Hesperides: Solar/nuclear missions to the Sun׳s inner gravity focus

The Sun?s gravity focus at >550 AU is of interest to astrophysicists including SETI scientists, researchers seeking to image extra-solar planets and others. One method for an extra-solar probe to reach the Sun?s inner gravity focus within a human working lifetime (less than 50 years) is to combine solar and nuclear propulsion techniques. Here, we present a non-optimized probe concept including state-of-the-art solar-sail, radioisotope-electric propulsion and giant-planet gravity assists. Application of radioisotope propulsion allows some cross range capability during and after the powered and cruise phases of the flight to >600 AU. Such a capability is likely necessary to fully utilize the solar gravitational lens effect for SETI and astrophysical observations.     

离子电推进技术的发展现状与未来

离子电推进是最具代表性和技术成熟度的电推进技术类型之一。本文从放电室技术、离子光学系统技术、放电阴极和中和器阴极技术的优势、缺憾等方面,总结了离子电推进的技术发展现状。针对未来航天任务对离子电推进更大功率、更高比冲、更简系统等新需求,分析了传统离子电推进所面临的主要技术挑战,梳理出了环型离子电推进、双级加速离子电推进、自中和离子电推进、螺旋波放电离子电推进等创新离子电推进技术发展的未来方向。     

电推进真空热环境试验研究现状及关键技术

电推进是空间任务的重要推进手段,也是急需发展的空间技术之一。为了评价电推进装置的有效性和可靠性,需要在地面开展各种验证试验,其中有热环境试验。文章对电推进装置的热环境试验技术发展现状进行了跟踪研究,结合国外热环境模拟设备的研制使用情况,梳理出热环境试验相关的关键技术,就我国电推进热环境试验技术和试验设备提出了发展建议。     

国外多模式霍尔电推进发展概况及启示

多模式霍尔电推进具有多个工作模式,调节能力强,相对于20世纪80年代以来广泛应用的只有一个工作模式的霍尔电推进器,其优势明显,能很好地适应诸如GEO卫星轨道转移和在轨位置保持,以及深空探测器和空间运输平台的主推进等多种任务,因此得到了广泛研究和应用.国外多模式霍尔电推进发展现状和趋势对我国多模式霍尔电推进的发展具有重要的启示作用.针对我国航天器对电推进的迫切任务需求,定量分析应用多模式霍尔电推进的收益,提出我国多模式霍尔电推进发展的建议.     

Investigation of nuclear electric powered interstellar precursor missions

Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) is a technology conceptually proposed since the 1940s by E. Stuhlinger in Germany. The JIMO mission originally planned by NASA in the early 2000s produced at least two designs of ion thrusters fed by a 20–30 kW nuclear powerplant. When compared to conventional (chemical) propulsion, the major advantage of NEP in the JIMO context was recognized to be the much higher I_sp (lab-tested at up to 15,000 s) and the capability for sustained power generation, up to 8–10 years when derated to I_sp about 8000 s.The goal of this paper is to show that current or near term NEP technology enables missions far beyond our immediate interplanetary backyard. In fact, by extending the semi-analytical approach used by Stuhlinger, with reasonable ratios α≡power/mass of the propulsion system (i.e., 0.1– 0.4 kW/kg), missions to the Kuiper Belt (40 AU and beyond) and even the so-called FOCAL mission (at 540 AU) become feasible with an attractive payload fraction and in times of order 10–15 years.Further results regarding missions to Sedna’s perihelion/aphelion, and to Oort’s cloud will also be presented, showing the constraints affecting their feasibility and mass budget.     

电推进羽流与航天器相互作用的研究现状与建议

电推进与传统的化学推进相比可以节约大量推进剂质量,被广泛用作地球同步轨道卫星南北位置保持和深空探测等任务的主推进系统。电推进器工作时产生的羽流与传统的化学推进器羽流有显著区别,电推进羽流对航天器的影响是进行卫星电推进器系统设计时需要重点关注的问题。文章讨论了电推进羽流对航天器的主要影响,介绍了国外在地面模拟试验、空间飞行验证和软件仿真技术等方面的研究现状,同时对国内开展羽流与航天器相互作用研究提出了建议。     

Very high delta-V missions to the edge of the solar system and beyond enabled by the dual-stage 4-grid ion thruster concept

