应用太阳帆悬停探测哑铃形小行星

研究了太阳帆航天器在哑铃形小行星引力场内的悬停探测可行性问题。哑铃形小行星代表了一类细长形的小行星,文中首先建立哑铃形小行星的简化动力学模型。针对可变反射面积的太阳帆,给出其在小行星引力场内的悬停动力学方程,并仿真求解了哑铃形小行星附近的太阳帆可行悬停探测区域。     

掺磷纳米硅薄膜电导及压阻效应的研究

 研究了掺磷对纳米硅薄膜微结构和电学特性的影响.指出气相掺杂能使nc-Si:H膜中磷原子浓度达到原子分数5%的水平,掺杂效率可达η≈1.0%.掺磷后能使薄膜暗电导率提高两个数量级,达到σ=10^-1~10¹S·cm^-1,电导激活能ΔE=(1~6)×10^-2eV水平.掺磷能促使nc-Si:H膜更加有序化且晶粒尺寸变小,这有利于使纳米硅薄膜往应用方向发展.     

近地小行星2016HO3表面温度建模研究

2019年4月18日,中国国家航天局(CNSA)公布了小行星探测计划,将近地小行星2016HO3作为探测任务目标之一。主要梳理了2016HO3热环境分析的要素,通过调研国际上目前观测数据,得到2016HO3的初步环境参数,使用近地小行星热模型(NEATM)与小行星热物理模型(TPM)开展了小行星2016HO3表面温度场建模与分析,综合得出小行星温度上限为412 K;同时结合其可能的自转条件,仿真分析了不同位置的昼夜温差变化特性,发现2016HO3最大温差大约为30 K。由于两个模型均不能直接处理极夜情况,在TPM模型基础上采用对自转周期光照进行平均思路,给出了极夜条件下的温度分析方法,并获得小行星2016HO3的温度下限。     

随机扰动情况下绳系卫星状态保持阶段的最优控制

在考虑系绳弹性的情况下, 建立绳系卫星轨道面内运动的动力学模型, 并在系统平衡位置线性化, 得到绳系子星在随机扰动作用下的稳态保持状态方程. 引入基于卡尔曼滤波的状态估计方法和最优状态反馈控制策略, 提出了保持系统稳态运行的控制方法, 并以YES2空间系绳试验为参考模型设计了稳态保持控制系统. 分别在不考虑系绳弹性和考虑系绳弹性的系统模型下进行相应仿真分析, 结果表明所提出的控制方法能使系统具有良好的抗干扰性能, 系绳控制张力变化平缓且幅值小, 提高了系统状态保持阶段的可靠性和安全性. 同时系绳刚度系数的减小可使系绳纵向振动加剧, 但对横向摆动影响较小, 这为选取合适的系绳材料提供了理论参考.      

系绳辅助的行星际轨道捕获研究

针对深空探测中应用动量交换系绳辅助进行行星际轨道捕获时的系绳控制问题,首先对运行在目标行星双曲线飞越轨道上的探测器系统进行动力学建模,给出了一致性轨道捕获条件和系绳最佳切断点,并进行了动力学特性分析。考虑到子探测器捕获后的变轨需求及系绳收放速率的限制,提出了新的最优控制方法,并应用模拟退火算法进行了数值求解。仿真结果表明,系绳切断时指向恰当,子探测器距离目标行星最近,将有利于后续变轨;系绳最大收放速率约为30m/s,切实可行。     

太阳帆航天器姿态机动的复合控制研究

输入成型法无法消除姿态机动过程中的柔性振动,残留的柔性振动将改变大柔性太阳帆航天器的结构参数,影响姿态机动的控制精度。为此,基于两种控制手段（作用于太阳帆中心的喷气和作用于支撑杆顶端的电推进）的组合,提出复合控制方法,以消除姿态机动过程中的柔性振动。采用将帆面质量等效到支撑杆的简化方法,建立太阳帆航天器姿态运动与柔性振动的耦合动力学模型,并从减小振动模态的外加激励出发,根据简化的动力学模型,得到了两种复合控制的设计方法：消除某一阶的柔性振动方法和减小前n（n>1）阶的柔性振动方法。仿真结果表明,相比输入成型法,第二种复合控制方法不但机动时间短,还能够将姿态机动过程中的柔性振动抑制到5%,使机动角度精度优于0.003°。由于仅利用已有的控制手段,复合控制方法算法简单,适合于实际应用。     

