Simulation study for the determination of the lunar gravity field from PRARE-L tracking onboard the German LEO mission

A simulation study has been performed at GFZ Potsdam, which shows the anticipated improvement of the lunar gravity field model with respect to current (LP150Q model) or near-future (SELENE) knowledge in the framework of the planned German Lunar Explorations Orbiter (LEO) mission, based on PRARE-L (Precise Range And Range-rate Equipment – Lunar version) Satellite-to-Satellite (SST) and Satellite-Earth-Satellite (SEST) tracking observations. It is shown that the global mean error of the lunar gravity field can be reduced to less than 0.1 mGal at a spatial resolution of 50 km. In the spectral domain, this means a factor of 10 (long wavelengths) and some 100 (mid to short wavelengths) improvement as compared to predictions for SELENE or a factor of 1000 with respect to LP150Q. Furthermore, a higher spatial resolution of up to 28 km seems feasible and would correspond to a factor of 2–3 improvement of SELENE results. Moreover, PRARE-L is expected to derive the low-degree coefficients of the lunar gravity field with unprecedented accuracy. Considering long mission duration (at least 1 year is planned) this would allow for the first time a precise direct determination of the low-degree tidal Love numbers of the Moon and, in combination with high precision SEST, would provide an experimental basis to study relativistic effects such as the periselenium advance in the Earth–Moon system.     

Canada's role on space station

The paper addresses the evolution of the Canadian Space Station Program between 1981 and 2003. Discussions with potential international partners, aimed at jointly developing the current International Space Station program, were initiated by NASA in 1982. Canada chose, through the further development of the technologies of Canadarm on the space shuttle, to provide and operate an advanced and comprehensive external robotics system for space station, and to use the space station for scientific and commercial purposes. The program was to become a corner-stone of the new Canadian Space Agency. The development phase of the Canadian Space Station Program has been completed and two of the three major elements are currently operational in space.     

Design of an innovative multi-stage forming process for a complex aeronautical thin-walled part with very small radii

In this paper, an aeronautical thin-walled part with a complex geometry which has several sharp bends and curvatures in different directions was investigated. This kind of part is difficult to be manufactured only in one stage. Therefore, an innovative multi-stage active hydroforming process assisted by the rigid forming method was designed. In addition, an optimized blank geometry is obtained. In fact, the main focused point of this paper is to propose a new small radius rounded corner forming technique and analyze the mechanism. Two kinds of forming modes of changing a big rounded corner into a small one, which are related to different tangential positions of the die in the process of calibration, are analyzed theoretically. Meanwhile, the stress and strain states of the deformation region are compared. The relationships between the minimum relative radii of rounded corners I and II in the first stage and the hydraulic pressure are calculated by the bending theory. Finally, the influences of the tensile-bulging effect and the interface condition of the double-layer sheet on the forming quality of the specimen are investigated. The achieved results can make a foundation for utilizing the proposed method in forming of thin-walled parts with very small radii.