A new and innovative type of gridded ion thruster, the “Dual-Stage 4-Grid” or DS4G concept, has been proposed and its predicted high performance validated under an ESA research, development and test programme. The DS4G concept is able to operate at very high specific impulse and thrust density values well in excess of conventional 3-grid ion thrusters at the expense of a higher power-to-thrust ratio. This makes it a possible candidate for ambitious missions requiring very high delta-V capability and high power. Such missions include 100 kW-level multi-ton probes based on nuclear and solar electric propulsion (SEP) to distant Kuiper Belt Object and inner Oort cloud objects, and to the Local Interstellar medium. In this paper, the DS4G concept is introduced and its application to this mission class is investigated. Benefits of using the DS4G over conventional thrusters include reduced transfer time and increased payload mass, if suitably advanced lightweight power system technologies are developed.A mission-level optimisation is performed (launch, spacecraft system design and low-thrust trajectory combined) in order to find design solutions with minimum transfer time, maximum scientific payload mass, and to explore the influence of power system specific mass. It is found that the DS4G enables an 8-ton spacecraft with a payload mass of 400 kg, equipped with a 65 kW nuclear reactor with specific mass 25 kg/kW (e.g. Topaz-type with Brayton cycle conversion) to reach 200 AU in 23 years after an Earth escape launch by Ariane 5. In this scenario, the optimum specific impulse for the mission is over 10,000 s, which is well within the capabilities of a single 65 kW DS4G thruster. It is also found that an interstellar probe mission to 200 AU could be accomplished in 25 years using a “medium-term” SEP system with a lightweight 155 kW solar array (2 kg/kW specific mass) and thruster PPU (3.7 kg/kW) and an Earth escape launch on Ariane 5. In this case, the optimum specific impulse is lower at 3500 s which is well within conventional gridded ion thruster capability.     

面向任务的电推进航天器性能优化与控制

针对电推进(EP)系统的性能与任务耦合优化及控制问题,提出一种基于电推进特征参数模型的耦合优化方法。以入轨有效载荷质量转移率最优为目标,推导出化学-电推进组合任务与多模态全电推进任务的完备形式的拓展火箭方程与最优比冲(Isp)表达式,得到多模态连续电推进最优比冲的计算方法,并得到相关参数对最优比冲的影响规律。结果表明,提出的耦合优化方法与最优比冲公式对求解多模态电推进任务的最优比冲和研究电推进航天器耦合优化控制问题具有指导意义和通用性。     

Mainbelt asteroid reconnaisance and sample return using solar electric propulsion

Reconnaisance of asteroids has thus far been accomplished on a limited scale. The scientific community has expressed interest in conducting long-term reconnaisance of multiple mainbelt asteroids and returning a sample from a mainbelt asteroid, with Ceres and Vesta the targets of greatest interest. This work presents results of preliminary feasibility studies of these missions. Since propellant requirements are prohibitively large with chemical propulsion, solar electric propulsion was assumed here. Multiple opportunities for Ceres/Vesta reconnaisance missions and Vesta sample returns were found which appear to be feasible in the next decade.     

电推进系统空间试验技术研究

电推进系统的相容性、空间推力/比冲等是空间应用关注的重要性能指标。根据电推进系统未来空间试验技术发展趋势,调研了国内外离子、霍尔电推进系统的推力、电磁兼容性、对卫星的污染等空间试验情况,结合我国电推进系统首次开展空间试验现状、电推进系统的布局,以及星上配备的卫星污染与电位监测器,对空间环境条件下卫星的污染、电推进自身及卫星设备的电磁兼容性、空间推力标定方法、推进剂剩余量分析方法等进行了研究。通过电推进系统在轨连续试验、电推进羽流影响等分析,得到电推进对卫星周围污染情况、电推进与卫星平台的电磁兼容性等在轨性能参数,可为全面评价电推进系统技术、科学制定电推进空间试验计划及电推进空间应用提供依据。     

离子与霍尔电推进性能和质量的工程数据模型

为了提供航天工程任务设计时优选离子或霍尔电推进的通用对比分析方法,基于工程数据建立了包括推力器、电源处理单元、推力器选择单元、控制单元、推进剂气瓶、调压单元、流率单元、推力器支架、电缆、管路等产品的电推进的性能和质量经验模型。在此基础上通过推导建立了电推进系统干质量通用模型,模型变量参数包括推力器功率、推力器数量和推进...     

Products from NASA's in-space propulsion technology program applicable to low-cost planetary missions

Since September 2001, NASA's In-Space Propulsion Technology (ISPT) program has been developing technologies for lowering the cost of planetary science missions. Recently completed is the high-temperature Advanced Material Bipropellant Rocket (AMBR) engine providing higher performance for lower cost. Two other cost saving technologies nearing completion are the NEXT ion thruster and the Aerocapture technology project. Under development are several technologies for low-cost sample return missions. These include a low-cost Hall-effect thruster (HIVHAC) which will be completed in 2011, light-weight propellant tanks, and a Multi-Mission Earth Entry Vehicle (MMEEV). This paper will discuss the status of the technology development, the cost savings or performance benefits, and applicability of these in-space propulsion technologies to NASA's future Discovery, and New Frontiers missions, as well as their relevance for sample return missions.     

