Reducing mission operations costs through spacecraft autonomy: the near earth asteroid rendezvous (near) experience

With a maximum time of 12 days out of ground contact and a round-trip light time as high as 56 minutes, The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft requires a moderate degree of onboard autonomy to react to faults and safe the spacecraft. Beyond the basic safing requirements, additional functions are carried out onboard. For example, on-board calculation of the Sun, Earth, asteroid, and spacecraft positions allow the spacecraft to autonomously orient itself for science and downlink operations. On-board autonomous momentum management during cruise relieves Mission Operations from planning, scheduling, and carrying out many manual momentum dumps. During development, additional operations, such as center-of-mass management during propulsive maneuvers and optical navigation were also considered for onboard autonomy on the NEAR spacecraft, but were not selected. The allocation of functions to onboard software or to ground operations involved tradeoffs such as development time for onboard software versus ground software, resource management, life cycle costs, and spacecraft safety.After two years of cruise operations, considerable experience with the NEAR autonomy system has accrued. The utility of some autonomous capabilities is greater than expected, others less so. Software uploads increased spacecraft autonomy in some cases, and the impact on Mission Operations can be assessed. Allocation of functions between spacecraft autonomy and ground operation during development of future missions can be improved by applying the lessons learned from the NEAR experience.     

月球探测中通信跟踪(C&T)技术遇到的新问题

以技术成熟的GEO以下近地轨道的C&T技术为参照点,提出月球探测遇到的新问题———长时间、远距离地月转移轨道测量、环月轨道段测量和月面登陆段测量中的新问题,给出解决这些问题的合理方法。     

Future spacelift projection

In 1996 the NASA Advisory Council asked for a comprehensive look at future launch projections out to the year 2030 and beyond. In response to this request NASA sponsored a study at The Aerospace Corporation to develop long-range space transportation models for future commercial and government applications, and to analyze the design considerations and desired characteristics for future space transportation systems. Follow-ons to present space missions as well as a wide array of potential new space applications are considered in the study. This paper summarizes the space transportation system characteristics required to enable various classes of future missions. High reliability and the ability to achieve high flight rates per vehicle are shown to be key attributes for achieving more economical launch systems. Technical, economic and policy implications are also discussed.     

Some Technical Issues of an Optically Focused Small Space Debris Tracking and Cataloging System

Congressional language in the 1998 US Senate Armed Services Committee authorization bill directed ... the Secretary of the (United States) Air Force to undertake a design study of a system that could catalog and track debris down to one centimeter in size out to 1000kilometer in altitude. The US Air Force Research Laboratory, in conjunction with other US National Laboratories and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted a study that examined what technical systems and operations would be required to perform such a mission. This paper outlines the study process, details the findings, draws conclusions, and makes recommendations as to what would be needed to develop an optically based system capable of cataloging and tracking small debris in low Earth orbit.     

大型柔性空间结构的极点配置变结构主动控制

本文针对大型柔性空间结构(LFSS)的主动控制问题,提出耦合主动控制的方法。该方法不要求对象模型解耦,而以结构动力学变量作为系统状态,通过敏感器和执行机构的协调配置,对各动力学变量进行直接测量和控制。基于该方法,本文设计了LFSS的多变量极点配置变结构主动控制系统,并针对对称型两板空间站进行了仿真,取得了满意的结果。     

European spaceflight at the crossroads

Plans for Europe's future participation in space development are still under active discussion. This article offers a contribution to the debate, considering how Europe can best fulfil its own objectives. Choice of launch vehicle and its payload, as well as of other tools such as space station, re-entry vehicle, and launch site equipment are analysed. The article also discusses the purposes of space research for Europe, and the costs of a useful programme. A far-reaching European space programme still needs to be drawn up if Europe is not to lose out.     

有外力作用的多臂自由飞行空间机器人协调操作动力学特性

利用牛顿-欧拉方法分析了有外力作用时多臂自由飞行空间机器人协调操作的动力学特性。首先推导出多臂自由飞行空间机器人协调操作的机械臂关节驱动力矩和关节角速度及角加速度间的关系，其次建立了多臂自由飞行空间机器人系统的动力学方程和动力学计算模型，经仿真分析得到了在不同外力作用下多臂自由飞行空间机器人的本体的位置干扰规律，验证了有外力作用下的多臂自由飞行空间机器人的动力学特性。     

基于窄相关技术的GPS接收机多径误差分析

GPS接收机的误差受多种因素影响,多径干扰便是其中一项。特别在差分GPS地面站接收机中,更有必要研究多径误差对测量的影响。减少多径干扰的办法有两大类:一类是采用特殊天线;另一类是在接收机中采取一定的措施。文中针对第二种方法中的利用窄相关技术的GPS接收机展开分析。分析影响接收机多径误差的因素及利用窄相关技术的接收机对多径误差消除的效果,并给出仿真及分析结果。     

Analysis of the Micrometeoroid and Debris Hazard Posed to an Orbiting Parabolic Mirror

Many concepts of future space systems involve the use of parabolic mirrors for optical applications. The need for a highly reflective finish means that performance of such systems will be particularly vulnerable to space debris and micrometeoroids. A case study was performed to examine the micrometeoroid and debris hazard posed to an orbiting parabolic mirror. The mirror considered was nominally Earth-pointed in a circular orbit with two candidate altitudes in low Earth orbit (LEO), well within the region inhabited by man-made debris. The timeframes of interest for the two missions were 2002–2004 and 2005–2015. Microgram and larger particles were considered.To perform this study, it was necessary to determine the debris and meteoroid flux across the parabolic surface. To assess sensitivity of results to uncertainity in available data, two approaches were taken. The first approach was an analytical procedure based on use of long duration exposure facility (LDEF) data and published theoretical results. The second approach used two readily available computer models: the ESA MASTER model and NASA's ORDEM96. In addition, an in-house implementation of the Grün meteoroid model was used. While multiple results were available for the total flux and flux distributed over azimuth, only the MASTER model was available for generating the desired elevation data to obtain the flux distribution over the parabolic mirror. In an attempt to bound the uncertainty in the knowledge of the elevation distribution, the results from both the MASTER and ORDEM96 models were processed together to form a separate, hybrid prediction. In addition, results were used in the preliminary design of a protective skirt.This case study elucidated the practical obstacles and considerations in performing a sufficiently accurate debris and meteoroid analysis using data and tools that are readily available to the broad space sector. The resulting procedures are useful in the assessment of the risk posed to optics by the meteoroid and debris environment and in the design of protection.