Simulation of optical response of retroreflectors for future lunar laser ranging

We numerically examined various retroreflectors as laser ranging targets for future missions to the Moon. The geometric conditions, such as the angle of incidence and velocity aberration, with lunar targets are much more restricted than those with most of the earth-orbiting artificial satellites. The numerical optical response simulation carried out in this study indicates that a single retroreflector with a diameter of 150–250 mm performs similar to the existing Apollo retroreflector arrays. Further, no dihedral angle is required for small retroreflectors with diameters below 150 mm for uncoated ones and below 100 mm for coated and hollow ones. Retroreflectors with larger diameters require dihedral angles of 0.20, 0.25, and 0.35 arcsec for coated, uncoated and hollow types, respectively. The objective of this fundamental study is to underlie the development of future laser ranging targets that are to be placed on the Moon.     

“嫦娥一号”卫星的调相轨道设计

中国第一颗月球探测卫星"嫦娥一号"的飞行轨道的设计中采用了调相轨道,在"长征三号甲"运载火箭提供的超地球同步转移轨道与地月转移轨道之间增加了一段由周期为24h和48h轨道构成的环绕地球飞行的调相轨道。为了将几条不同的轨道精确地拼接起来,必须考虑地球引力场对轨道的摄动影响。克服这个难点的做法是基于经典的轨道摄动理论,先将整段调相轨道设计为考虑地球引力场J2项影响的平轨道,在与运载的发射轨道拼接时,先将运载的包括短周期摄动的瞬时轨道转换为平轨道,在与地月转移轨道拼接时将调相轨道转换成拼接点的瞬时轨道。由于采用了平轨道的处理方法使得轨道控制策略的表述十分简明并易于操作。     

基于非线性混合模型研究太空风化对月壤光谱的影响

月表太空风化会改变月壤光谱特征, 影响月壤元素遥感反演精度. 研究太空风化对月壤光谱的影响有助于开发月壤成熟度光谱解耦算法, 提高月壤成分遥感反演精度. 直接对比月壤风化前后光谱的变化能最真实反映太空风化对光谱的影响, 但无法获取未风化的月壤样品, 利用实验室模拟方法开展研究也存在缺陷. 本文提出了一种简便的方法来研究太空风化对月壤光谱的影响, 并以月海样品为例进行探讨. 利用Hapke模型对月海样品组成矿物光谱按照实测含量进行非线性混合, 并通过对比混合后的光谱与实测的月壤光谱, 研究太空风化过程对月壤光谱的影响. 研究结果表明, 月壤在遭受太空风化后反射率降低, 波长越短降低越显著; 月壤背景吸收斜率增大, 月壤变得更红, 月壤矿物特征吸收峰深度降低, 光谱对比度变弱, 长波吸收峰(2.0μm附近)深度降低程度超过短波吸收峰(1.0μm附近)深度. 未来在利用遥感技术反演月壤元素含量时, 必须考虑这些因素.     

Synthesis and characterization of geopolymer from lunar regolith simulant based on natural volcanic scoria

In this study, a new GVS（Ground Volcanic Scoria） lunar regolith simulant was produced. The similarity between GVS and lunar soil was proved by comparison with Apollo lunar soil samples and other commercial lunar soil simulants. Then, GVS lunar regolith simulant was investigated as the source material for preparing geopolymer to produce building material for lunar colony construction. To study the possibility of preparing geopolymer from GVS lunar regolith simulant and the optimum activator formu...     

嫦娥探测器分段渐倾转移机构设计

巡视探测器转移机构是在地外空间环境执行巡视探测器转移释放任务的空间机构。与美国、苏联转移任务不同,中国探月工程（CLEP）二期着陆器采用腿式着陆缓冲机构及巡视器顶部搭载方式,转移任务沿着陆器周向展开距离及巡视器释放高度增加,转移难度增大。在设计阶段,转移机构是否符合探测任务严苛的工程约束及设计指标;在执行阶段,转移机构能否在月面非确知环境下正常展开、转移过程是否稳定可靠,是嫦娥探测器顺利完成探测任务的关键。为保障月球后续任务及火星探测任务中转移机构的设计需要,根据巡视器转移系统特点,以探月二期工程中首次探索并成功自主设计定型的嫦娥分段渐倾转移机构为例,对巡视器转移系统的组成、任务需求及设计约束予以阐述,并结合参研人员经验,对机构研制方案的选取、关键环节设计、工程状态及任务验证情况进行说明,以为后续工作及相关工程提供参考。     

