Performance analysis and mission applications of a new solar sail concept based on crossed booms with tip-deployed membranes

For precursor solar sail activities a strategy for a controlled deployment of large membranes was developed based on a combination of zig-zag folding and coiling of triangular sail segments spanned between crossed booms. This strategy required four autonomous deployment units that were jettisoned after the deployment is completed. In order to reduce the complexity of the system an adaptation of that deployment strategy is investigated.A baseline design for the deployment mechanisms is established that allows the deployment actuation from a central bus system in order to reduce the complexity of the system. The mass of such a sail craft will be slightly increased but its performance is still be reasonable for first solar sail missions.The presented design will be demonstrated on breadboard level showing the feasibility of the deployment strategy. The characteristic acceleration will be evaluated and compared to the requirements of certain proposed solar sail missions.     

Development status of AEOLDOS – A deorbit module for small satellites

A prototype CubeSat module to deploy a gossamer aerobrake, using strain stored in tape-springs, at end-of-life is described. A novel hub geometry to reduce bending shock at end-of-deployment while simultaneously permitting radial, as opposed to tangential, deployment is proposed. The rpm of the hub is measured under various deployment conditions to verify that the system offers highly-repeatable performance, while high-speed photography is used to characterise the behaviour of the tape-spring during unspooling and contrast it to the behaviour of a traditional tangential-deployment system. Secondly the folding pattern of the membrane, which takes advantage of the symmetrical deployment offered by the petal hub, is developed and the unfolding mechanism is verified by numerical and experimental analysis. Finally, the release of the stored strain is considered and a novel burn-though device is designed and prototyped to meet this requirement.     

含铰链间隙板式卫星天线展开精度分析

板式卫星天线展开机构在航天领域有着广泛的应用,其空间尺寸大,拓扑结构复杂,构件之间多用铰链联结,卫星天线对指向精度要求较高,应考虑铰链间隙对指向精度的影响。含铰链间隙的卫星天线展开机构的指向精度分析建模复杂、求解困难,为此提出了矩阵法分块建模的分析方法,将复杂的整机模型分解成锁定机构计算模型与2个单闭环机构计算模型,分别分析计算铰链间隙对其精度造成的影响,建立整机的计算模型并采用粒子群优化算法进行求解,得到某特定构型的板式卫星天线在极恶劣工况下展开的指向误差为0.067°。研究表明,建立的计算模型精度高,通过智能优化算法求解可以快速得到卫星可展开机构的指向精度极恶劣值,为展开机构的误差补偿设计提供参考。      

A torus-shaped solar sail accelerated via thermal desorption of coating

A torus-shaped sail consists of a reflective membrane attached to an inflatable torus-shaped rim. The sail’s deployment from its stowed configuration is initiated by introducing inflation pressure into the toroidal rim with an attached circular flat membrane coated by heat-sensitive materials that undergo thermal desorption (TD) from a solid to a gas phase. Our study of the deployment and acceleration of the sail is split into three steps: at a particular heliocentric distance a torus-shaped sail is deployed by a gas inflated into the toroidal rim and the membrane is kept flat by the pressure of the gas; under heating by solar radiation, the membrane coat undergoes TD and the sail is accelerated via TD of coating and solar radiation pressure (SRP); when TD ends, the sail utilizes thrust only from SRP. We study the stability of the torus-shaped sail and deflection and vibration of the flat membrane due to the acceleration by TD and SRP.     

The performance of KSC Fixation Tubes with RNALater for orbital experiments: A case study in ISS operations for molecular biology

Molecular biology experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) continue to face challenges of sample harvesting and sample return to earth for post flight analysis; however, the use of Kennedy Space Center Fixation Tubes filled with RNALater has proven to be a robust solution to many of these challenges. While it is clear that one direction of future spaceflight experimentation may be towards enhanced on-orbit analytical capabilities, the rapid progress of earth-bound analytical capacity dictates that facile return of molecular biology samples from the ISS will continue to be a mainstay of space life sciences research and flight operations. In this paper we present a case study of the successful performance of KFTs and RNALater over a broad set of operational conditions of ascent configuration, on-orbit experiment use, on-orbit storage and sample return configurations that are unique to ISS current operations and constraints. We also provide observations on performance limits and discuss deployment opportunities and scenarios that are consistent with continued successful ISS molecular biology experimentation.     

