Low-energy near Earth asteroid capture using Earth flybys and aerobraking

Since the Sun-Earth libration points L₁ and L₂ are regarded as ideal locations for space science missions and candidate gateways for future crewed interplanetary missions, capturing near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) around the Sun-Earth L₁/L₂ points has generated significant interest. Therefore, this paper proposes the concept of coupling together a flyby of the Earth and then capturing small NEAs onto Sun–Earth L₁/L₂ periodic orbits. In this capture strategy, the Sun-Earth circular restricted three-body problem (CRTBP) is used to calculate target Lypaunov orbits and their invariant manifolds. A periapsis map is then employed to determine the required perigee of the Earth flyby. Moreover, depending on the perigee distance of the flyby, Earth flybys with and without aerobraking are investigated to design a transfer trajectory capturing a small NEA from its initial orbit to the stable manifolds associated with Sun-Earth L₁/L₂ periodic orbits. Finally, a global optimization is carried out, based on a detailed design procedure for NEA capture using an Earth flyby. Results show that the NEA capture strategies using an Earth flyby with and without aerobraking both have the potential to be of lower cost in terms of energy requirements than a direct NEA capture strategy without the Earth flyby. Moreover, NEA capture with an Earth flyby also has the potential for a shorter flight time compared to the NEA capture strategy without the Earth flyby.     

一种适用于平动点周期轨道初值计算的简化路径搜索修正法

在限制性三体问题中,路径搜索修正法是一种基于平动点周期轨道垂直穿越Poincare截面的几何对称性计算平面及空间平动点周期轨道近似初值的方法.采用路径搜索修正法的一种简化形式,在圆形限制性三体模型中,对地月系中几种典型的平面及空间周期轨道近似初值进行了计算.结果表明,该简化方法得到的周期轨道近似初值不唯一,由近似初值经微分修正得到的精确结果中通常同时存在Halo轨道和大幅值逆行轨道（DRO）.进一步分析表明,在某些临界初值下,精确结果中Halo轨道将消失,同时可能出现平面Lyapunov轨道及Vertical轨道.上述计算中,搜索初值与结果中轨道类型的对应关系值得进一步研究.     

共线平动点中心流形上的轨道转移问题

圆形限制性三体问题共线平动点附近的平动点轨道由于其独特的动力学特性, 在深空探测任务中有着重要价值, 这些轨道间的轨道转移问题值得进行系统性研究. 针对平动点轨道的计算与延拓, 提出了一种基于数值的系统性计算平动点轨道的方法以及状态伴随法的轨道稳定维持策略. 在此基础上, 通过对大量平动点轨道不变流形以及平动点相空间中心流形的研究, 设计了一套通过脉冲机动实现平动点轨道间轨道转移的系统性解决方案. 该方法充分利用平动点动力学特性, 在仿真验证中证实了方案的有效性, 为平动点轨道转移研究提供了新的思路.     

地月平动点中继应用轨道维持

地月平动点中继应用轨道对于月球背面探测具有十分重要的应用价值,由于地月平动点的不稳定性,必须进行轨道维持。文章研究了真实力模型下月球平动点中继应用轨道的维持。首先,基于限制性三体问题下平动点轨道的运动特性,研究了平动点轨道维持的数学模型与维持策略,提出了平动点轨道维持的连续环绕控制方法,并给出了轨道维持的Halo和Lissajous两种控制方式;其次,充分考虑各天体和光压摄动下,采用数值手段研究了不同幅值的地月平动点周期中继应用轨道的维持间隔与速度增量等。研究结果表明:Lissajous控制方式适用于月球平动点中继应用轨道的维持,在给定测控精度条件下,维持间隔约7.4d,速度增量优于20m/s/a。该方法已经成功应用于我国\"嫦娥2号\"日地平动点任务和\"嫦娥5T1\"地月平动点任务并获得了良好的控制效果,还可直接应用于我国未来\"嫦娥4号\"等月球背面探测任务。     