Human exploration of near earth asteroids: Mission analysis for chemical and electric propulsion

This paper presents a mission analysis comparison of human missions to asteroids using two distinct architectures. The objective is to determine if either architecture can reduce launch mass with respect to the other, while not sacrificing other performance metrics such as mission duration. One architecture relies on chemical propulsion, the traditional workhorse of space exploration. The second combines chemical and electric propulsion into a hybrid architecture that attempts to utilize the strengths of each, namely the short flight times of chemical propulsion and the propellant efficiency of electric propulsion. The architectures are thoroughly detailed, and accessibility of the known asteroid population is determined for both. The most accessible asteroids are discussed in detail. Aspects such as mission abort scenarios and vehicle reusability are also discussed. Ultimately, it is determined that launch mass can be greatly reduced with the hybrid architecture, without a notable increase in mission duration. This demonstrates that significant performance improvements can be introduced to the next step of human space exploration with realistic electric propulsion system capabilities. This leads to immediate cost savings for human exploration and simultaneously opens a path of technology development that leads to technologies enabling access to even further destinations in the future.     

电推进航天器的特殊环境及其影响

文章介绍了应用离子和霍耳电推进系统在航天器周围产生的等离子体和电磁场等特殊环境,讨论了这些特殊环境对航天器各分系统或部件产生的溅射腐蚀、沉积污染、充放电、等离子体干扰、碰撞动力学扰动等影响效应,探讨了研究电推进与航天器相互作用效应的地面试验技术、空间飞行试验技术和模型分析技术,介绍了离子电推进系统与航天器相容性分析评价的技术要点。     

Concept study on Deep Space Orbit Transfer Vehicle

In this paper, the concept of Orbit Transfer Vehicle for Deep Space Exploration (Deep Space OTV) is proposed, and its effectiveness and feasibility are discussed. Basic concept is the separation of two functions required for the deep space exploration, the transportation to the destination, and the exploration at the destination. Deep Space OTV is a spacecraft specialized for the transportation to the deep space destination. It is an expendable spacecraft propelled by solar electric propulsion. The payload of Deep Space OTV is Explorer, which is a spacecraft specialized for the exploration at the deep space destination. The effectiveness of the concept is discussed qualitatively, focused on the merits of the separations of two functions. The feasibility of Deep Space OTV is discussed based on the conceptual design of the spacecraft and its applicability to deep space missions. Several deep space missions are modeled and the payload capacity of Deep Space OTV is estimated. The missions include Asteroid rendezvous, Mars orbiter, Lunar lander, and so on.     

电推进的现状与展望

小卫星的兴起将促进电推进的发展和应用。本文按电热式、静电式和电磁式三类电推进，分别简要回顾其发展历程，重点介绍目前正在空间使用的电弧式推力器和开始商业化的稳态等离子体推力器的发展现状。最后简述未来几种新型电推进的方案。     

Concept study on Deep Space Orbit Transfer Vehicle

In this paper, the concept of Orbit Transfer Vehicle for Deep Space Exploration (Deep Space OTV) is proposed, and its effectiveness and feasibility are discussed. Basic concept is the separation of two functions required for the deep space exploration, the transportation to the destination, and the exploration at the destination. Deep Space OTV is a spacecraft specialized for the transportation to the deep space destination. It is an expendable spacecraft propelled by solar electric propulsion. The payload of Deep Space OTV is Explorer, which is a spacecraft specialized for the exploration at the deep space destination. The effectiveness of the concept is discussed qualitatively, focused on the merits of the separations of two functions. The feasibility of Deep Space OTV is discussed based on the conceptual design of the spacecraft and its applicability to deep space missions. Several deep space missions are modeled and the payload capacity of Deep Space OTV is estimated. The missions include Asteroid rendezvous, Mars orbiter, Lunar lander, and so on.     

基于氢化镁的核电/核热双模共质空间核动力技术

针对未来空间任务对能源和动力日益提高的需求,提出了基于氢化镁的核电核热双模共质空间核动力技术。该技术以一种储氢密度高、热稳定性较好,能够以常温常压储存的氢化镁作为工质,通过核能加热后氢化镁分解成为核热推进可用的高压氢气和电推进可用的单质镁,并结合高效动态热电转换系统,形成大功率核电源、大功率超高比冲核电推进、高比冲氢气核热推进以及大推力镁核热推进多种工作模式。基于氢化镁的多模共质空间核动力技术解决了低温推进剂、气态工质在空间应用时的存储安全性和存储密度低的问题,其具备的多种工作模式能够针对不同任务需求提供相应的能源或者动力输出,提高核动力飞行器任务能力。     

核热推进载人火星探测方案设计

针对载人火星探测任务,结合我国现有技术基础,提出我国载人火星探测方案,重点研究载人火星探测任务推进系统的设计。首先,综合考虑载人深空探测任务的约束,采用Pork-Chop图设计了适用于不同任务场景的转移轨迹;然后,参考我国空间站技术,基于核热推进系统设计了我国载人火星探测任务的飞船;最后,对核热推进系统的发动机台数和推力进行了优化,得到了适用于不同任务场景的最优推进系统组合方案。本文所研究内容为我国未来载人火星探测任务提供了有益参考。