Synergies of Earth science and space exploration

A more flexible policy basis from which to manage our planet in the 21st century is desirable. As one contribution, we note that synergies between space exploration and the preservation of our habitat exist, and that protecting life on Earth requires similar concepts and information as investigations of life beyond the Earth, including the expansion of human presence in space. Instrumentation and data handling to observe both planetary objects and planet Earth are based on similar techniques. Moreover, while planetary surface operations are conducted under different conditions, the technology to probe the surface and subsurface of both the Earth and other planets requires similar tools, such as radar, seismometers, and drilling devices. The Earth observation community has developed some exemplary tools and has featured successful international cooperation in data handling and sharing that could be equally well applied to robotic planetary exploration. Here we propose a network involving both communities that will enable the interchange of scientific insights and the development of new policies and management strategies. Those tools can provide a vital forum through which the management of this planet can be assisted, and in which a new bridge between the Earth-centric and space-centric communities can be built.     

Comparison of organ dose and dose equivalent for human phantoms of CAM vs. MAX

For the evaluation of organ dose and dose equivalent of astronauts on space shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) missions, the CAMERA models of CAM (Computerized Anatomical Male) and CAF (Computerized Anatomical Female) of human tissue shielding have been implemented and used in radiation transport model calculations at NASA. One of new human geometry models to meet the “reference person” of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is based on detailed Voxel (volumetric and pixel) phantom models denoted for male and female as MAX (Male Adult voXel) and FAX (Female Adult voXel), respectively. We compared the CAM model predictions of organ doses to those of MAX model, since the MAX model represents the male adult body with much higher fidelity than the CAM model currently used at NASA. Directional body-shielding mass was evaluated for over 1500 target points of MAX for specified organs considered to be sensitive to the induction of stochastic effects. Radiation exposures to solar particle event (SPE), trapped protons, and galactic cosmic ray (GCR) were assessed at the specific sites in the MAX phantom by coupling space radiation transport models with the relevant body-shielding mass. The development of multiple-point body-shielding distributions at each organ made it possible to estimate the mean and variance of organ doses at the specific organ. For the estimate of doses to the blood forming organs (BFOs), data on active marrow distributions in adult were used to weight the bone marrow sites over the human body. The discrete number of target points of MAX organs resulted in a reduced organ dose and dose equivalent compared to the results of CAM organs especially for SPE, and should be further investigated. Differences of effective doses between the two approaches were found to be small (<5%) for GCR.     

基于蒙特卡罗方法的红外灯热流分布研究

采用蒙特卡罗方法针对我国航天器热平衡试验用红外灯的热流分布进行了研 究。对红外灯能束辐射过程的物理模型进行了分析,建立了能束辐射随机位置、随机方向的 数学模型和灯丝温度计算模型,给出了辐射波长、灯管反射率、吸收率、透射率的确定方法 ,进而提出了红外灯热流分布计算流程。在真空低温环境下进行了红外灯热流分布测试,将 预测结果与试验结果进行了对比,偏差在5％以内。采用本文的分析方法计算了某型号卫 星试验用红外灯阵的热流分布,结果满足试验要求。该方法可以作为红外灯阵优化设计的技 术基础。
     

一种评估空间环境下半导体材料损伤的模拟方法

提出了一种模拟空间环境下半导体材料晶格损伤速率的方法, 计算了375km轨道高度不同纬度空间位置的飞行器模型中硅片产生晶格损伤的速率. 本方法考虑了宇宙射线的质子、正负电子、中子和γ射线成分, 建立了简单的多层飞行器结构模型, 并通过模拟给出了芯片上氕、氘、氚、氦、正负电子、正负π介子、γ射线及中子的损伤结果. 相比给出材料中的非电离能量损失, 更进一步给出了晶格损伤的产生速率, 为半导体器件的可靠性评估提供了进一步的参考数据.      

基于ProE的航天器三维屏蔽与辐射剂量评估方法研究

为准确评估结构异常复杂的航天器内部遭遇的辐射剂量,本文将直线近似原理和ProE工程软件相结合,自主开发了一种新型的航天器三维屏蔽与辐射剂量评估方法。利用本方法对立方体、球、平板等简单几何体内部的屏蔽厚度和辐射剂量进行了分析计算,计算结果表明基于ProE的三维屏蔽与辐射剂量计算方法是可靠的。结构复杂程度相当于中等规模航天器的模型计算结果表明,本方法能够较高效的分析评估复杂航天器内部遭遇的屏蔽厚度和辐射剂量。
     