基于同伦方法三体问题小推力推进转移轨道设计

提出一种基于同伦方法限制性三体问题小推力推进转移轨道设计方法。首先根据最优控制原理分析了航天器在轨道转移中不同性能指标时的最优控制律,然后引入同伦参数构造新的性能指标,在基于遗传算法和打靶法得到能量最优的解基础上,采用伪弧长法跟踪同伦轨迹,进而得到燃料最优的转移轨道。最后对地月系下从GEO轨道到L1点Lyapunov轨道的转移轨道进行优化。仿真结果表明:利用遗传算法能优化得到较为合适的流形拼接点和协态变量初始值,利用打靶法能有效地优化得到小推力燃料最优转移轨道。     

限制性三体问题共线平动点轨道近似解析解

随着深空探测成为航天领域的研究热点,与其密切相关的三体问题基础研究也日益重要,尤其是在深空探测任务设计中处于基础地位的共线平动点附近运动的研究,更是具有重要的工程应用价值。在圆型限制性三体问题下,对共线平动点附近运动近似解析解的研究已经较为全面,但在更接近真实情况、更具一般性的椭圆型限制性三体问题下,相应的研究却相对较少。针对此背景,参考借鉴圆型限制性三体问题的研究方法,首先根据平动点的特性计算出平动点的位置,然后将非线性三体动力学模型在共线平动点处线性化,最后结合线性系统理论,获得了椭圆型限制性三体问题下共线平动点附近运动的近似解析解,并将其与经典的圆型限制性三体问题下的近似解析解进行对比分析,仿真结果证明了方法的有效性,同时也表明所推导的椭圆型限制性三体问题解析解相比圆型限制性三体问题解析解具有更高的精度。     

星际高速公路技术及其在夸父计划中的应用

 简述了星际高速公路技术的物理意义和特征以及中国深空探测的现状和计划,分析了圆型限制性三体问题及其周期和准周期轨道,给出星际高速公路的描述与初步计算,探讨了星际高速公路技术在夸父卫星A轨道设计中的应用,最后分析了该技术在未来深空探测活动中的潜在价值。     

基于准流形方法日地系L3点转移轨道设计

针对深空探测中轨道转移时间长且能量消耗较大的问题,提出基于准流形实现从地球停泊轨道到日地系L3点转移轨道的设计方法。在日地限制性三体问题模型下,在L1点或L2点Halo轨道上施加扰动推力,构造准流形,利用其非线性三体动力学特性,通过霍曼转移轨道与近地轨道进行拼接,使航天器进入准流形后能够无动力滑行到L3点附近区域。在准流形与L3点周期轨道交点,施加速度脉冲,使航天器进入相应周期轨道,从而完成轨道转移。仿真结果表明,利用该方法所得结果与基于不变流形的转移轨道相比,能将速度增量从4398m/s减少为4014m/s,并将转移时间从9年以上缩短到7.3年以内,有效地提高了航天器的工作效率。     

Low-thrust transfer to Backflip orbits

The aim of the work is to design a low-thrust transfer from a Low Earth Orbit to a “useful” periodic orbit in the Earth–Moon Circular Restricted Three Body Model (CR3BP). A useful periodic orbit is here intended as one that moves both in the Earth–Moon plane and out of this plane without any requirements of propellant mass. This is achieved by exploiting a particular class of periodic orbits named Backflip orbits, enabled by the CR3BP. The unique characteristics of this class of periodic solutions allow the design of an almost planar transfer from a geocentric orbit and the use of the Backflip intrinsic characteristics to explore the geospace out of the Earth–Moon plane. The main advantage of this approach is that periodic plane changes can be obtained by performing an almost planar transfer. In order to save propellant mass, so as to increase the scientific payload of the mission, a low-powered transfer is considered. This foresees a thrusting phase to gain energy from a departing circular geocentric orbit and a second thrusting phase to match the state of the target Backflip orbit, separated by an intermediate ballistic phase. This results in a combined application of a low-thrust manoeuvre and of a periodical solution in the CR3BP to realize a new class of missions to explore the Earth–Moon neighbourhoods in a quite inexpensive way. In addition, a low-thrust transit between two different Backflip orbits is analyzed and considered as a possible extension of the proposed mission. Thus, also a Backflip-to-Backflip transfer is addressed where a low-powered probe is able to experience periodic excursions above and below the Earth–Moon plane only performing almost planar and very short transfers.     

