IKAROS太阳帆的关键技术分析与启示

分析了国外太阳帆的发展现状,重点论述了世界上首次成功飞行的太阳帆——太阳辐射驱动星际风筝航天器（IKAROS）的总体设计、材料设计、空间展开和姿态控制等关键技术,以及中国开展太阳帆和空间大型展开结构的总体设计、空间展开、姿态控制、空间环境适应性等关键技术,提出了系统开展以太阳帆为代表的大型轻质展开结构研制与应用的建议。     

电动帆轨迹优化及其性能分析

电动帆是一种新兴的无推进剂损耗的推进方式,利用太阳风的动能冲力飞行。电动帆由数百根长而细的金属链所组成,这些金属链通过空间飞行器自旋展开,太阳能电子枪向外喷射电子,使金属链始终保持在高度的正电位,这些带电的金属链会排斥太阳风质子,利用太阳风的动能冲力推动空间飞行器驶向目标方向。针对电动帆轨迹优化问题,提出采用Gauss伪谱法进行轨迹优化,克服了间接法对协态变量初值敏感的缺点。考虑在太阳风暴等原因造成特征加速度改变的情况,基于Gauss伪谱法实现电动帆在线轨迹重新规划,提高电动帆对太阳风不确定性的适应能力。最后以太阳系外探测任务为例,对电动帆和太阳帆的性能进行对比,仿真结果表明电动帆在星际远航任务中所用时间较短。     

电动帆航天器谷神星探测任务轨迹优化

针对电动帆航天器谷神星探测任务轨迹优化问题,提出一种基于高斯伪谱法和遗传算法的混合优化算法。为了验证所提出的混合优化算法有效性,并考察任务起始时间和电动帆特征加速度对探测任务的影响,进行了一定数量的数值仿真。仿真结果表明：电动帆航天器自地球至谷神星的飞行时间随着起始时间的变化呈周期性波动,波动周期基本与地球和谷神星的会合周期一致;电动帆航天器的特征加速度越小,完成过渡所需要的飞行时间越长,且一个具有中等特征加速度的电动帆航天器便能在可接受的时间内完成自地球至谷神星的过渡;所提出的混合优化算法是有效的,能够在无任何初值猜测的情况下完成电动帆航天器飞行轨迹的优化。     

Ultralight deployable booms for solar sails and other large gossamer structures in space

Future solar sail spacecraft which do not need any rocket motors and propellants are a promising option for long-term exploration missions in the solar system. However, they will require ultralight reflective foils and deployable booms which will allow for the unfolding of huge sails. The achievement of an acceptable ratio of reflective sail area and structural mass, which results in a still small, but significant acceleration under the photon pressure of sunlight, is extremely challenging. The same challenging deployment technique is required for the unfolding of large reflector membranes or antennas (gossamer structures). The key elements are the booms which must be stowable in a very small envelope before they reach their destination in space. Such booms were developed by DLR and have been successfully tested under zero-g-conditions during a parabolic flight campaign in February 2009. It could be convincingly demonstrated that the unfolding process is both controllable and reproducible. The booms consisted of two co-bonded omega-shaped carbonfiber half shells with 0.1 mm wall thickness each and had a weight of only 62 g per meter. Two different deployment technologies were tested, one based upon an inflatable 12 μm thick polymer hose inside the boom, the other one using an electromechanical uncoiling device at the tip of each boom. In the latter case, the uncoiling devices will radially fly away from the spacecraft, such that they become “expendable deployment mechanisms” and their mass does not count any more for the spacecraft mass that needs to be accelerated or actively controlled.     

Sensitivity studies of the deployment of a square inflatable solar sail with vanes

This paper summarizes the results of numerical experiments to determine the sensitivity of the final attitude of an inflatable solar sail with vanes after deployment to various parameters affecting the deployment process. These parameters are: in- and out-of-plane asymmetries during deployment, length inflation profile, and vane deployment failures. We show how robust the sail deployment is to geometric asymmetries before a 35° off-Sun angle is reached. Differential delays in the time to inflate the booms and a boom sweep-back angle affect the stability favorably. Adjacent vane failures to deploy affect the stability unfavorably, while the failure of opposing vanes is acceptable. Realistic boom length rate profiles obtained during ground tests are used in the simulation showing that failing adjacent vanes in conjunction with initial inflation delays in adjacent booms represent the worst case. We also demonstrate that by feeding back attitude and attitude rate measurements so that a corrective action is taken during the deployment, the final attitude can be maintained very close to the initial attitude, thus mitigating the attitude changes incurred during deployment.     

