DF Vectoring: Application to Stationary Synchronous Satellites

Several methods of using an earth-based radio reference signal to determine the three-axis attitude of a synchronous satellite, and two types of spacecraft electronic systems (amplitude measurement and phase measurement), which obtain attitude and pointing information from the radio reference signal for orientating the spacecraft and for directing large-aperture antennas aboard the spacecraft are described. The earth-based radio reference signal also enables the electronic systems to determine angles to other ground stations with respect to fixed (reference) stations on the earth. These attitude- and angle-determining techniques are applicable to communications satellites, navigational satellites, and intersatellite data relay systems.     

Nontracking antenna performance for inertially controlled spacecraft using TDRSS

A series of tests to validate an antenna pointing concept for spin-stabilized satellites using a data relay satellite is described. These tests show that proper antenna pointing on an inertially stabilized spacecraft can lead to significant access time through the relay satellite even without active antenna pointing. We summarize the test results, the simulations to model the effects of antenna pattern and space loss, and the expected contact times. We also show how antenna beam width affects the results.     

下一代数据中继卫星系统发展思考

通过系统阐述中继卫星系统的发展过程,给出了主要国家和组织的中继卫星系统技术体制和现状.再结合卫星、载人航天器和深空探索的未来发展趋势,分析了下一代中继卫星系统的发展需求.在此基础上,从体系结构、卫星平台、链路调制体制、网络协议等方面,探讨并给出了下一代中继卫星系统的发展趋势和技术途径.为满足未来近地、深空航天任务,以及临近、低空快速移动用户的不同要求,节约系统成本,下一代中继卫星系统将向专业化和与其他系统融合的方向发展:星间链路将增加激光链路,数据速率可达到10 Gbit/s以上;多址业务成为主用,同时支持用户数能力将极大提高;对于链路调制体制,在采用CR(Cognitive Radio,认知无线电)和SDR(Software Defined Radio,软件定义无线电)技术的基础上,可实现实时自适应调整和根据需求加载配置;数据传输将采用网络化方式,天地间构成一体化DTN(Delay Tolerant Network,容延迟网络).     

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     

中继卫星系统对用户航天器快速测定轨能力分析简

针对快速交会对接方案提出的航天器两圈实现变轨的可行性,使用太阳活动平静期的用户航天器四程测距数据,并结合中继卫星观测模型设计磁暴期航天器仿真测距数据,使用动力学定轨方法进行计算分析,论证了中继卫星系统对用户航天器的快速测定轨能力,解算出的航天器轨道根数精度为快速交会对接机精度分析提供了参考.     

双星定位系统及其备份星在近地卫星联合定轨建模中的应用

建立了基于双星定位系统距离和观测数据的近地卫星联合定轨模型,设计了相应的数值融合联合定轨算法;为进一步提高近地卫星定轨精度,考虑融合双星及备份星距离和观测数据,建立了基于双星和备份星的近地卫星联合定轨模型及实现算法,并针对不同仿真条件进行了联合定轨仿真实验。仿真计算结果表明,联合定轨方式较传统近地卫星精密定轨方式可以更好地抑制双星星历误差对近地卫星定轨精度的影响,近地卫星和双星的定轨精度均得到了一定程度的提高;同时,融合备份星观测数据的近地卫星联合定轨精度得到进一步改善,达到5.17m。     

导航卫星载波相位模糊度自主解算方法

当有4颗以上导航卫星同步观测航天器(卫星、导弹)时,本文提出应用自主定位和自校准技术来自主解算导航卫星载波相位整周模糊度的方法,并以此获取航天器的高精度飞行轨道。     

宽波束中继技术在空间站任务中的应用研究

针对航天器现有窄波束中继终端天线在姿态快速变化及姿态异常条件下提供测控支持的局限性,提出了利用宽波束中继技术提供测控通信支持的方案。基于宽波束中继天线性能、天地链路性能对测控通信支持的影响分析,提出了改善链路性能的优化方案。结合空间站任务载人航天器各阶段测控通信支持的特点,分析了宽波束中继在入轨段、长期运行段和返回段的应用。分析结果表明:宽波束中继可为载人航天器从海南发射场发射时的入轨提供测控支持,也可为载人飞船返回提供测控支持。     

