Iran's space programme: Riding high for peace and pride

Iran's efforts to develop space technology for civil and peaceful purposes began many years ago. Almost all its success in this connection is the result of indigenous potential in terms of human resources, available expertise and experience along with international cooperation and exchange of knowledge. There are considerable civilian entities involved in space-related development and production in Iran. This article describes the history and current status and capabilities of Iran's space programme and its aim to use space for peace and prosperity and to attain the position that it deserves in the global arena. Stepping into space using an indigenously developed system has provided Iran with a notable and unprecedented national pride. Only international cooperation, as already exists in the framework of COPUOS activities on the peaceful uses of outer space, can improve 21st century understanding of the space policy and visions of Iran for the world community. Iran's space programme is really no different from that of any other nation. It is committed to developing its assets in space both for peaceful purposes and for use as part of various multinational space projects. It should not be ignored that such achievements require a high degree of expertise, ability and comprehensive knowledge about the subject, while the attitudes and visions of leaders in each nation who also influence and contribute to the pace, progress and developmental objectives of any nation's space program should not be disregarded.     

Seeking justifications for human spaceflight

Traditionally cited benefits such as scientific and economic progress or political advantages have been widely recognized as insufficient to justify ongoing and future human spaceflight programmes in today's prevailing geopolitical and socioeconomic environment. A rationale for human spaceflight evoking visions such as exploitation of extraterrestrial resources and human exploration of space has to cope with an unavoidable dilemma: attractive as they may appear, those projects are fraught with many grave uncertainties and risks. The paper attempts to answer the question of which significance (if any) such visionary projects may assume in justifying the continuation of human spaceflight activities. We argue that, despite as yet unanswerable technological and economic questions and despite the extremely long time-frames involved, it seems reasonable and, hence, justified to keep the option alive to be able to solve — by means of humans in space — one of humankind's probable major problems in the coming century: the impending energy crisis.     

柔性绳网动力学建模与天地差异性分析

采用有限元模型研究了柔性绳网系统的动力学特性。针对空间绳网直接弹射展开方式,首先将绳网离散为若干单元,各单元处理为非线性“半阻尼弹簧”模型,然后分别计算各单元所受气动力和重力,最终建立绳网系统多柔体动力学模型。基于所建立的动力学模型分别对柔性绳网在地面和太空展开的动力学过程进行了仿真分析,研究了绳网在展开面积、空间位形和飞行距离等方面的天地差异性及其动力学机理,为未来空间绳网系统的分析设计提供理论参考。     

Space: The routes of the future

This paper is an attempt to describe the interplay of factors and constraints that will shape the future of space technology. A demand-pull relationship with the needs of global society is tending to become dominant, except with regard to the field of manned spaceflight. Against this background some guidelines for a European space policy are proposed.     

基于MOEA/D的三锥体拦截器气动外形优化设计

针对由临近空间拦截器飞行环境变化剧烈导致的热流密度过高等问题,提出一种多目标外形优化设计方法,并针对一种新型三锥体临近空间拦截器外形进行优化设计。首先,建立飞行器的气动、弹道、气动热等多学科分析模型,利用高斯-伪谱法计算拦截弹道,利用桥函数法建立气动模型,并利用Fay-Riddle方法估计气动热流密度。然后,以飞行器航程、总热流量和飞行时间为优化目标,采用基于分解的多目标进化算法(MOEA/D)与伪谱法将该问题转化为一组单目标优化子问题,得到Pareto前沿并进行相关分析。最后,给出一个优于基准值,同时满足性能指标要求的新型外形。结果表明:该优化方法具有可实现性,为未来的飞行器设计提供了新思路。     

基于气动辅助变轨的变气动外形飞行器概念研究--最优控制律问题

从一个天地往返飞行器的上升轨道和再入返回轨道的优化，以及适用不同飞行任务的变轨要求的气动外形问题，提出一项基于气动力辅助变轨的变气动外形飞行器的新概念研究。对于一个固定气动外形飞行器要同时满足上升轨道有效载荷最大和再入轨道热流峰值、过载峰值及机动性能约束下的成本最低往往是困难的。若同时满足不同飞行任务：飞往太空站的运输任务，空间拦截和交会机动巡航任务及星际探测任务，则更为困难，实际上是不可能的。文章研究基于气动力辅助变轨，在热流约束下，气动外形参数变化对最优控制的影响。其结论为：热流约束下的最优控制解，包括考虑推力协同变轨，除了在非约束弧的滚转角不直接受气动外形影响外，其余的控制律，升力系数和滚转角都是气动外形参数和攻角的函数。因而变气动外形可作为一项新技术，即通过气动外形参数变化和相应的变轨策略而获得性能和成本都最佳的用途很广的一种新型飞行器。     