基于LOLA数据的冯·卡门撞击坑太阳辐射研究

冯·卡门（Von Kármán）撞击坑是“嫦娥4号”的候选着陆区之一。基于LOLA高程数据,对当前的月球光照模型做出改进,建立了月表太阳辐射模型,对冯·卡门地区2018年太阳辐射进行了数值模拟分析。结果表明：地形对太阳辐射的影响很大,撞击坑的南部坑壁、中央峰北部以及内部小撞击坑南部坑壁接收的太阳辐射能较多,坑底平原大部分地区接收的太阳辐射能在（0.9~1）×10¹⁰ J/m²之间;不考虑月面坡度时,太阳辐射能量主要受纬度的影响,计算区域的变化范围为（0.87~1.01）×10¹⁰ J/m²。结合月表坡度和光照条件提出了两个候选着陆区（S1区和S2区）：S1区位于坑底南部平原,地势更平缓,日出更早,光照时间更长;S2区位于中央峰西北侧,接收的太阳辐射能量更多。两区全年平均接收的太阳辐射能分别为9.31×10⁹ J/m²和9.65×10⁹ J/m²,7月份光照时间最长,更适宜着陆。     

驾驭小行星

科学家正在研究,利用常规火箭把一个“太阳帆”发送到近地小行星上,并将它根植于小行星的表面。届时这个帆能够吸收由太阳放射出的光子,从而像风吹动一条船上的帆一样,把小行星推离原来的轨道。在天文学界,近地小行星始终是一个热门课题。人类累计观测到的小行星已有将近6000颗,其中已测算出运行轨道的大约有3000颗。小行星是人类最大的但又是最不清楚的天然威胁,天文学家称其为“捣蛋鬼”。地球周围有这么多的“捣蛋鬼”,天文学家们当然不能保证这些“捣蛋鬼”不会捣蛋。2002年7月24日,美国媒体报道了一条科学简讯:同年7月9日,美国麻省理工…     

线性时不变系统Kalman标准分解中的几个问题

 证明了线性时不变系统一般不能通过先可控分解,再分别对可控和不可控子系统进行可观分解而得到Kalman标准型.并讨论了在4个子空间< A|β >∩η、< A|β >∩η^⊥、< A|β >^⊥∩η和< A|β >^⊥∩η^⊥中取一组基,构造一个化系统为Kalman标准型的非奇异变换的可能性.最后,证明了在一定条件下存在一个正交变换,可将线性时不变系统化为Kalman标准型.     

基于模糊应力—强度模型的空间系绳碰撞可靠性

空间系绳系统由于其特殊的组成结构日益受到关注,空间系绳的碰撞可靠性研究是系绳任务设计的重要一环.本文采用可靠性分析基本原理中的应力—强度模型,根据近地轨道的空间碎片通量和泊松分布方法,进行空间系绳在轨碰撞可靠性的研究分析.根据对空间系绳碰撞可靠性有影响的系绳结构因素,即单股系绳的直径、长度,双股系绳的绳间距、碰撞角等,对空间碎片撞击切割系绳后碰撞点处的系绳剩余截面进行建模,利用模糊应力—强度模型计算空间系绳在撞击后发生毁灭性碰撞的概率,进而根据泊松方法计算空间系绳在轨可靠性随时间的变化,通过仿真分析,对比不同结构空间系绳的有效在轨时间.      