条带式太阳帆航天器的热致结构动力学响应

本文研究条带式太阳帆在近地轨道运行进出地球阴影时的热致结构动力学响应，建立了在太阳热辐射和光压共同作用下的太阳帆结构动力学方程，采用分布传递函数法，给出了条带式太阳帆热致结构稳态振动幅频响应的计算方法。算例结果表明：热辐射冲击是引起近地轨道太阳帆结构动力学响应的主要原因，光压引起的结构响应可忽略不计；增加桅杆壁厚不能有效抑制太阳帆的热致结构动态响应；增大阻尼，减小结构的热膨胀系数能够明显减小太阳帆热致结构响应的振幅；热致结构动态响应是设计大尺寸近地轨道太阳帆必须解决的问题。本文提出的方法可为太阳帆结构设计、姿态和轨道控制提供有力的分析工具。     

火星探测器降落伞拉直过程中的“绳帆”现象研究

针对火星探测器降落伞在拉直过程中出现的“绳帆”现象,以及火星探测器降落伞开伞前初始参数和大气密度与地球环境下的差异,建立了火星探测器降落伞拉直过程的数学模型,研究了火星环境下,伞包弹射速度、开伞前进入器的攻角、开伞马赫数以及大气密度对“绳帆”现象的影响。研究结果表明,选择较大的伞包弹射速度,并将开伞前进入器的攻角严格限定在较小范围内,将有利于避免或降低“绳帆”现象的发生。这一研究结果可为我国实施火星探测时减速着陆系统的设计分析提供一定参考。     

Station keeping of a solar sail around a Halo orbit

Solar sails are a concept of spacecraft propulsion that takes advantage of solar radiation pressure to propel a spacecraft. Although the thrust provided by a solar sail is small it is constant and unlimited. This offers the chance to deal with novel mission concept. In this work we want to discuss the controllability of a spacecraft around a Halo orbit by means of a solar sail. We will describe the natural dynamics for a solar sail around a Halo orbit. By natural dynamics we mean the behaviour of the trajectory of a solar sail when no control on the sail orientation is applied. We will then discuss how a sequence of changes on the sail orientation will affects the sail's trajectory, and we will use this information to derive efficient station keeping strategies. Finally we will check the robustness of these strategies including different sources of errors in our simulations.     

NanoSail-D: A solar sail demonstration mission

In the early to mid-2000s, NASA made substantial progress in the development of solar sail propulsion systems. Solar sail propulsion uses the solar radiation pressure exerted by the momentum transfer of reflected photons to generate a net force on a spacecraft. To date, solar sail propulsion systems were designed for large robotic spacecraft. Recently, however, NASA has been investigating the application of solar sails for small satellite propulsion. The NanoSail-D is a subscale solar sail system designed for possible small spacecraft applications. The NanoSail-D mission flew on board the ill-fated Falcon Rocket launched August 2, 2008, and due to the failure of that rocket, never achieved orbit. The NanoSail-D flight spare is ready for flight and a suitable launch arrangement is being actively pursued. This paper will present an introduction solar sail propulsion systems and an overview of the NanoSail-D spacecraft.     

