设计、研制和制造过程中的缺陷.而试验的成功则与完善的地面试验设施、正确的试验技术、详细的试验大纲、合理的技术规范和试验程序密切相关.文章主要介绍了在KM6大型空间环境模拟设备中进行的人-船-服热真空联合试验,包括3个试验方案、潜在的安全问题的分析及相关对策、安全系统的介绍,详细介绍了设备的主要技术规范和10个主要的分系统:真空容器、液氮分系统、气氮分系统、复压分系统、环境控制分系统、热流模拟分系统、通讯控制分系统和消防分系统等.     

Registration of space objects: ESA member states’ practice

The registration of space objects is indispensable for the orderly administration of outer space. Most states recognize this and comply with the instruments—the Registration Convention and the UN General Assembly Resolution—set up to permit registration, but they display different approaches to and interpretations of the concept of registration. This article examines the registration practices of various European Space Agency (ESA) member states and of ESA itself. It finds that, despite varied policies, the system seems to be working well. However, there has been a worrying rise in non-registrations over the past few years, perhaps linked to the growth in the number of, especially commercial, entities engaging in space activities.     

航天用元器件应用验证方法及其应用实例

针对航天用元器件传统鉴定考核方法的局限性,文章提出了一种改进的可靠性保证方法,其核心在于以元器件鉴定试验为基础,结合航天应用的实际背景以及元器件的自身特性制定评估试验方案,对元器件的耐受力裕度、实际性能指标进行评价。将该方法应用于航天器用1553B数据总线隔离变压器的评估,得出了在不同应用条件下其电性能参数的变化趋势以及与进口同类样品间电参数的比对结果,并对其结构与航天型号要求的符合性以及极限性能指标等进行了评估验证。结果表明,该方法可以充分验证航天用元器件研制的成熟度和在航天工程中的适用度,为元器件的研制和应用提供全面参考依据。     

ICAN: A novel laser architecture for space debris removal

The development of a fiber based laser architecture will enable novel applications in environments which have hitherto been impossible due to size, efficiency and power of traditional systems. Such a new architecture has been developed by the International Coherent Amplification Network (ICAN) project. Here we present an analysis of utilizing an ICAN laser for the purpose of tracking and de-orbiting hyper-velocity space debris. With an increasing number of new debris from collisions of active, derelict and new payloads in orbit, there is a growing danger of runaway debris impacts. Due to its compactness and efficiency, it is shown that space-based operation would be possible. For different design parameters such as fiber array size, it is shown that the kHz repetition rate and kW average power of ICAN would be sufficient to de-orbit small 1–10 cm debris within a single instance via laser ablation.     

Some peculiarities of changes in characteristics of proper atmosphere of space objects

We consider the behavior of the proper atmosphere of space objects in interaction with a flow of incident particles and when the orientation of an object changes. An asymmetry in the behavior of a sorption film with respect to an incident flow of atmospheric particles and the flow’s angular characteristics is shown, as well as the film influence on operation of sensors of the spacecraft’s attitude control system. A recommendation concerning usage of heavy gases for technological operations onboard spacecraft is given.     

Acquisition and tracking of laser beams in space communications

A general consideration of the problem of acquisition and tracking of laser beams is given for intersatellite communications. An optimum multi-step system for antenna acquisition and pointing is determined. For the acquisition and pointing stage an equivalent bit rate is introduced. Using this criteria, an approach is derived to compare the acquisition system to the optimum one as well as to the communication channel with regard to the required optical power. The laser tracking system has been also considered. The advantage of a tracking system with two integrators has been shown.