网络中心战对导弹关键技术发展的影响

＂网络中心战＂是未来信息化作战的发展趋势。首先介绍了＂网络中心战＂的基本概念及其作战结构模式,在此基础上,主要以美国海军在网络中心战中使用的导弹武器为例,阐述了网络中心战对于导弹关键技术的影响,可为今后导弹关键技术的发展提供参考。     

形状记忆聚合物及其复合材料在航天领域的应用进展

首先介绍了形状记忆聚合物及其复合材料,概述了该类材料的形状记忆机理。然后重点评述了基于形状记忆聚合物复合材料的可展开铰链、可展开桁架、可展开太阳能电池阵列、锁紧释放机构的结构和性能特点,指出了各类应用的优缺点及适用条件。最后,总结并展望了基于该类材料的空间可展开结构的未来研究重点和发展趋势。     

月球空间站停泊轨道选择分析

系统梳理了月球附近可用于部署空间站的停泊轨道类型,给出了不同类型轨道的定义及主要参数,通过仿真计算和对比国内外轨道研究结论,分析了不同类型轨道的能量需求、登月任务支持性、空间环境等特点,在此基础上,分析了美国"深空之门"空间站部署轨道选择的主要考虑和依据,并提出了各类轨道的应用建议,可为未来部署月球空间站的停泊轨道选择...     

Fostering links between environmental and space exploration: the Earth and Space Foundation

The links between Earth and space exploration occur across a broad spectrum, from the use of satellite technology to support environmental monitoring and habitat protection to the study of extreme environments on Earth to prepare for the exploration of other planets. Taking the view that Earth and space exploration are part of a mutually beneficial continuum is in contrast to the more traditionally segregated view of these areas of activity. In its most polarized manifestation, space exploration is regarded as a waste of money, distracting from solving problems here at home, while environmental research is seen to be introspective, distracting from expansive visions of exploring the frontier of space. The Earth and Space Foundation was established in 1994 to help further mutually beneficial links by funding innovative field projects around the world that work at the broad interface between environmental and space sciences, thus encouraging the two communities to work together to solve the challenges facing society. This paper describes the work of the foundation and the philosophy behind its programmes.     

地月平动点轨道应用与研究进展

面向未来月球和深空探测任务的需求,调研了地月平动点应用与研究的国内外现状与进展,着重分析了近年来的研究方向、研究内容、技术方法与特点,提出了面向未来月球和深空探测任务的地月平动点应用构想,梳理总结了需解决的相应关键技术,可为未来平动点相关研究与应用提供有益借鉴,以及为我国后续月球和深空探测任务的规划与论证提供参考。     

Leisure time activities in space: a survey of astronauts and cosmonauts

Questionnaires were returned from 54 astronauts and cosmonauts which addressed preferences for media and media-generated subjects that could be used to occupy leisure time in space. Ninety-three percent of the respondents had access to records or audio cassettes, and cosmonauts had greater access than astronauts to multiple media. Cosmonauts and long-duration space travelers reported that they missed various media more than their astronaut and short-duration counterparts. Media subjects that related to international events, national events and historical topics were rated as most preferable by all respondents and by several of the respondent groups. The findings are discussed in terms of their relevance for occupying free time during future long-duration manned space missions.     

载人航天器月地返回再入问题研究

结合国外探月返回再入飞行的工程实践情况,对国外载人航天器月地返回再入几何约束、再入走廊约束、航天员过载限制约束,以及再入轨道、再入航程、再入方式和气动外形的选择策略进行了研究和分析。文章的研究结果可为我国载人探月及载人深空探测航天器返回再入设计提供参考。     

Proposal for a new radiation dose control system for future manned space flights

Radiation risk on a future long-duration manned space mission appears to be one of the basic factors in planning and designing the mission. Since 1988 different active dosimetric investigations has been performed on board the MIR space station by the Bulgarian-Russian dosimeter-radiometer LIULIN and French tissue-equivalent proportional counters CIRCE and NAUSICAA. A joint French-Bulgarian-Russian dosimetry experiment and the dosimetry-radiometry system RADIUS-MD have been developed for the future MARS-96 mission. On the base of the results and experience of these investigations a conception for a new radiation dose control system for the future orbital stations, lunar bases and interplanetary space ships is proposed. The proposed system which consists of different instruments will allow personal radiation control for crew members, radiation monitoring inside and outside each habitat, analysis and forecasting of the situation and will suggest procedures to minimize the radiation risk.     