基于逆多项式轨迹成形法的小推力轨道设计

轨迹成形法是一种基于反向设计思想的轨道设计方法,它假设待研究的轨道呈现某一形状,利用数学曲线进行逼近从而得到设计结果.逆多项式轨迹成形法为小推力地球转移轨道设计和数值求解最优轨迹过程中初值的选取提供了新的研究思路.首先结合轨道动力学方程和逆多项式曲线模型给出了轨迹成形法的设计过程,并在考虑时间约束的情况下对小推力转移轨道进行设计.仿真结果表明逆多项式轨迹成形法适宜于小推力转移轨道设计,并且其设计结果是一组近优解,可以作为求取精确最优轨迹的初值猜测.     

地月拉格朗日L2点中继星轨道分析与设计

地月L2点位于地月连线的延长线上,在地月L2点运行的卫星可以连续观测月球背面,解决月球背面与地球之间的通讯问题,在月球背面着陆探测任务中起着至关重要的作用。对从地球出发、利用月球引力辅助变轨、形成地月L2点的轨道进行了研究,分析了发射窗口、地月转移时间、近月点高度、近月点倾角、轨道振幅等多项因素对转移轨道和使命轨道特性的影响,寻求满足地月L2点中继任务需求的飞行轨道。通过分析研究,文章明确了转移和使命轨道的相关特性,可为中继星任务轨道的参数设计和优化提供有益参考。     

一种高精度的卫星星历模型

针对近圆的近地卫星轨道提供了一种高精度的计算卫星星历的数学模型,该模型利用10个固定参数来拟合轨道的长期和长周期变化部分,短周期变化部分利用已有的理论结果。充分利用近圆轨道的特点将田谐项引起的短周期变化部分进行同频合并后,最终的分析表达式相当简单。该模型还有相当大的灵活性,可以根据不同的精度要求进行相应的选择,其最大误差可控制在50m以下。     

Analytical expression for distant retrograde orbits around a small natural satellite

An analytical expression for distant retrograde orbits (DROs) is obtained in this study. Owing to the fact that a planar DRO is a closed orbit and can be expressed as an approximately elliptical orbit, respective geometries and periods of DROs are analytically calculated. A switching point, where various properties of planar DROs change abruptly with an increase in the orbital radius, is determined. The Mars–Deimos system is taken as a case study in this work. The proposed method can be applied to cases where the Hill’s approximation of the restricted three-body problem is valid. Numerical calculations are performed to validate the proposed method.     

日地平动点卫星两脉冲转移轨道设计

研究基于最小二乘微分修正方法的平动点卫星两脉冲转移轨道设计,推导了考虑高度和航迹角约束的微分修正公式,讨论了该方法的收敛性.以日地L₁点附近的Halo轨道为目标轨道,在圆型限制性三体问题模型下设计了其转移轨道,系统地研究了HOI(Halo Orbit Insertion)点和Halo轨道幅值对转移轨道的影响,给出了HOI点的选择策略,并讨论了应急情况下快速转移轨道设计.数值仿真验证了方法的有效性,选择Halo轨道靠近地球侧的点作HOI点可以获得飞行时间适中的转移轨道.     