大展弦比联接翼结构重量估算

联接翼是一种将前翼和后翼连接在一起的飞行器创新布局形式.针对飞机总体设计阶段需要知道飞机结构重量与气动外形参数之间关系的问题,提出了一种建立大展弦比联接翼布局飞机外形参数与结构重量之间关系的方法.该方法首先应用结构有限元的参数化建模和结构优化方法获得联接翼的结构重量,然后应用试验设计法和响应面模型获得外形参数与其结构重量之间的定量关系.应用这种方法,获得了某大展弦比联接翼结构重量与其外形参数(包括前翼展长、后翼展长与前翼展长之比、前翼展弦比、前翼上反角、前翼后掠角、前后翼根弦前缘纵向距离以及前后翼根弦前缘垂直距离)之间的关系.所获的计算结果对联接翼布局飞机总体参数的确定具有参考价值.     

载人深空探测磁场主动辐射防护技术研究

基于单粒子轨道理论和蒙特卡洛方法建立了一种磁场主动屏蔽防护分析方法,针对理想磁场构型分析了屏蔽磁场强度、厚度和结构对屏蔽效果的影响。研究结果表明：屏蔽效率随磁刚度BL增大且当磁刚度BL一定时,增加磁场强度B比增加磁场厚度L更有效;对于有限长屏蔽磁场构型,端盖区需加强防护;桶状区与端盖区采用直线型屏蔽磁场的构型防护效果最好,能够对典型银河宇宙线能谱屏蔽90%的高能粒子。     

Activity in elliptical galaxies

Elliptical galaxies exhibit a continuum of behaviour between ‘normal’ and highly active objects, with no clear dividing line between the two classes. High-resolution radio observations show that many bright ellipticals contain parsec-scale radio cores which are qualitatively similar to the central engines of radio galaxies but up to a million times less powerful. In contrast, the radio cores of spiral galaxies are qualitatively different from those in ellipticals, providing some clues to why radio galaxies are always ellipticals rather than spirals.     

Stark widths of Ar III spectral lines in the atmospheres of subdwarf B stars

Using semiclassical perturbation approach in impact approximation, we have calculated Stark widths for 32 spectral lines of doubly charged argon (Ar III). Oscillator strengths are calculated using Hartree–Fock method with relativistic correction (HFR) and an atomic model including 17 configurations. Energy levels are taken from NIST database. For perturbing levels for which the corresponding energy does not exist in NIST database, the calculated energies are used. Our widths are compared with the experimental results. The results presented here are of interest for modelling and investigation of stellar atmospheres since argon in different ionization stages is observed in many astrophysical objects. Finally, the importance of Stark broadening mechanism is studied in the atmospheric conditions of sdB stars. Electron impact Stark widths are compared to thermal Doppler widths as a function of temperature and optical depth of atmospheric layers.     

Calculation of the effect of opacity in the solar spectral lines of carbon ions

In this paper, using the intensity ratio of carbon ions emission lines, we determined the optical depths at the line center of the CI at about 165.7 nm, CII at about 133.5 nm, CIII at about 117.5 nm and CIV at about 154.9 nm emission lines by escape factor treatment. For CI and CII emission lines, we discuss the intensity ratio of two lines arising from the common upper levels; while for CIII and CIV emission lines, we discuss the intensity ratio of two lines arising from the common lower levels. By introducing the measured abundance of carbon and the results of ionization balance calculations, we make an estimate of the line-of-sight physical thickness of the regions of carbon ions. This discussion will provide some results in the discussion of opacity on the solar ultraviolet (UV) or extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) spectrum.     

迎风格式在二维非结构网格中的应用

将原来在结构网格中提出的AUSM+ (AdvectionUpstreamSplittingMethod)格式 ,推广应用于二维非结构网格中 .利用格林 高斯公式对控制体内的变量进行线性重构 ,获得空间二阶精度 ,并采用Barth型限制器以抑制数值解的振荡 .为提高计算效率 ,采用了自适应多重网格法 .最后给出了NACA0 0 1 2翼型和平板激波反射的几个Euler方程的算例 ,并进行了分析比较 .     

The quantum temperature of accelerating cosmological models of an entangled Universe

Since the conception of quantum cosmology was introduced by Lemaitre in 1931, many authors have discussed the quantum nature of the Universe. Yet the most significant new feature of quantum physics, the notion of quantum nonlocality and its verification using Earth-based experiments, is never addressed by cosmologists because they basically do not know how to deal with it. In the spirit of making the transition “from quarks to cosmos” we will demonstrate how this is done. We show how to estimate the temperature of the flat Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker spacetime using a spherically symmetric approximation of the metric in conjunction with Lee’s theorem for scalar quantum fields on curved backgrounds. This temperature dependence is not the same as the classical Gamow temperature which follows from general relativity for the radiation-dominated era of the Big Bang model, and we relate this result to the question of decoherence in the very early Universe.     