Actuator placement from degree of controllability criteria for regular slewing of flexible spacecraft

An important unresolved problem in the attitude and shape control of future large flexible spacecraft is the determination of appropriate locations throughout the flexible vehicle for placement of control system actuators. In a separate work a definition of the degree of controllability was generated for this purpose when the control objective was to return the spacecraft to the desired equilibrium configuration after any disturbance. In some potential space missions the objective will require angular slewing maneuvers of a flexible structure. The optimum actuator locations should be significantly different for this objective. In this paper, concepts of the degree of controllability of a control system for performing standard maneuvers are developed from basic physical considerations, and then numerical methods for generating the degree of controllability are developed. These results offer the control system designer a method of evaluating the effectiveness of candidate actuator distributions. The method is shown to take on a relatively simple form when spacecraft modal coordinates are used.     

A proposed strategy against cost overruns in the space sector: The 5C approach

The space sector has frequently been confronted with cost overruns, with a negative impact on its management reputation. There are many reasons for this effect, the main one being that space development contracts are unique and often do not allow proper cost benchmarking. On the other hand, tools have been developed to minimise this effect and it is important to train future space managers in applying such tools. In the International Space University, such methods are illustrated with workshops, which aim to be as close as possible to reality. This article will describe the different techniques, memo-technically called the 5C approach here, and develop the use of a computerised tool, PRICE, to support these techniques in the different phases of the projects.     

Moving Europe towards a more effective procurement of space-based assets

It has become essential for European states to consider a more coherent strategy in the procurement of future space assets in order to safeguard European industrial competitiveness. Space-related research programmes remain uncoordinated and separated between civil, military and commercial applications. This paper explores the present European institutional environment and the interaction between different actors involved in space procurement. New developments are underway with the establishment of the European Defence Agency and the attempt to federate existing groups and actions. Institutional users of space systems, including defence customers, often rely on the same technology. The article considers space procurement from a widespread perspective, which goes beyond sectoral boundaries. The establishment of a permanent advisory forum is suggested in order to centralise various requirements at European level and procure space assets more efficiently.     

Spaceports and new industrialized areas in the Pacific Basin

This article analyses the rapid economic advancement of the Pacific Basin area, and discusses its future potential. Common efforts in space utilization can integrate the area, and overcome the wide diversity of political, economic and social structures. Aspects of communications, space remote sensing and space-based materials processing are examined and forecasts are made for the future role of the Pacific Basin in these areas. A populated Orbital Space City will be necessary to further space utilization. To support future activities in space, a Pacific Spaceport and a Pacific Space Centre are proposed, which would lead to the development of several ‘New Industrialized Areas’ in the age of the Solar Power Satellite. Estimates are made of the amount of electricity which will be required.     

Cost Engineering – The new paradigm for space launch vehicle design

The paper describes the basic definition and application of 'Cost Engineering' which means to design a vehicle system for minimum development cost and/or for minimum operations cost. This is important now and for the future since space transportation has become primarily a commercial business in contrast to the past where it has been mainly a subject of military power and national prestige. Several examples are presented for minimum-cost space launch vehicle configurations, such as increasing vehicle size and/or the use of less efficient rocket engines in order to reduce development and operations cost. Further a cost comparison is presented on single-stage (SSTO)-vehicles vs. two-stage launchers which shows that SSTOs have lower development and operations cost although they are larger, respectively have a higher lift-off mass than two-stage vehicles with the same performance. The design of a space tourism-dedicated launch vehicle is an extreme challenge for a cost-engineered vehicle design in order to achieve cost per seat not higher than $50,000. Finally an outlook is presented on the different options for manned Earth-to-Moon transportation modes and vehicles – another most important application of 'cost engineering', taking into account the large cost of such a future venture.     

星载天线反射器形面主动控制研究现状与展望

星载天线是卫星系统的重要载荷,在远距离微波遥感、深空探测、军事侦查以及通信等领域起着决定性作用.随着天线频率和增益需求的不断提高,大口径、高精度成为星载天线主要发展方向.传统被动方法难以保证反射器在轨形面精度,而主动控制技术正成为解决这一问题的重要选择.介绍了天线反射器形面主动控制技术相关研究工作的进展,内容涉及形面主...