An alternative strategy process for government space activities

This article is a revised and updated version of a paper presented at the 49th International Astronautical Congress, held in Melbourne, Australia from September 28 to October 2, 1998. It presents a methodical approach to the future planning of government space activities. Rather than generating detailed programme plans that are hard to implement in a dynamic environment, the method described herein is rather modelling the priorities of different project alternatives. This is less detailed as the plans that usually result from the classic space planning approach, yet is highly usable as a roadmap for implementation. This approach enables a dynamic planning with inherent learning cycles that can easily be adapted to the dynamic changes which are plaguing today’s space policies.     

International Academy of Astronautics 5th cosmic study--preparing for a 21st century program of integrated,Lunar and Martian exploration and development (executive summary)

This report is an initial review of plans for a extensive program to survey and develop the Moon and to explore the planet Mars during the 21st century. It presents current typical plans for separate, associated and fully integrated programs of Lunar and Martian research, exploration and development, and concludes that detailed integrated plans must be prepared and be subject to formal criticism. Before responsible politicians approve a new thrust into space they will demand attractive, defensible, and detailed proposals that explain the WHEN, HOW and WHY of each stage of an expanded program of 21st century space research, development and exploration. In particular, the claims of daring, innovative, but untried systems must be compared with the known performance of existing technologies. The time has come to supersede the present haphazard approach to strategic space studies with a formal international structure to plan for future advanced space missions under the aegis of the world's national space agencies, and supported by governments and the corporate sector.     

Principal investigators and project managers: Insights from Discovery

NASA’s Discovery, Explorer, and Mars Scout mission lines have demonstrated over the past 15 years that, with careful planning, flexible management techniques, and a commitment to cost control, small space science missions can be built and launched at a fraction of the price of strategic missions. Many credit management techniques such as co-location, early contracting for long-lead items, and a resistance to scope creep for this, but it is also important to examine what may be the most significant variable in small mission implementation: the roles and the relationship of the principal investigator, responsible to NASA for the success of the mission, and the project manager, responsible for delivering the mission to NASA. This paper reports on a series of 55 oral histories with principal investigators, project managers, co-investigators, system engineers, and senior management from nearly every competitively selected Discovery mission launched to date that discuss the definition and evolution of these roles and share revealing insights from the key players themselves. The paper will show that there are as many ways to define the principal investigator/project manager relationship as there are missions, and that the subtleties in the relationship often provide new management tools not practical in larger missions.     

基于形状的火卫一重力场研究

介绍基于形状对不规则小天体重力场建模的原理和方法,并通过解析法和数值法对火卫一的重力场进行正演建模。相比之前的重力场模型,基于解析算法获得的17阶次球谐展开形式重力场模型,在分辨率上有显著提高。进一步结合火卫一动力学参数,分析了火卫一表面加速度。结果显示,火卫一因其轨道十分接近火星,导致表面离心力和潮汐力十分显著,在某些区域与自引力相当,造成火卫一的特殊表面重力环境。这些结果可为未来的火卫一探测和科学研究提供基本输入物理场模型,也可为其他小天体探测中的类似问题提供方法参考。     

基于数据链的三维航迹规划算法研究

基于数据链的三维航迹规划算法研究对保障飞行器的任务完成和提高其自身的生存能力都很有意义。本文深入研究了A*算法的改进和应用问题,结合数据链通信的条件,改进基于A*算法的三维航迹规划算法。研究了数据链在航迹规划中的作用及通讯模型,并研究了在数据链通信情况下的基于A*算法的离线、在线、针对移动目标、可重选目标的航迹规划方法,并进行了软件仿真,验证了方案的有效性。     

欠驱动刚性航天器姿态的非完整运动规划粒子群算法

研究欠驱动刚性航天器姿态的非完整运动规划问题。众所周知航天器利用三个动量飞轮可以控制其姿态和任意定位，当其中一轮失效，航天器动力学方程表现为不可控。在系统角动量为零的情况下，系统的姿态控制问题可转化为无漂移系统的运动规划问题。基于粒子群优化技术设计了欠驱动刚性航天器姿态的非完整运动规划算法。通过数值仿真，并和遗传算法进行了比较，结果表明该方法对欠驱动航天器姿态运动规划是有效的。     

Integration of multiple research disciplines on the International Space Station.

