Automatic orbital docking with tumbling target using sliding mode control

The present study aimed to propose translational and rotational control of a chaser spacecraft in the close vicinity docking phase with a target subjected to external disturbances. For this purpose, two sliding mode controls (SMC) are developed to coordinate the relative position and attitude of two spacecraft. The chaser is guided to the tumbling target by the relative position control, approaching in the direction of the target docking port. At the same moment, the relative attitude control coordinates the chaser attitude so that it can be aligned with the target orientation. These control systems regulate the relative translational and rotational velocities to be zero when two spacecraft are docking. The robustness of the closed-loop system in the presence of external disturbances, measurement noises and uncertainties is guaranteed by analyzing and calculating the control gains via the Lyapunov function. The simulations in different scenarios indicated the effectiveness of the controller scheme and precise maneuver regarding the accuracy of docking conditions.     

某型膨胀循环发动机高空模拟试验方案研究

某型膨胀循环发动机在研制初期基于环境压力可能对膨胀循环发动机起动加速性有较大影响的考虑,采用了全程主动引射高空模拟试验方案,试验结果显示环境压力对发动机起动加速性的影响较小。发动机室压和喷管面积比是影响引射方式的主要参数,该型膨胀循环发动机与采用被动引射的某型燃气发生器循环发动机参数相当,这为该型膨胀循环发动机采用被动引射提供了可能,并对膨胀循环发动机采用被动引射高空模拟试验方案的可行性进行仿真研究。     

A numerical optimization of high altitude testing facility for wind tunnel experiments

High altitude test facilities are required to test the high area ratio nozzles operating at the upper stages of rocket in the nozzle full flow conditions.It is typically achieved by creating the ambient pressure equal or less than the nozzle exit pressure.On average,air/GN2is used as active gas for ejector system that is stored in the high pressure cylinders.The wind tunnel facilities are used for conducting aerodynamic simulation experiments at/under various flow velocities and operating conditions.However,constructing both of these facilities require more laboratory space and expensive instruments.Because of this demerit,a novel scheme is implemented for conducting wind tunnel experiments by using the existing infrastructure available in the high altitude testing(HAT)facility.This article presents the details about the methods implemented for suitably modifying the sub-scale HAT facility to conduct wind tunnel experiments.Hence,the design of nozzle for required area ratio A/A*,realization of test section and the optimized configuration are focused in the present analysis.Specific insights into various rocket models including high thrust cryogenic engines and their holding mechanisms to conduct wind tunnel experiments in the HAT facility are analyzed.A detailed CFD analysis is done to propose this conversion without affecting the existing functional requirements of the HAT facility.     

Tangent-impulse transfer from elliptic orbit to an excess velocity vector

The two-body orbital transfer problem from an elliptic parking orbit to an excess veloc-ity vector with the tangent impulse is studied. The direction of the impulse is constrained to be aligned with the velocity vector, then speed changes are enough to nullify the relative velocity. First, if one tangent impulse is used, the transfer orbit is obtained by solving a single-variable function about the true anomaly of the initial orbit. For the initial circular orbit, the closed-form solution is derived. For the initial elliptic orbit, the discontinuous point is solved, then the initial true anomaly is obtained by a numerical iterative approach; moreover, an alternative method is proposed to avoid the singularity. There is only one solution for one-tangent-impulse escape trajectory. Then, based on the one-tangent-impulse solution, the minimum-energy multi-tangent-impulse escape trajectory is obtained by a numerical optimization algorithm, e.g., the genetic method. Finally, several examples are provided to validate the proposed method. The numerical results show that the minimum-energy multi-tangent-impulse escape trajectory is the same as the one-tangent-impulse trajectory.     