太阳帆航天器研究及其关键技术综述

综述了国内外关于太阳帆航天器的研究成果。介绍了太阳帆航天器的构型与材料、姿态控制、轨道控制及任务分析、试验验证及动力学仿真分析等的研究进展,讨论了太阳帆航天器轻质高强度帆体、折叠储存与展开控制、结构设计、姿态控制、地面试验及在轨演示验证,以及测试与诊断等关键技术,分析了未来太阳帆航天器的发展趋势。     

Optimal control laws for heliocentric transfers with a magnetic sail

A magnetic sail is an advanced propellantless propulsion system that uses the interaction between the solar wind and an artificial magnetic field generated by the spacecraft, to produce a propulsive thrust in interplanetary space. The aim of this paper is to collect the available experimental data, and the simulation results, to develop a simplified mathematical model that describes the propulsive acceleration of a magnetic sail, in an analytical form, for mission analysis purposes. Such a mathematical model is then used for estimating the performance of a magnetic sail-based spacecraft in a two-dimensional, minimum time, deep space mission scenario. In particular, optimal and locally optimal steering laws are derived using an indirect approach. The obtained results are then applied to a mission analysis involving both an optimal Earth–Venus (circle-to-circle) interplanetary transfer, and a locally optimal Solar System escape trajectory. For example, assuming a characteristic acceleration of 1 mm/s², an optimal Earth–Venus transfer may be completed within about 380 days.     

Effect of a drag force due to absorption of solar radiation on solar sail orbital dynamics

While solar electromagnetic radiation can be used to propel a solar sail, it is shown that the Poynting–Robertson effect related to the absorbed portion of the radiation leads to a drag force in the transversal direction. The Poynting–Robertson effect is considered for escape trajectories, Heliocentric bound orbits and non-Keplerian bound orbits. For escape trajectories, this drag force diminishes the cruising velocity, which has a cumulative effect on the Heliocentric distance. For Heliocentric and non-Keplerian bound orbits, the Poynting–Robertson effect decreases its orbital speed, thereby causing it to slowly spiral towards the Sun. Since the Poynting–Robertson effect is due to the absorbed portion of the electromagnetic radiation, degradation of a solar sail implies that this effect becomes enhanced during a mission.     

太阳帆日心定点悬浮转移轨道设计

研究了太阳帆航天器日心定点悬浮轨道(HFDO)的转移轨道设计问题,以球坐标形式建立了太阳帆的动力学模型,基于该模型给出在日心悬浮轨道基础上实现定点悬浮的条件,提出了一种实现日心定点悬浮的转移轨道设计方法。首先,确定定点悬浮的位置;然后,设计经过该位置的绕日极轨轨道;最后,实施轨道减速实现定点悬浮,并给出了解析形式的轨道控制律。结合太阳极地观测任务,设计了定点悬浮在太阳北极1AU处的太阳帆转移轨道。仿真结果表明:该轨道转移方案总耗时3.5年,太阳帆定点到黄北极距日心1AU处,此后只要保持太阳光垂直照射帆面,即可维持稳定的悬浮状态。     

应用于立方星的剪叉式可展开太阳电池阵机构

立方星在轨任务期间的能源供给主要依靠蓄电池或体装太阳能电池阵。随着微小航天器技术的发展,立方星功能密度越来越大,星上载荷对功率的需求越来越高,传统的电池板供能方式已很难满足未来空间任务需求。另外,立方星因其特有的尺寸规范和标准,对电池阵的收纳尺寸和展开机构也有特殊应用需求。基于上述背景和立方星的结构特点,设计了一种展开原理简单、扩展性好、折展比大的一维剪叉式空间可展开机构,进行了原理样机的加工制造和地面展开试验,验证了机构设计的功能可行性以及设计参数的合理性。机构展开后阵列发电功率是传统供能方式的3~5倍,且特殊的几何外形可提供被动重力梯度稳定优势,在提升未来立方星载荷能力方面有重要应用价值。     

