A deorbiter CubeSat for active orbital debris removal

This paper introduces a mission concept for active removal of orbital debris based on the utilization of the CubeSat form factor. The CubeSat is deployed from a carrier spacecraft, known as a mothership, and is equipped with orbital and attitude control actuators to attach to the target debris, stabilize its attitude, and subsequently move the debris to a lower orbit where atmospheric drag is high enough for the bodies to burn up. The mass and orbit altitude of debris objects that are within the realms of the CubeSat’s propulsion capabilities are identified. The attitude control schemes for the detumbling and deorbiting phases of the mission are specified. The objective of the deorbiting maneuver is to decrease the semi-major axis of the debris orbit, at the fastest rate, from its initial value to a final value of about 6471?km (i.e., 100?km above Earth considering a circular orbit) via a continuous low-thrust orbital transfer. Two case studies are investigated to verify the performance of the deorbiter CubeSat during the detumbling and deorbiting phases of the mission. The baseline target debris used in the study are the decommissioned KOMPSAT-1 satellite and the Pegasus rocket body. The results show that the deorbiting times for the target debris are reduced significantly, from several decades to one or two years.     

Feasibility analysis of LEO and GEO large space debris de/re-orbiting taking into account launch mass of spacecraft-collector and its configuration layout

Analysis of the efficiency of two basic strategies for de/re-orbiting large space debris objects to disposal orbits (DO) is given. Large objects in LEO are classified into groups with similar orbital inclinations and comprise primarily last stages of launch vehicles, in GEO vicinity the paper studies upper stages. Under the first de/re-orbiting variant, it is assumed a spacecraft-collector is equipped with several thruster de/re-orbiting kits (TDKs); one of them can be fixed on an object and is capable of de/re-orbiting an object to a DO independently of the collector. In the second variant, a collector operates as a space tug: transfers objects to a DO and then returns to the next objects in line. The authors study possible configuration layouts of collectors in LEO and near GEO. The available analogous projects are analyzed. The efficiency of both de/re-orbiting variants can be properly compared using the estimations of collector's dry mass and having at one's disposal the parameters of the maneuvers required for transfers between all objects in the group. As reasonable criteria of effectiveness, one can consider (separately or jointly) the launch mass of an equipped collector, its ΔV budget, and the required number of such active spacecraft. Two de/re-orbiting variants are compared in terms of these criteria via mass-energy diagrams constructed for each group of objects in both altitude regions. Analysis of these diagrams shows that low Earth orbits can be more efficiently cleaned under the first de-orbiting variant by using a two-stage space system consisting of an active spacecraft carrying TDKs. For GEO, it is expedient to choose the second re-orbiting variant using a single-stage spacecraft. Our analysis shows that LEO cleaning is an order of magnitude more expensive than that for GEO, hence the problem of LEO population should be given increased attention.     

改进型负输入成形主动振动控制

针对柔性结构的主动振动控制问题,提出了一种改进型负输入成形方法。该方法设计成形器的脉冲序列包含多个正负依次交替的脉冲,通过所选择的脉冲数目和系统振动频率与阻尼比构成封闭形式解来直接确定成形器。与正输入成形方法相比可以改善系统的上升时间,而与传统的负输入成形方法相比不需要对时间约束条件进行优化。改进型负输入成形器所包含的脉冲个数可以自由选择,具有设计简单、灵活的优点。将其通过柔性机械臂进行仿真验证,结果表明：所提出的方法有效且可以快速实现振动抑制。     

Actors of the main activity in large complex centres during the 23 solar cycle maximum

During the maximum of Solar Cycle 23, large active regions had a long life, spanning several solar rotations, and produced large numbers of X-class flares and CMEs, some of them associated to magnetic clouds (MCs). This is the case for the Halloween active regions in 2003. The most geoeffective MC of the cycle (Dst = −457) had its source during the disk passage of one of these active regions (NOAA 10501) on 18 November 2003. Such an activity was presumably due to continuous emerging magnetic flux that was observed during this passage. Moreover, the region exhibited a complex topology with multiple domains of different magnetic helicities. The complexity was observed to reach such unprecedented levels that a detailed multi-wavelength analysis is necessary to precisely identify the solar sources of CMEs and MCs. Magnetic clouds are identified using in situ measurements and interplanetary scintillation (IPS) data. Results from these two different sets of data are also compared.     