无人机系统的卫星中继数据链

针对大中型无人机系统实现远程测控与信息传输的技术需求,在参考国外＂捕食者＂、＂全球鹰＂等先进无人机系统技术体制和实现方案的基础上,提出了利用商业或军用通信卫星作为空中中继平台,建立无人机卫星中继数据链,实现我国远程无人机系统的超视距遥控、遥测和侦察信息实时传输的解决方案,这对延伸无人机系统的作用距离、提高作战效能具有重要意义。文中分析了无人机系统卫星中继数据链的技术体制,提出了工程应用中的关键技术,对具体的工程实现具有一定的指导意义。     

14.5-14.8 GHz Frequency Sharing by Data Relay Satellite Uplinks and Broadcasting-Satellite Uplinks

Data relay satellites are being developed to provide real-time data links between research satellites in low earth orbits and central data acquisition and processing facilities. Frequency assignments for data relay satellite links will be made in bands allocated internationally to the space research service. One of the bands which will be used lies between 14.5 and 15.35 GHz, where the space research service has had a frequency allocation as a secondary service since 1971. During the General World Administrative Radio Conference of the International Telecommunication Union, held in Geneva in 1979, a primary frequency allocation was made in the band 14.5-14.8 GHz to the fixed-satellite service, specifically for use by earth-to-space links of the broadcasting satellite service. The feasibility of shared band operation is evaluated between data relay satellite uplinks and broadcasting-satellite feeder links in the band 14.5-14.8 GHz. Relationships for predicting interference power levels are formulated, as functions of satellite separation and of earth station separation. Tradeoffs between satellite separation angle and earth station separation are explored, and conclusions are drawn regarding the feasibility of band sharing. Co-channel operation is demonstrated to be technically feasible for typical systems, provided appropriate separations are maintained.     

Characteristics of Icy Surfaces

The surfaces of the Solar System’s icy satellites show an extraordinary variety of morphological features, which bear witness to exchange processes between the surface and subsurface. In this paper we review the characteristics of surface features on the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Using data from spacecraft missions, we discuss the detailed morphology, size, and topography of cryovolcanic, tectonic, aeolian, fluvial, and impact features of both large moons and smaller satellites.     

Orbit Determination Accuracies Using Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking

The results are reported of the ATS-6/GEOS-3 and the ATS-6 NIMBUS-6 satellite-to-satellite orbit determination experiments. NASA intends to use the tracking data relay satellite system for operational orbit determination of NASA satellites. Hence, in the near future, satellite-to-satellite tracking data will be routinely processed to obtain orbits. The satellite-to-satellite tracking system used in the ATS-6/NIMBUS-6 and ATS-6/GEOS-3 experiments performed with a resolution of 1 to 2 m in range and less than 1 mm/s in range rate for a 10-s averaging. A Bayesian least squares estimation technique utilizing independent ranging to the synchronous relay satellite was determined to be the most effective procedure for estimating orbits from satellite-to-satellite tracking data. The use of this technique yields estimates of user satellite orbits which are comparable in accuracy to what is usually obtained from ground based systems.     

Data mining as a foundation for science-enabling autonomy

In-situ exploration by spacecraft and planetary rovers will increasingly require knowledge "on demand" in the future as downlinlk constraints limit the amount of information that can be transmitted from these platforms back to Earth. Several on-board processing methods have the potential to significantly enhance scientific results in these settings. They include automatic detection Of natural satellites of planetary bodies, investigation of possible surface motions on planets and planetary moons, and directed acquisition Of scientific data by planetary rovers. The key ingpredient in all three cases is the need to process scientific data directly on-board, so that information can be rapidly provided to an automated spacecraft ex~ecutive and/or to ground-based Principal Inesiators (pis). We discuss, herein, recent developments in data mining technology that were designed initially for ground-based scientific data analysis. We then outline how these ideas can be migrated to on-board platforms to dramatically enhance the scientific capabilities of autonomous spacecraft.     