Mission analysis and performance comparison for an Advanced Solar Photon Thruster

The so-called “compound solar sail”, also known as “Solar Photon Thruster” (SPT), is a design concept, for which the two basic functions of the solar sail, namely light collection and thrust direction, are uncoupled. In this paper, we introduce a novel SPT concept, termed the Advanced Solar Photon Thruster (ASPT), which does not suffer from the simplified assumptions that have been made for the analysis of compound solar sails in previous studies. After having presented the equations that describe the force on the ASPT and after having performed a detailed design analysis, the performance of the ASPT with respect to the conventional flat solar sail (FSS) is investigated for three interplanetary mission scenarios: an Earth–Venus rendezvous, where the solar sail has to spiral towards the Sun, an Earth–Mars rendezvous, where the solar sail has to spiral away from the Sun, and an Earth-NEA rendezvous (to near-Earth asteroid 1996FG3), where a large change in orbital eccentricity is required. The investigated solar sails have realistic near-term characteristic accelerations between 0.1 and 0.2 mm/s². Our results show that an SPT is not superior to the flat solar sail unless very idealistic assumptions are made.     

Drag force on solar sails due to absorption of solar radiation

We consider a special relativistic effect, known as the Poynting–Robertson effect, on various types of trajectories of solar sails. Since this effect occurs at order v^?/c, where v^? is the transversal speed relative to the sun, it can dominate over other special relativistic effects, which occur at order v²/c². While solar radiation can be used to propel the solar sail, the absorbed portion of it also gives rise to a drag force in the transversal direction. For escape trajectories, this diminishes the cruising velocity, which can have a cumulative effect on the heliocentric distance. For a solar sail directly facing the sun in a bound orbit, the Poynting–Robertson effect decreases its orbital speed, thereby causing it to slowly spiral towards the sun. We also consider this effect for non-Keplerian orbits in which the solar sail is tilted in the azimuthal direction. While in principle the drag force could be counter-balanced by an extremely small tilt of the solar sail in the polar direction, periodic adjustments are more feasible.     

Sailing at the brink – The no-limits of near-/now-term-technology solar sails and SEP spacecraft in (multiple) NEO rendezvous

Near-Earth object (NEO) in-situ exploration can provide invaluable information for science, possible future deflection actions and resource utilisation. This is only possible with space missions which approach the asteroid from its vicinity, i.e. rendezvous. This paper explores the use of solar sailing as means of propulsion for NEO rendezvous missions. Given the current state of sail technology, we search for multiple rendezvous missions of up to ten years and characteristic acceleration of up to 0.10 mm/s². Using a tree-search technique and subsequent trajectory optimisation, we find numerous options of up to three NEO encounters in the launch window 2019–2027. In addition, we explore steerable and throttleable low-thrust (e.g. solar-electric) rendezvous to a particular group of NEOs, the Taurid swarm. We show that an acceleration of 0.23 mm/s² would suffice for a rendezvous in approximately 2000 days, while shorter transfers are available as the acceleration increases. Finally, we show low-thrust options (0.3 mm/s²) to the fictitious asteroid 2019 PDC, as part of an asteroid deflection exercise.     

Solar sails for perturbation relief: Application to asteroids

A major cause of spacecraft orbital variation comes from natural perturbations, which, in close proximity of a body, are dominated by its non-spherical nature. For small bodies, such as asteroids, these effects can be considerable, given their uneven (and uncertain) mass distribution. Solar sail technology is proposed to reduce or eliminate the net secular effects of the irregular gravity field on the orbit. Initially, a sensitivity analysis will be carried out on the system which will show high sensitivity to changes in initial conditions. This presents a challenge for optimisation methods which require an initial guess of the solution. As such, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) is proposed as the preferred optimisation method as this requires no initial guess from the user. A multi-objective optimisation is performed which aims to achieve a periodic orbit whilst also minimising the effort required by the sail to do so. Given the system sensitivity, the control law for one orbit is not necessarily applicable for any subsequent orbit. Therefore, a new method of updating the control law for subsequent orbits is presented, based on linearisation and use of a Control Transition Matrix (CTM). The techniques will later find application in a multiple asteroid rendezvous mission with a solar sail as the primary propulsion system.     