The International Space Station will provide an extremely high-quality, long-duration microgravity environment for the conduct of research. In addition, the ISS offers a platform for performing observations of Earth and Space from a high-inclination orbit, outside of the Earth's atmosphere. This unique environment and observational capability offers the opportunity for advancement in a diverse set of research fields. Many of these disciplines do not relate to one another, and present widely differing approaches to study, as well as different resource and operational requirements. Significant challenges exist to ensure the highest quality research return for each investigation. Requirements from different investigations must be identified, clarified, integrated and communicated to ISS personnel in a consistent manner. Resources such as power, crew time, etc. must be apportioned to allow the conduct of each investigation. Decisions affecting research must be made at the strategic level as well as at a very detailed execution level. The timing of the decisions can range from years before an investigation to real-time operations. The international nature of the Space Station program adds to the complexity. Each participating country must be assured that their interests are represented during the entire planning and operations process. A process for making decisions regarding research planning, operations, and real-time replanning is discussed. This process ensures adequate representation of all research investigators. It provides a means for timely decisions, and it includes a means to ensure that all ISS International Partners have their programmatic interests represented.     

Architecture for space habitats. Role of architectural design in planning artificial environment for long time manned space missions

The paper discusses concepts about the role of architecture in the design of space habitats and the development of a general evaluation criteria of architectural design contribution. Besides the existing feasibility studies, the general requisites, the development studies, and the critical design review which are mainly based on the experience of human space missions and the standards of the NASA-STD-3000 manual and which analyze and evaluate the relation between man and environment and between man and machine mainly in its functionality, there is very few material about design of comfort and wellbeing of man in space habitat. Architecture for space habitat means the design of an artificial environment with much comfort in an “atmosphere” of wellbeing. These are mainly psychological effects of human factors which are very important in the case of a long time space mission. How can the degree of comfort and “wellbeing atmosphere” in an artificial environment be measured? How can the quality of the architectural contribution in space design be quantified? Definition of a criteria catalogue to reach a larger objectivity in architectural design evaluation. Definition of constant parameters as a result of project necessities to quantify the quality of the design. Architectural design analysis due the application and verification within the parameters and consequently overlapping and evaluating results. Interdisciplinary work between architects, astronautics, engineers, psychologists, etc. All the disciplines needed for planning a high quality habitat for humans in space. Analysis of the principles of well designed artificial environment. Good quality design for space architecture is the result of the interaction and interrelation between many different project necessities (technological, environmental, human factors, transportation, costs, etc.). Each of this necessities is interrelated in the design project and cannot be evaluated on its own. Therefore, the design process needs constant check ups to choose each time the best solution in relation to the whole. As well as for the main disciplines around human factors, architectural design for space has to be largely tested to produce scientific improvement.     

Sandwich module prototype progress for space solar power

Space solar power (SSP) has been broadly defined as the collection of solar energy in space and its wireless transmission for use on earth. This approach potentially gives the benefit of provision of baseload power while avoiding the losses due to the day/night cycle and tropospheric effects that are associated with terrestrial solar power. Proponents have contended that the implementation of such systems could offer energy security, environmental, and technological advantages to those who would undertake their development. Among recent implementations commonly proposed for SSP, the modular symmetrical concentrator (MSC) and other modular concepts have received considerable attention. Each employs an array of modules for performing conversion of concentrated sunlight into microwaves or laser beams for transmission to earth. While prototypes of such modules have been designed and developed previously by several groups, none have been subjected to the challenging conditions inherent to the space environment and the possible solar concentration levels in which an array of modules might be required to operate. The research described herein details our team's efforts in the development of photovoltaic arrays, power electronics, microwave conversion electronics, and antennas for microwave-based “sandwich” module prototypes. The implementation status and testing results of the prototypes are reviewed.     

Lunar settlements--a socio-economic outlook.

The primary ingredient in a Lunar Settlement Program is the people. At the very high cost that will be required to transport, maintain and supply the people who will staff the Lunar operation, it is important to do everything possible to ensure their continued effectiveness in such an isolated, confined, and barren environment. This paper will attempt to identify the issues involved in providing for effective human performance in Lunar Settlements. The approach to be used will be contextual, and thus will not only examine the facets of the Lunar Settlement itself, but will also look at the organizational elements and the design and development processes used in project management from the point of view of long term success and cost effectiveness. The approach will also attempt to look at the Lunar Settlement "in time" as it is connected to events and experiences as they will evolve from the Space Station to Lunar Settlements. Finally, the approach will be contextual in the range of disciplines considered and their impact on planning, evolution, and activities in the entire process of Lunar Settlement. We will hope that Lunar settlers will be able to work and live as effective team members, and to make that possible, the designers, developers, builders, and managers must also function as a coherent team working together to bring about a common goal.     

Motor coordination in weightless conditions revealed by long-term microgravity adaptation.