剪叉伸缩竖杆式环形桁架机构设计与性能分析

空间可展开天线的展开平稳性是天线顺利展开的关键。天线的收展比是运载火箭空间配置的重要参考因素。为减小天线展开过程中的振动冲击,提高展开平稳性,降低空间可展天线收展比,梳理了可展开天线桁架机构的常见构型,提出一种剪叉伸缩竖杆式环形桁架机构,并详细介绍了该机构的基本单元及展开方式。对该机构的收展比进行具体分析,结果表明在相同口径和展开高度的情况下该机构的高径比比Astromesh天线桁架机构减小了35%左右。对该机构进行运动学和动力学建模,分析了机构展开平稳性,结果表明在相同大小驱动力作用下该机构的各节点加速度均方根是Astromesh天线桁架机构的30%左右,具有更好的展开平稳性。试制了缩比模型并进行了展开实验及相关参数测试,验证了机构设计的合理性及计算结果的准确性。     

扇形太阳翼重复折展机构运动仿真及其功能试验

传统折叠式太阳翼体积与重量大, 采用一次性展开锁定机构易引起航天器调 姿或变轨时的颤振. 为此提出了一种新型扇形太阳翼重复折展机构. 基于 ProE/Adams联合仿真, 建立虚拟样机模型, 获取不同电机转速下扇形太阳翼转 动导板展开运动参数的变化规律, 对所研制的扇形太阳翼重复折展机构原理样 机进行展开功能试验. 对比仿真与试验结果可知, 在电机允许转速范围内调节 转速, 扇形太阳翼重复折展机构均可在规定时间内完全展开锁定, 具有重复折 展与锁解功能, 且仿真与试验数据高度吻合, 表明其符合设计要求.      

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.     

带衬套沉头螺栓复合材料/金属接头拉伸性能

对带衬套沉头螺栓连接复合材料/金属接头进行拉伸试验,测量了接头的载荷-位移曲线和面外变形等性能,研究了接头的拉伸行为。利用ABAQUS软件,建立了接头的有限元模型,计算得到的条件挤压载荷、极限破坏载荷和破坏模式与试验结果吻合较好,证明了所建有限元模型的有效性。利用该模型,分析了接头破坏的机理,并进一步研究了螺栓与衬套过盈量、拧紧力矩和钛板厚度等因素对接头拉伸性能的影响。结果表明:适度的增大螺栓与衬套的过盈量能有效提高接头的刚度和强度;在一定范围内增加拧紧力矩能提高接头的承载能力;增加钛板的厚度,对接头的刚度有明显提升,但对极限破坏载荷影响较小。      

三层月壤模型的多通道微波辐射模拟与月壤厚度的反演

由月球表面数字高程试验性地构造了整个月球表面月壤厚度的分布.根据Clementine探月卫星的紫外-可见光光学数据,计算了整个月球表面月壤中FeO+TiO2含量分布,给出了整个月球表面月壤介电常数分布.由月球表层温度的观测结果以及月壤的导热特性,给出了月尘层与月壤层温度随纬度分布的经验公式.在这些条件的基础上,建立了月尘、月壤、月岩三层微波热辐射模型.由起伏逸散定理,模拟计算了该月球模型多通道辐射亮度温度.然后,以此辐射亮度温度模拟加随机噪声为理论观测值,按三层模型提出了月壤层厚度反演方法.由于高频通道穿透深度小,由高频通道的辐射亮度温度按照两层月尘-月壤微波热辐射模型反演月尘层与月壤层的物理温度,再由穿透深度较大的低频通道辐射亮度温度反演月壤层厚度.对于反演的相对误差也进行了讨论.      

The heliolongitudinal distribution of solar flares associated with solar proton events.

We find that the heliolongitudinal distribution of solar flares associated with earth-observed solar proton events is a function of the particle measurement energy. For solar proton events containing fluxes with energies exceeding 1 GeV, we find a Gaussian distribution about the probable root of the Archimedean spiral favorable propagation path leading from the earth to the sun. This distribution is modified as the detection threshold is lowered. For > 100 MeV solar proton events with fluxes > or = 10 protons (cm2-sec-ster)-1 we find the distribution becomes wider with a secondary peak near the solar central meridian. When the threshold is lowered to 10 MeV the distribution further evolves. For > 10 MeV solar proton events having a flux threshold at 10 protons (cm2-sec-ster)-1 the distribution can be considered to be a composite of two Gaussians. One distribution is centered about the probable root of the Archimedean spiral favorable propagation path leading from the earth to the sun, and the other is centered about the solar central meridian. For large flux solar proton events, those with flux threshold of 1000 (cm2-sec-ster)-1 at energies > 10 MeV, we find the distribution is rather flat for about 40 degrees either side of central meridian.