Paths not taken – The Gossamer roadmap’s other options

Highly efficient low-thrust propulsion is increasingly applied beyond commercial use, also in mainstream and flagship science missions, in combination with gravity assist propulsion. Another recent development is the growth of small spacecraft solutions, not in size but in numbers and individual capabilities.Just over ten years ago, the DLR-ESTEC Gossamer Roadmap to Solar Sailing was set up to guide technology developments towards a propellant-less and highly efficient class of spacecraft for solar system exploration and applications missions: small spacecraft solar sails designed for carefree handling and equipped with carried application modules.Soon, in three dedicated Gossamer Roadmap Science Working Groups it initiated studies of missions uniquely feasible with solar sails such as Displaced L₁ (DL1) space weather advance warning and monitoring, Solar Polar Orbiter (SPO) delivery to very high inclination heliocentric orbit, and multiple Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) rendezvous (MNR). Together, they demonstrate the capability of near-term solar sails to achieve at least in the inner solar system almost any kind of heliocentric orbit within 10 years, from the Earth-co-orbital to the extremely inclined, eccentric and even retrograde. Noted as part of the MNR study, sail-propelled head-on retrograde kinetic impactors (RKI) go to this extreme to achieve the highest possible specific kinetic energy for the deflection of hazardous asteroids.At DLR, the experience gained in the development of deployable membrane structures leading up to the successful ground deployment test of a (20 m)², i.e., 20 m by 20 m square solar sail at DLR Cologne in 1999 was revitalized and directed towards a 3-step small spacecraft development line from as-soon-as-possible sail deployment demonstration (Gossamer-1) via in-flight evaluation of sail attitude control actuators (Gossamer-2) to an envisaged proving-the-principle flight in the Earth-Moon system (Gossamer-3). First, it turned the concept of solar sail deployment on its head by introducing four separable Boom Sail Deployment Units (BSDU) to be discarded after deployment, enabling lightweight 3-axis stabilized sailcraft. By 2015, this effort culminated in the ground-qualified technology of the DLR Gossamer-1 deployment demonstrator Engineering Qualification Model (EQM). For mission types using separable payloads, such as SPO, MNR and RKI, design concepts can be derived from the BSDU characteristic of DLR Gossamer solar sail technology which share elements with the separation systems of asteroid nanolanders like MASCOT. These nano-spacecraft are an ideal match for solar sails in micro-spacecraft format whose launch configurations are compatible with ESPA and ASAP secondary payload platforms.Like any roadmap, this one contained much more than the planned route from departure to destination and the much shorter distance actually travelled. It is full of lanes, narrow and wide, detours and shortcuts, options and decision branches. Some became the path taken on which we previously reported. More were explored along the originally planned path or as new sidings in search of better options when circumstance changed and the project had to take another turn. But none were dead ends, they just faced the inevitable changes when roadmaps face realities and they were no longer part of the road ahead. To us, they were valuable lessons learned or options up our sleeves. But for future sailors they may be on their road ahead.     

Microscopic approach to analyze solar-sail space-environment effects

Near-sun space-environment effects on metallic thin films solar sails as well as hollow-body sails with inflation fill gas are considered. Analysis of the interaction of the solar radiation with the solar-sail materials is presented. This analysis evaluates worst-case solar radiation effects during solar-radiation-pressure acceleration. The dependence of the thickness of solar sail on temperature and on wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum of solar radiation is investigated. Physical processes of the interactions of photons, electrons, protons and α-particles with sail material atoms and nuclei, and inflation fill gas molecules are analyzed. Calculations utilized conservative assumptions with the highest values for the available cross sections for interactions of solar photons, electrons and protons with atoms, nuclei and hydrogen molecules. It is shown that for high-energy photons, electrons and protons the beryllium sail is mostly transparent. Sail material will be partially ionized by solar UV and low-energy solar electrons. For a hollow-body photon sail effects including hydrogen diffusion through the solar-sail walls, and electrostatic pressure is considered. Electrostatic pressure caused by the electrically charged sail’s electric field may require mitigation since sail material tensile strength decreases with elevated temperature. It also can substitute inflation-gas pressure loss due to gas diffusion and perforation by micrometeoroids impact to keep the sail inflated.     