The functional approach to studying human motor systems attempts to give a better understanding of the processes behind planning movements and their coordinated performance by relying on weightlessness as a particularly enlightening experimental condition. Indeed, quantitative monitoring of sensorimotor adaptation of subjects exposed to weightlessness outlines the functional role of gravity in motor and postural organization. The recent accessibility of the MIR Space Station has allowed for the first time experimental quantitative kinematic analysis of long-term sensorimotor and postural adaptation to the weightless environment though opto-electronic techniques. In the frame of the EUROMIR'95 Mission, two protocols of voluntary posture perturbation (erect posture, EP; forward trunk bending, FTB) were carried out during four months of microgravity exposure. Results show that postural strategies for quasistatic body orientation in weightlessness are based on the alignment of geometrical body axes (head and trunk) along external references. A proper whole body positioning appears to be recovered only after months of microgravity exposure. By contrast, typically, terrestrial strategies of co-ordination between movement and posture are promptly restored and used when performing motor activities in the weightless environment. This result is explained under the assumption that there may be different sensorimotor integration processes for static and dynamic postural function and that the organisation of coordinated movement might rely stably on egocentric references and kinematics synergies for motor control.     

一种三维航迹快速搜索方法

本文提出了基于SAS的自动三维航迹规划方法。该方法通过把约束条件结合到搜索算法中去，有效地减小了搜索空间，缩短了搜索时间，从而使三维规划能够用于实时航迹规划。在搜索过程中地形信息得到了充分利用，使算法生成的航迹能够自动回避地形和威胁。实验证明，该方法能够快速有效地完成规划任务，获得满意的三维航迹。     

俄罗斯火星载人探测技术现状

火星探测是人类探索太空的重要组成部分。俄罗斯在火星探测方面具有丰富的经验和大量技术储备。文章扼要介绍了俄罗斯火星载人探测技术的发展过程,重点阐述了俄罗斯现阶段火星探测方案和关键部件的研制现状和技术能力,对该方案的可行性进行了分析,并对火星探测技术可能的国际合作方式提出建议。     

我国空间环境试验的现状与发展建议

文章简要回顾了我国空间环境试验的发展历史与现状,并根据我国空间技术发展的需求,从大型复杂航天器环境试验、长寿命航天器环境适应性评估验证与防护、空间环境及其效应在轨飞行实验、月球与深空环境模拟与试验等方面对我国空间环境试验技术发展提出了一些建议。     

启发式深空探测器任务规划方法

针对深空探测器的任务规划过程特点,考虑约束的数值特性,提出一种基于规划活动相关度的领域无关启发式规划方法。定义了活动的相关度,结合规划过程,给出自学习式的相关度动态更新过程。设计基于相关度的活动选择机制,形成启发式规划算法。数值计算结果表明,文中提出的方法有效地减少了规划过程中规划步数和回溯步数,提高了深空探测器规划的效率。     

航天器可靠性与空间特殊环境试验

文章论述了环境试验对航天器可靠性的重要作用,重点介绍了原子氧、空间辐照粒子、等离子体与带电、空间碎片等特殊环境及其效应对航天器寿命及可靠性的影响,并对开展航天器长寿命、高可靠环境试验技术研究提出一些建议。     

欧洲“火星快车”探测器自行底盘概念设计的启示

通过对月球车和火星车的跟踪调研,重点介绍了俄罗斯所承担的欧洲空间局“火星快车”项目中火星车自行底盘概念的设计思想和具体实施情况。结合火星表面的复杂环境,研制方探讨了几种底盘结构设计方案,通过对比分析确立了6×6×4+4ш方案为优化方案;根据该优化方案研制的比例模型样机通过行走试验验证,结果表明自行底盘概念设计思想正确,有助于提高行星车在复杂地形中的运动能力、稳定性和可靠性。最后针对我国深空探测项目实施的需求,提出了拟开展工作建议。     

Two modest proposals for propelling NASA forward

The external and internal environments of NASA have been shifting, necessitating new approaches to problem solving and innovation. Based on a strategic alignment analysis, and an understanding of NASA's internal and external contexts, we have two modest proposals: First, give NASA flexibility to manage its human resources and infrastructure based on market-based, competitive, performance-oriented principles. Second, it is time for NASA to become a real network organization. One that is properly integrated both internally (across NASA centers) as well as externally with whatever organizations have superior space-related knowledge and technology, wherever they are.     

新一代运载火箭动力系统试车总体试验技术研究

针对动力系统试验规模大、风险高、密度高、并行环节多、技术难度大等突出特点,试验主体承担单位细化落实试验主体抓总责任,充分发挥抓总、策划、牵引能力,注重工艺流程的持续优化、加强试验过程的统筹协调、安全防范和风险管控,统一指挥十余个参试系统,统领近十个参试单位形成的试验队有序工作,技术状态控制有效,确保了三型运载火箭八个模块十二次动力系统试车准时准点和圆满成功,为三型运载火箭按期首飞奠定了基础。