一种晨昏轨道卫星地球反照系数估计方法

针对地球反照对太阳同步轨道卫星太阳电池阵输出电流的影响,首先比较不同降交点地方时卫星的太阳电池阵输出电流,分析其变化规律,然后选定晨昏轨道卫星作为研究对象,建立太阳电池阵输出电流模型与地球反照系数估计模型,利用最小二乘法估计电流参数与地球反照系数,最后结合不同季节、不同轨道高度卫星的遥测数据进行在轨验证。结果表明,对于轨道高度在1200km以下的晨昏轨道卫星,地球反照系数在0.05以上;地球反照系数随轨道高度增加呈指数规律衰减,衰减系数约为0.002。     

考虑地球自转的探月返回反馈线性化跟踪制导律设计

研究考虑地球自转的探月返回跳跃式再入的纵向制导问题.通过对制导动力学进行详细分析,给出了地球自转对制导精度产生影响的原因.在此基础上,针对探月返回跳跃式再入的纵向制导问题,研究了考虑地球自转的反馈线性化跟踪制导律的设计问题.当考虑地球自转时,制导动力学十分复杂,如果直接按照非线性系统反馈线性化控制理论进行制导律设计,所需测量量较多,制导律难以实现.设计了一种简化的反馈线性化跟踪制导律,并分析了设计机理.最后进行了数学仿真,与航天飞机反馈线性化跟踪制导律进行了比较,所设计的制导律在一定不确定下制导精度更高.     

Optical orbital debris spotter

The number of man-made debris objects orbiting the Earth, or orbital debris, is alarmingly increasing, resulting in the increased probability of degradation, damage, or destruction of operating spacecraft. In part, small objects (<10 cm) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are of concern because they are abundant and difficult to track or even to detect on a routine basis. Due to the increasing debris population it is reasonable to assume that improved capabilities for on-orbit damage attribution, in addition to increased capabilities to detect and track small objects are needed. Here we present a sensor concept to detect small debris with sizes between approximately 1.0 and 0.01 cm in the vicinity of a host spacecraft for near real time damage attribution and characterization of dense debris fields and potentially to provide additional data to existing debris models.     

CHANG'E-2 lunar escape maneuvers to the Sun–Earth L2 libration point mission

This paper addresses lunar escape maneuvers of the first Chinese Sun–Earth L2 libration point mission by the CHANG'E-2 satellite, which is also the world's first satellite to reach the L2 point from a lunar orbit. The lunar escape maneuvers are heavily constrained by the remaining propellant and the condition of telemetry, track and command, among others. First, these constraints are analyzed and summarized to design a target L2 Lissajous orbit and an initial transfer trajectory. Second, the maneuver mathematical models are studied. The multilevel maneuver schemes which consist of phasing maneuvers and a final lunar escape maneuver are designed for actual operations. Based on the scheme analysis and comparison, the 2-maneuver scheme with a 5.3-h-period phasing orbit is ultimately selected. Finally, the mission status based on the scheme is presented and the control operation results are discussed in detail. The methodology in this paper is especially beneficial and applicable to a future multi-mission instance in the deep space exploration.     

On the practical exploitation of perturbative effects in low Earth orbit for space debris mitigation

This paper presents the results of a numerical evaluation of the natural lifetime reduction in low Earth orbit, due to dynamical perturbations. The study considers two values for the area-to-mass ratio, a nominal ratio which resembles a typical value of spacecraft in orbit today, and an enhanced ratio which covers the surface augmentation. The results were obtained with two orbit propagators, one of a semi-analytical nature and the second one using non-averaged equations of motion. The simulations for both propagators were set up similarly to allow comparison. They both use the solar radiation pressure and the secular terms of the geopotential ($J_2,J_4$ and $J_6$). The atmospheric drag was turned on and off in both propagators to alternatively study the eccentricity build up and the residual lifetime. The non-averaging case also covers a validation with the full 6?×?6 geopotential. The results confirm the findings in previous publications, that is, the possibility for de-orbiting from altitudes above the residual atmosphere if a solar sail is deployed at the end-of-life, due to the combined effect of solar radiation pressure and the oblateness of the Earth. At near polar inclinations, shadowing effects can be exploited to the same end. The results obtained with the full, non-averaging propagator revealed additional de-orbiting corridors associated with solar radiation pressure which were not found by previous work on space debris mitigation. The results of both tools are compared for specific initial conditions. For nominal values of area-to-mass ratio, instead, it is confirmed that this resonance effect is negligible.The paper then puts the findings in the perspective of the current satellite catalogue. It identifies space missions which are currently close to a resonance corridor and shows the orbit evolution within the resonances with a significantly shorter residual orbital lifetime. The paper finishes with a discussion on the exploitation of these effects with regards to the long-term simulation of the space debris environment and a flux and collision probability comparison.