H-reversal trajectory: A new mission application for high-performance solar sails

The aim of this paper is to quantify the performance of a flat solar sail to perform a double angular momentum reversal maneuver and produce a new class of two-dimensional, non-Keplerian orbits in the ecliptic plane. For a given pair of orbital parameters, the orbital period and the perihelion distance, it is possible to find the minimum solar sail characteristic acceleration required to fulfil a double angular momentum reversal trajectory. This problem is addressed using an optimal formulation and is solved through an indirect approach. The new trajectories are symmetrical with respect to the sun-perihelion line and exhibit a bean-like shape. Two main difficulties must be properly taken into account. On one side the sail is required to perform a rapid reorientation maneuver when it approaches the perihelion. Suitable simulations have shown that such a maneuver is feasible. In the second place the new trajectories require the use of high performance solar sails. For example, assuming an orbital period equal to 5 years, the required solar sail characteristic acceleration is greater than 3.4 mm/s². Such a value, although beyond the currently available sail performance, is comparable to what is required by the original concept of H-reversal maneuvers introduced by Vulpetti in 1996.     

The feasibility of using an L1 positioned dust cloud as a method of space-based geoengineering

In this paper a method of geoengineering is proposed involving clouds of dust placed in the vicinity of the L₁ point as an alternative to the use of thin film reflectors. The aim of this scheme is to reduce the manufacturing requirement for space-based geoengineering. It has been concluded that the mass requirement for a cloud placed at the classical L₁ point, to create an average solar insolation reduction of 1.7%, is 7.60 × 10¹⁰ kg yr⁻¹ whilst a cloud placed at a displaced equilibrium point created by the inclusion of the effect of solar radiation pressure is 1.87 × 10¹⁰ kg yr⁻¹. These mass ejection rates are considerably less than the mass required in other unprocessed dust cloud methods proposed and are comparable to thin film reflector geoengineering requirements. Importantly, unprocessed dust sourced in-situ is seen as an attractive scheme compared to highly engineered thin film reflectors. It is envisaged that the required mass of dust can be extracted from captured near Earth asteroids, whilst stabilised in the required position using the impulse provided by solar collectors or mass drivers used to eject material from the asteroid surface.     

Durability characterization of mechanical interfaces in solar sail membrane structures

The construction of a solar sail from commercially available metallized film presents several challenges. The solar sail membrane is made by seaming together precut lengths of ultrathin metallized polymer film into the required geometry. This assembled sail membrane is then folded into a small stowage volume prior to launch. The sail membranes must have additional features for connecting to rigid structural elements (e.g., sail booms) and must be electrically grounded to the spacecraft bus to prevent charge build up. Space durability of the material and mechanical interfaces of the sail membrane assemblies will be critical for the success of any solar sail mission. In this study, interfaces of polymer/metal joints in a representative solar sail membrane assembly were tested to ensure that the adhesive interfaces and the fastening grommets could withstand the temperature range and expected loads required for mission success. Various adhesion methods, such as surface treatment, commercial adhesives, and fastening systems, were experimentally tested in order to determine the most suitable method of construction.     

On the station keeping of a solar sail in the elliptic Sun–Earth system

In this work we focus on the dynamics of a solar sail in the Sun–Earth Elliptic Restricted Three-Body Problem with solar radiation pressure. The considered situation is the motion of a sail close to the L₁ point, but displacing the equilibrium point with the sail so that it is possible to have continuous communication with the Earth. In previous works we derived a station keeping strategy for this situation but using the Circular RTBP as a model.