Gravitation and celestial mechanics investigations with Galileo

The gravitation and celestial mechanics investigations during the cruise phase and Orbiter phase of the Galileo mission depend on Doppler and ranging measurements generated by the Deep Space Network (DSN) at its three spacecraft tracking sites in California, Australia, and Spain. Other investigations which also rely on DSN data, and which like ours fall under the general discipline of spacecraft radio science, are described in a companion paper by Howard et al. (1992). We group our investigations into four broad categories as follows: (1) the determination of the gravity fields of Jupiter and its four major satellites during the orbital tour, (2) a search for gravitational radiation as evidenced by perturbations to the coherent Doppler link between the spacecraft and Earth, (3) the mathematical modeling, and by implication tests, of general relativistic effects on the Doppler and ranging data during both cruise and orbiter phases, and (4) an improvement in the ephemeris of Jupiter by means of spacecraft ranging during the Orbiter phase. The gravity fields are accessible because of their effects on the spacecraft motion, determined primarily from the Doppler data. For the Galilean satellites we will determine second degree and order gravity harmonics that will yield new information on the central condensation and likely composition of material within these giant satellites (Hubbard and Anderson, 1978). The search for gravitational radiation is being conducted in cruise for periods of 40 days centered around solar opposition. During these times the radio link is least affected by scintillations introduced by solar plasma. Our sensitivity to the amplitude of sinusoidal signals approaches 10^-15 in a band of gravitational frequencies between 10^-4 and 10^-3 Hz, by far the best sensitivity obtained in this band to date. In addition to the primary objectives of our investigations, we discuss two secondary objectives: the determination of a range fix on Venus during the flyby on 10 February, 1990, and the determination of the Earth's mass (GM) from the two Earth gravity assists, EGA1 in December 1990 and EGA2 in December 1992.     

Robot-aided remote inspection experiment on STS-85

The results are presented for the robot-aided spacecraft inspection experiments using a flaw detection algorithm called multi-images overcast (MIO), which were conducted as an extension of NASDA's Manipulator Flight Demonstration mission installed on space shuttle mission STS-85. These experiments are the first step towards research and development of the Orbital Maintenance System to support space systems by inspecting satellites, deorbiting useless satellites, and repairing satellites in orbit to utilize space systems effectively and reliably.     

交会对接任务天基双目标测控通信设计

针对交会对接任务对测控通信提出的高覆盖率和双目标测控等需求的问题,分析2颗中继卫星能够提供的覆盖率,设计双目标测控工作模式以及天地协同机制,计算中继链路的性能,分析表明,天基测控可提供约72%的测控覆盖率,能够支持双目标测控,链路余量满足要求;统计了任务中关键段落的测控通信工作情况,分析结果和实际任务情况验证了天基测控在交会对接任务测控通信中的重要作用;最后提出后续任务改进和完善的建议。     

Spacecraft engineering and research at Saint Louis University

Parks College of Engineering and Aviation of Saint Louis University [1i] has a tradition of offering an outstanding aerospace engineering education to prepare students at the undergraduate and graduate level for careers in commercial aviation, defense systems, and space systems fields. Courses are offered across the engineering spectrum (aerospace, electrical and computer engineering, and physics departments) ranging from an introduction to aerospace engineering to spacecraft design, spacecraft communications, and space physics. Students participate in courses that include orbital mechanics, space dynamics, spacecraft engineering, and space systems. Senior capstone project work is also included. A separate Astronautics Engineering track as well as a Minor in Space Systems Engineering for non-aerospace engineering students is currently being developed. A, number of student-driven space systems projects are in process that involve design, development, and test of small satellites similar to those recently highlighted in the March 2009 Systems article entitled The First one Hundred University-Class Spacecraft 1981 - 2008. Reference [4] identifies student spacecraft launched over the past 27 years.     

ACTIVE SPACECRAFT POTENTIAL CONTROL

Charging of the outer surface or of the entire structure of a spacecraft in orbit can have a severe impact on the scientific output of the instruments. Typical floating potentials for magnetospheric satellites (from +1 to several tens of volts in sunlight) make it practically impossible to measure the cold (several eV) component of the ambient plasma. Effects of spacecraft charging are reduced by an entirely conductive surface of the spacecraft and by active charge neutralisation, which in the case of Cluster only deals with a positive potential. The Cluster spacecraft are instrumented with ion emitters of the liquid-metal ion-source type, which will produce indium ions at 5 to 8 keV energy. The operating principle is field evaporation of indium in the apex field of a needle. The advantages are low power consumption, compactness and high mass efficiency. The ion current will be adjusted in a feedback loop with instruments measuring the spacecraft potential (EFW and PEACE). A stand-alone mode is also foreseen as a back-up. The design and principles of the operation of the active spacecraft potential control instrument (ASPOC) are presented in detail. Flight experience with a similar instrument on the Geotail spacecraft is outlined.