一种超静平台主动指向容错控制方法

针对超静平台主动指向控制中的作动器故障问题,提出一种超静平台主动指向容错控制方法。首先,基于超静平台的一般动力学模型,推导用于指向控制的解耦模型和标准解耦矩阵,将超静平台由高度耦合的复杂多输入多输出系统变为多个相对简单的单输入单输出系统,有利于控制器的设计和容错控制方法的引入;在此基础上,针对作动器的故障问题,提出指向控制重构策略,并建立新解耦矩阵;进一步,提出基于解耦矩阵条件数最小的冗余自由度选择方法;最后,进行了数值仿真分析。仿真结果表明：基于冗余自由度最优选择的主动指向容错控制方法能够最大限度地减少作动器故障对超静平台主动指向控制效果的影响。     

Biobjective planning of GEO debris removal mission with multiple servicing spacecrafts

The mission planning of GEO debris removal with multiple servicing spacecrafts (SScs) is studied in this paper. Specifically, the SScs are considered to be initially on the GEO belt, and they should rendezvous with debris of different orbital slots and different inclinations, remove them to the graveyard orbit and finally return to their initial locations. Three key problems should be resolved here: task assignment, mission sequence planning and transfer trajectory optimization for each SSc. The minimum-cost, two-impulse phasing maneuver is used for each rendezvous. The objective is to find a set of optimal planning schemes with minimum fuel cost and travel duration. Considering this mission as a hybrid optimal control problem, a mathematical model is proposed. A modified multi-objective particle swarm optimization is employed to address the model. Numerous examples are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and solution method. In this paper, single-SSc and multiple-SSc scenarios with the same amount of fuel are compared. Numerous experiments indicate that for a definite GEO debris removal mission, that which alternative (single-SSc or multiple-SSc) is better (cost less fuel and consume less travel time) is determined by many factors. Although in some cases, multiple-SSc scenarios may perform worse than single-SSc scenarios, the extra costs are considered worth the gain in mission safety and robustness.     

紫外成像光谱仪主动热控系统的设计与实现

为了确保紫外临边成像光谱仪的温度水平和温度梯度满足指标要求,分析了其所处空间环境并结合其光机电的特点,设计了整机的主动热控方案和被动热控方案。首先,总结了成像光谱仪热设计的基本原则,介绍了主动热控方案和被动热控方案。接着,利用最坏情况分析法分析了主动热控系统测温电路的测温精度。然后,根据主动热控方案的要求,对主动热控系统的硬件和热控策略进行了设计和实现。最后,规划了主动热控系统的验证试验,并对主动热控系统进行了试验验证。分析和实验结果表明：主动热控系统的测温精度满足≤±0.5℃的指标要求,主动热控系统能够保证紫外临边光谱仪13℃～18℃以及紫外环形成像仪8℃～18℃的温度水平要求,主动热控方案合理、可行,满足高可靠性的要求。     

On the origin of cosmic rays in the spiral galaxy NGC 3310

The problem of cosmic ray production in the spiral galaxy NGC 3310 is addressed by analysing and comparing optical and radio continuum data. Tentative results indicate that on global scales relativistic electrons may be produced in the shock front associated with teh density wave while on local scales extreme population I objects may be producing them. It is inferred that the same conclusions apply to all cosmic rays produced in the disk.     

Prospects of de-tumbling large space debris using a two-satellite electromagnetic formation

Capturing large space debris with complex rotational motion is extremely challenging. A de-tumbling phase before capturing may be necessary to reduce the risk of collision with debris. This paper proposes a new noncontact de-tumbling method using a two-satellite electromagnetic formation, in which two small electromagnetic satellites, each having a high-temperature superconducting coil, generate control torques to reduce the rotation rate of debris prior to making any physical contact. The electromagnetic interaction of the target-satellite system is analyzed. A relative translational dynamics of the target–satellite system and the attitude dynamics of the target are established. Simulation results show that the proposed method effectively eliminates the rotational motion of the target. It can be safely concluded that the noncontact method for de-tumbling space debris using a two-satellite electromagnetic formation is feasible and potentially applicable to on-orbit capture.     

宽角扫描相控阵天线有源阻抗的计算

在进行相控阵天线设计时,需要辐射单元间互耦进行分析与计算,采用小阵试验的方法来进行相控阵天线有源阻抗匹配比较耗时、费力。文章介绍了一种比较实用的相控阵天线有源阻抗匹配计算方法,并利用HFSS软件给出了两个仿真计算实例和试验验证结果,具有重要的参考价值。