用两颗GPS卫星确定低轨卫星轨道的初值方法

研究了用两颗全球定位系统（ＧＰＳ）卫星粗略确定低轨卫星轨道的问题,并着重讨论了其中的初值问题,给出了一种有效的初值方法。实验结果证明：这种方法能给出一个确定的、实用的初值,大大减少了初轨计算的计算量,并使得算法收敛更加有保障。在工程实用方面比传统的猜测方法具有较大的优势。     

登月舱上升段最优轨迹设计

为了实现登月舱上升段轨迹的优化,建立了上升段登月舱动力学模型,用单位归一化技术建立了最优控制模型,并以燃料消耗为最优指标,利用Pontryagin极小值原理,将问题转化为时间自由的两点边值问题 TPBVP 。采用了一种基于初值预估方法和向前扫描法求解TPBVP,从而设计出登月舱上升段最优轨迹,并进行了数值仿真。仿真结果表明所设计的算法收敛速度快、可靠性高。     

A hybrid,self-adjusting search algorithm for optimal space trajectory design

The aim of the present paper is to propose a hybrid, self adjusting, search algorithm for space trajectory optimization. By taking advantage of both direct and indirect methods, the present algorithm allows the finding of the optimal solution through the introduction of some new control parameters, whose number is smaller than that of the Lagrange multipliers, and whose range is bounded. Eventually, the optimal solution is determined by means of an iterative self-adjustment of the search domain occurring at “runtime”, without any correction by an external user. This new set of parameters can be found through a reduction process of the degrees of freedom, obtained through the transversality conditions before entering the search loop. Furthermore, such a process shows that Lagrange multipliers are subject to a deep symmetry mirroring the features of the state vector. The algorithm reliability and efficiency is assessed through some test cases, and by reproducing some optimal transfer trajectories: a full three-dimensional, minimum time Mars mission, an optimal transfer to Jupiter, and finally an injection into a circular Moon orbit.     

Design and analysis of an extended mission of CE-2: From lunar orbit to Sun–Earth L2 region

Chang’E-2 (CE-2) has firstly successfully achieved the exploring mission from lunar orbit to Sun–Earth L2 region. In this paper, we discuss the design problem of transfer trajectory and at the same time analyze the visible segment of Tracking, Telemetry & Control (TT&C) system for this mission. Firstly, the four-body problem of Sun–Earth–Moon and Spacecraft can be decoupled in two different three-body problems (Sun–Earth + Moon Restricted Three-Body Problems (RTBPs) and Earth–Moon ephemeris model). Then, the transfer trajectory segments in different model are computed, respectively, and patched by Poincaré sections. The full-flight trajectory including transfer trajectory from lunar orbit to Sun–Earth L2 region and target Lissajous orbit is obtained by the differential correction method. Finally, the visibility of TT&C system at the key time is analyzed. Actual execution of CE-2 extended mission shows that the trajectory design of CE-2 mission is feasible.     

Optimal guidance based on receding horizon control for low-thrust transfer to libration point orbits

This paper addresses the design and computation of a guidance law for a transfer mission from an orbit near the Earth to a halo orbit around the libration point L₂ in the Sun–Earth system. The guidance law, which is designed based on receding horizon control and compensates for launch velocity errors that are introduced by inaccuracies of the launch vehicle, is solved using the generating function method. During the design of the closed-loop guidance law, the entire transfer mission, which is considered a nonlinear optimal control problem, is evaluated to obtain a nominal reference trajectory. Using the launch velocity errors and the uncertainty of the model, a spacecraft controlled by the proposed guidance law tracks the reference trajectory. Furthermore, the original Riccati differential equation in the receding horizon control algorithm is replaced by an equivalent convenient form of the Riccati differential equation that is based on the generating function. The high-efficiency solution of the equivalent equation avoids the online direct integration of the original Riccati differential equation, which significantly increases the computational efficiency for the receding horizon control problem. Numerical simulations using a nonlinear bicircular four-body model demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed receding horizon guidance law for the transfer mission. In addition, the generating function method improves the computational efficiency by at least one order of magnitude over the backward sweep method in solving the receding horizon control problem.