Issues of geologically-focused situational awareness in robotic planetary missions: Lessons from an analogue mission at Mistastin Lake impact structure,Labrador, Canada

Remote robotic data provides different information than that obtained from immersion in the field. This significantly affects the geological situational awareness experienced by members of a mission control science team. In order to optimize science return from planetary robotic missions, these limitations must be understood and their effects mitigated to fully leverage the field experience of scientists at mission control.     

俄反恐突袭的巡航导弹技术状态初步分析

2015年10月7日，俄罗斯采用远距离、高精度、大威力的“口径”对陆攻击巡航导弹远程空袭ISIS目标，该事件得到了高度关注。简要介绍了“口径”巡航导弹，并对俄巡航导弹技术状态进行了初步分析。     

Dynamics of a spacecraft and normalization around Lagrangian points in the Neptune–Triton system

The problem of a spacecraft orbiting the Neptune–Triton system is presented. The new ingredients in this restricted three body problem are the Neptune oblateness and the high inclined and retrograde motion of Triton. First we present some interesting simulations showing the role played by the oblateness on a Neptune’s satellite, disturbed by Triton. We also give an extensive numerical exploration in the case when the spacecraft orbits Triton, considering Sun, Neptune and its planetary oblateness as disturbers. In the plane a × I (a = semi-major axis, I = inclination), we give a plot of the stable regions where the massless body can survive for thousand of years. Retrograde and direct orbits were considered and as usual, the region of stability is much more significant for the case of direct orbit of the spacecraft (Triton’s orbit is retrograde). Next we explore the dynamics in a vicinity of the Lagrangian points. The Birkhoff normalization is constructed around L₂, followed by its reduction to the center manifold. In this reduced dynamics, a convenient Poincaré section shows the interplay of the Lyapunov and halo periodic orbits, Lissajous and quasi-halo tori as well as the stable and unstable manifolds of the planar Lyapunov orbit. To show the effect of the oblateness, the planar Lyapunov family emanating from the Lagrangian points and three-dimensional halo orbits are obtained by the numerical continuation method.     

A neutral gas mass spectrometer to measure the chemical composition of the stratosphere

The Polar Balloon Atmospheric Composition Experiment (P-BACE) is a new generation of neutral gas mass spectrometer based on the time-of-flight principle. P-BACE is the scientific experiment on the Mars Environment Analog Platform (MEAP) flown successfully on a balloon mission in summer 2008. The MEAP mission was flown with a 334,000 m³ helium balloon in the stratosphere on a semicircular trajectory from northern Sweden around the North Pole to Canada using the summer northern hemispheric wind current. The atmospheric conditions at an atmospheric altitude of 35–40 km are remarkably similar to those on the surface of Mars and thus the balloon mission was an ideal testbed for our mass spectrometer P-BACE. Originally this instrument was designed for in situ measurements of the chemical composition of the Martian atmosphere.P-BACE has a unique mass range from 0 to 1000 amu/q with a mass resolution m/Δm (FWHM) > 1000, and the dynamic range is at least six orders of magnitude. During this experiment, the acquisition of one mass spectrum is a sum of 65,535 single spectra, recorded in a time frame of 66 s.The balloon mission lasted 5 days and had successfully demonstrated the functionality of the P-BACE instrument during flight conditions. We had recorded more than 4500 mass spectra. With little modifications, P-BACE can be used on a planetary mission for Mars, but for example also for Venus or Mercury, if placed on a satellite.     

A sample collector for robotic sample return missions III: Impact survivability studies

Laboratory impact tests have been performed on experimental versions of a proposed robotic sample collector for extraterrestrial samples. The collector consists of a retractable aluminum ring containing an impregnable silicone compound that is pressed into the surface of the body to be sampled. As part of a comprehensive program to evaluate this idea, we have performed tests to determine if the samples embedded in the collector medium can survive the impact forces experienced during direct reentry, such as that of the recent Genesis sample return mission. For the present study, samples of sand, rock, glass, and chalk were subjected to decelerations of 1440–2880 g using drop tests. We found that even the most fragile samples, chosen to be representative of a wide range of the types of materials found on the surface of asteroids that have currently been studied, can withstand impacts of the intensity experienced by a sample return capsule during direct reentry.     