An active debris removal parametric study for LEO environment remediation

Recent analyses on the instability of the orbital debris population in the low Earth orbit (LEO) region and the collision between Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 have reignited interest in using active debris removal (ADR) to remediate the environment. There are, however, monumental technical, resource, operational, legal, and political challenges in making economically viable ADR a reality. Before a consensus on the need for ADR can be reached, a careful analysis of its effectiveness must be conducted. The goal is to demonstrate the need and feasibility of using ADR to better preserve the future environment and to explore different operational options to maximize the benefit-to-cost ratio. This paper describes a new sensitivity study on using ADR to stabilize the future LEO debris environment. The NASA long-term orbital debris evolutionary model, LEGEND, is used to quantify the effects of several key parameters, including target selection criteria/constraints and the starting epoch of ADR implementation. Additional analyses on potential ADR targets among the existing satellites and the benefits of collision avoidance maneuvers are also included.     

飞机突防航迹的非线性解耦跟踪

针对12维非线性飞机动力学模型,利用非线性逆系统理论和现代最优控制理论设计了一组非线性飞行控制规律。这组控制规律通过解耦控制飞机的飞行速度(V)、滚转角(φ)、航迹角(γ)和偏航角(φ_w),使飞机能够精确地跟踪期望的三维突防航迹。计算结果表明,由于这组控制规律计及了飞机动力学模型中的非线性因素,能够完全消除飞机的剧烈耦合反应,从而有效地改善了飞机的动态特性,提高了其低空机动飞行的安全性,大大减轻了驾驶员的工作负担和精神压力,从而圆满地完成突防袭击任务。     

主动引射高模试车台水喷雾冷却器等效热力系统模型的研究

水喷雾冷却器在主动引射高空模拟试车台中具有重要作用,其出口处温度的有效控制是保障试车正常运行的关键。针对某型号火箭发动机常压试验的喷雾冷却器,建立了等效热力系统模型,并在Simulink平台上建立了相应的动态仿真模型,计算结果与试车测试结果对比证明所建等效热力系统模型正确,从而为实现其出口处温度的有效控制提供依据。     

一种小天体探测器绕飞轨道主动抗扰控制方法

针对小天体绕飞探测过程中,探测器受到的非球形引力摄动及太阳光压等多源扰动问题,结合绕飞探测的周期性特点,提出一种小天体探测器绕飞轨道主动抗扰控制方法。首先,通过迭代学习控制对小天体探测器受多源扰动影响产生的误差进行抑制,然后设计扰动观测器估计系统总扰动,构造自适应律实时估计扰动上界,进而设计控制律对总扰动进行主动补偿。最后以243Ida作为目标天体进行绕飞探测仿真分析,结果表明该控制方法能更加有效地提高小天体探测器的轨道跟踪控制精度。     

Preparing for space: Increasing technical readiness of low-cost high-performance remote sensing using high-altitude ballooning

Two widely available, small size, weight and power camera systems were flown above 97 % of Earth’s atmosphere and showed utility in single filter vegetation and soil analysis in a space analogue environment. The experiment was conducted as a low-cost verification and test analogue to flying on vastly more expensive low Earth orbit missions. Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used as the metric by which performance was analysed for ground calibration testing, low and near-space altitude remote sensing. Ground calibration testing with a laboratory-grade spectrometer revealed that both cameras were able to return consistent NDVI results, and high-altitude balloon flight allowed similar data capture from an environment similar to space. Although compressed captured imagery had been processed using gamma correction and pre-image processing, these were able to be corrected provided that access to radiometrically-calibrated data was available. The two hobbyist cameras were shown to return scientifically useful results, demonstrating performance, and additionally their utility for citizen science applications in the near-space environment.     

临近空间飞艇艇库外约束及稳定性分析

临近空间飞艇在发放前通常停放在艇库内,一旦离开艇库就不可避免地受到艇库外天气,尤其地面风的影响,不仅影响飞艇发放操作的快捷和安全,而且还事关飞行试验的成败。文章建立了大型飞艇在地面受两侧约束时的力学模型,采用动力学方法,分析了受到地面风作用时飞艇的姿态和约束拉力的变化,得到地面风起时和风速稳定后的解析解,评估了飞艇受到地面风作用时的稳定性和安全性。通过分析得到在两侧约束条件下飞艇对正向风和侧风的承受极限,为临近空间飞艇采用两侧约束方式的可行性提供了判据,也为今后发展临近空间飞艇发放技术提供借鉴。