Results of the parabolic flight tests of the rapunzel deployer

The tether assisted re-entry of small payloads is a highly interesting tool for space transportation especially for the return of small payloads from Space Station ISSA. The small tether mission Rapunzel was initiated in 1991 by the Institute of Astronautics, TU München and the Kayser-Threde Company, to design a low cost and feasible tether experiment for the verification of the tether assisted re-entry. Together with the Samara State Aerospace University, Russia, a mission concept on a Russian Resurs or Photon capsule was developed. Based on this mission a deployer has been designed, mainly based on technology of the textile industry, which insures high reliability at low cost. Recently a similar configuration is being discussed for the ESA-TSE mission.The main work during the recent time was the development and test of the breadboard model of the deployer system. After successfully completing initial ground tests with the deployer, further tests during the ESA Parabolic Flight campaign in November 1995 were conducted. After a short introduction of the overall mission scenario, the planned configuration in orbit, this paper will present the results of the microgravity test campaign onboard the KC-135 aircraft and compare them with the ground test. The deployer showed a good performance during all tests, including ejection of the end-mass, deployment, and braking. Problems that occurred during the tests will be discussed, and solutions for the detected flaws and the results of the redesign now in progress will be presented. These verifications have shown the feasibility of the concept and will lay the base for the planned development of the flight model of the deployer.     

Fast solar sail rendezvous mission to near Earth asteroids

The concept of fast solar sail rendezvous missions to near Earth asteroids is presented by considering the hyperbolic launch excess velocity as a design parameter. After introducing an initial constraint on the hyperbolic excess velocity, a time optimal control framework is derived and solved by using an indirect method. The coplanar circular orbit rendezvous scenario is investigated first to evaluate the variational trend of the transfer time with respect to different hyperbolic excess velocities and solar sail characteristic accelerations. The influence of the asteroid orbital inclination and eccentricity on the transfer time is studied in a parametric way. The optimal direction and magnitude of the hyperbolic excess velocity are identified via numerical simulations. The found results for coplanar circular scenarios are compared in terms of fuel consumption to the corresponding bi-impulsive transfer of the same flight time, but without using a solar sail. The fuel consumption tradeoff between the required hyperbolic excess velocity and the achievable flight time is discussed. The required total launch mass for a particular solar sail is derived in analytical form. A practical mission application is proposed to rendezvous with the asteroid 99942 Apophis by using a solar sail in combination with the provided hyperbolic excess velocity.     

太阳帆结构分析

太阳帆是人类向太空发射的一种宇宙探测器。本文推导建立了太阳帆结构分析的理论方程组；利用数值计算方法进行了全结构分析；采用罚函数法，确定了满足各种技术条件下的转速及辐条长度之间的可用范围；同时，在引入某些假设的前提下，得出了方程组的近似理论解。它们为太阳帆强度分析、结构形状保持能力提供了论理基础，也为太阳帆的设计提供了依据。本文最后提供了某实际发射的太阳帆结构的分析结果。本文的分析手段可作为大型柔性结构分析的参考     

"绳帆"现象及其对开伞过程的影响

文章对国外相关实验及计算工作进行了综合分析,指出高空侧向风容易引起开伞过程的"绳帆"现象,从而导致严重的后果,总结了消除此现象的若干种对策.并介绍了国外通过计算机模拟"绳帆"问题在实际飞行中得到的成功应用,建议中国也开展相应的理论分析和软件研制工作.     

太阳帆推进

太阳帆依靠反射太阳光光子产生推力,在飞行任务的整个过程推力连续作用于飞行器上而不需要任何推进剂。太阳帆可广泛应用于低成本大速度增量的太阳系飞行任务,具有其它推进系统无法替代的优点。简要介绍了太阳帆推进的机理及研究现状,给出了太阳帆飞行器的主要性能参数及需要解决的主要技术关键。     

Optimal interplanetary rendezvous combining electric sail and high thrust propulsion system

The aim of this paper is to study, from a mission analysis point of view, the performance of a hybrid propulsion concept for a two-dimensional transfer towards a planet of the Solar System. The propulsion system is obtained by combining a chemical thruster, used for the phases of Earth escape and/or target planet capture, with an electric sail, which provides a continuous thrust during the heliocentric transfer. Two possible mission scenarios are investigated: in the first case the sailcraft reaches the target planet with zero hyperbolic excess velocity, thus performing a classical rendezvous mission in a heliocentric framework. In the second mission scenario, a given final hyperbolic excess velocity relative to the planet is tolerated in order to decrease the mission flight time. The amount of final hyperbolic excess velocity is used as a simulation parameter for a tradeoff study in which the minimum flight time is related to the total velocity variation required by the chemical thruster to accomplish the mission, that is, for Earth escape and planetary capture.