基于任务科目的直升机飞行品质评定试飞技术研究

主要对ADS-33E中飞行品质评定的要求进行分析,从任务科目、响应类型和可用感示环境3个维度进行飞行品质的等级评定研究,提出了直升机飞行品质综合评定的试飞技术研究思路,并对某型号直升机的试飞结果和有关问题进行了初步分析。     

Contingency target assessment,trajectory design,and analysis for NASA’s NEA scout solar sail mission

The presented study examines contingency target selection and trajectory design for NASA’s Near-Earth Asteroid Scout mission under the assumption of a missed lunar gravity assist. Two previously considered asteroids are selected as potential targets for the given scenario based on favorable orbital characteristics for launch dates ranging from June 27, 2020 through July 26, 2020. Initially, a simplified circular restricted 3-body problem + ideal solar sail model is utilized to survey trajectory options for a month-long launch window. Selected solutions from this data set are then converged in an N-body ephemeris + non-ideal sail model. Results suggest that NEA Scout can still perform asteroid rendezvous mission under the missed lunar gravity assist scenario with new targets, 2019 GF1, 2018 PK21, and 2007 UN12, based on the target launch dates. Further target assessment is carried out for 165 days beyond the current June 27, 2020 launch date.     

空间科学任务协同设计过程优化

为了对概念设计阶段空间科学任务协同设计过程进行合理规划, 减少设计反馈, 降低系统耦合度, 提出了设计结构矩阵(DSM)过程建模和遗传算法(GA) 过程优化算法. 该方法采用DSM对空间科学任务设计活动序列进行建模, 通过DSM描述设计活动间的信息依赖关系, DSM上三角之和代表该设计活动序列设计反馈次数; 将 DSM对应的设计活动序列视为染色体, 采用GA进行序列优化, 最小化设计反馈次数. 通过过程优化算法获取最佳设计活动序列, 优化设计过程, 降低系统耦合度. 空间科学任务实例分析结果表明, 该方法能够有效应用于空间科学任务协同设计的过程建模和过程优化, 指导设计过程的制定.      

空间科学任务协同设计论证平台

空间科学任务协同设计论证存在设计方案耦合强,数据一致性差,数据变更难,数据与流程脱节等问题.为了解决上述问题,建立了典型空间科学任务的多层数字化模型;采用图形化方式对论证流程进行建模,并建立流程与数据的映射关系;通过共享数据池的方式为多岗位用户提供多方案数据协同机制;采用消息总线对数据变更进行及时提醒;利用方案依赖关系矩阵来判别方案耦合关系,最终自动合并任务总体设计方案.作为一个分布式平台,空间科学任务协同设计平台采用Eclipse RCP和Spring技术架构,整合了Hibernate、工作流Activiti5等中间件,提供统一门户,支持多岗位、多任务、多方案、多版本的管理能力,提供论证流程监控、数据协同交互等功能.结合某空间科学任务论证验证了该平台的有效性.      

Analysis of spacecraft motion under constant circumferential propulsive acceleration

This paper reassesses the classical circumferential-thrust problem, in which a spacecraft orbiting around a primary body is subjected to a propulsive acceleration of constant modulus, whose direction is in the plane of the parking orbit and orthogonal to the spacecraft-primary line. In particular, a new formulation is proposed to obtain a reduction in the number of differential equations required for the study of the spacecraft propelled trajectory. The mathematical complexity of the problem may be further reduced assuming that both the propulsive acceleration modulus and the spacecraft distance from the primary body are sufficiently small. In that case, an approximate model is able to accurately describe the characteristics of the propelled trajectory when the parking orbit is circular. Finally, using the data obtained by numerical simulations, the approximate model is extended to generate a set of semi-analytical equations for the analysis of a classical escape mission scenario.