Drilling load modeling and validation based on the filling rate of auger flute in planetary sampling

Some type of penetration into a subsurface is required in planetary sampling. Drilling and coring, due to its efficient penetrating and cuttings removal characteristics, has been widely applied in previous sampling missions. Given the complicated mechanical properties of a planetary regolith, suitable drilling parameters should be matched with different drilling formations properly. Otherwise, drilling faults caused by overloads could easily happen. Hence, it is necessary to estab-lish a drilling load model, which is able to reveal the relationships among drilling loads, an auger's structural parameters, soil's mechanical properties, and relevant drilling parameters. A concept for the filling rate of auger flute (FRAF) is proposed to describe drilling conditions. If the FRAF index under one group of drilling parameters is less than 1, this means that the auger flute currently removes cuttings smoothly. Otherwise, the auger will be choked with compressed cuttings. In dril-ling operations, the drilling loads on the auger mainly come from the conveyance action, while the drilling loads on the drill bit primarily come from the cutting action. Experiments in one typical lunar regolith simulant indicate that the estimated drilling loads based on the FRAF coincide with the test results quite well. Based on this drilling load model, drilling parameters have been opti-mized.     

月地转移轨道快速设计与特性分析

对采用直接大气再入方式的月地转移轨道,考虑大气再入界面参数和地面落点位置约束,提出了一种基于双二体模型的快速设计方法。该方法分为内外两层迭代循环,内层循环使月心段轨道和地心段轨道在月球影响球边界处连续,并采用Lambert问题与Newton-Raphson法相集合的方法求解满足再入角约束的地心段轨道参数;外层循环通过调整地心段轨道倾角和轨道置入时间使月地转移轨道满足地面落点位置约束。分析表明,存在四种类型的月地转移轨道满足大气再入界面约束,分别为降 降型、降 升型、升 降型和升 升型。在此基础上,对四种类型月地转移轨道的近地点地心距、置入分布点、再入点分布等特性进行了分析。仿真结果验证了所提出方法的有效性。     

月球着陆器软着陆冲击仿真

为提高分析月球着陆器软着陆有效载荷着陆冲击响应的准确性,提出一种基于瞬态动力学的着陆器有效载荷软着陆冲击响应分析方法.根据着陆器全机结构柔性和月壤柔性对有效载荷着陆冲击响应的影响,参照某型着陆器,于MSC.PATRAN环境中建立着陆器全机柔性体模型及月壤柔性体模型,运用瞬态动力学仿真软件MSC.DYTRAN对着陆器软着陆有效载荷着陆冲击响应特性进行了仿真研究.仿真结果与试验结果具有一定的一致性.研究结果表明:使用该方法分析着陆器软着陆有效载荷的着陆冲击响应是准确有效的,能够比较逼真地模拟月球着陆器实际着陆工况.     

Analysis of driving efficiency for LRV wheels using forced-slip method

To investigate and improve the mobility of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), it is necessary to consider the mechanical properties of the interaction between the wheels and the ground. In this paper, a new solution method, the forced-slip solution method, which uses a semi-empirical approach, was presented. That is, given the wheel’s vertical load and drawbar pull or driving torque as known input values, the unknown slip ratio can be resolved. The alternative method involves predicting the mechanics for a given slip ratio. The proposed method correlates better with actual wheel movements, and by studying a single wheel, this solution method can also be used to resolve the mechanical properties of the front and rear wheels in a four-wheel-drive (4WD) LRV configuration. It can also be used to consider the multi-pass effect of the rear wheels on lunar soil. The calculation results show that the 4WD LRV driving efficiency varies with the position of the center of mass. Thus, the LRV driving efficiency can be optimized by adjusting the position of its center of mass.     

Photon counting detector for space debris laser tracking and lunar laser ranging

We are reporting on a design, construction and performance of solid state photon counting detector package which has been designed for laser tracking of space debris. The detector has been optimized for top photon detection efficiency and detection delay stability. The active area of the commercially available avalanche photodiode manufactured on Si (SAP500 supplied by Laser Components, Inc.) is circular with a diameter of 500 μm. The newly designed control circuit enables to operate the detection sensor at a broad range of biases 5–50 V above its breakdown voltage of 125 V. This permits to select a right trade-off between photon detection efficiency, timing resolution and dark count rate. The photon detection efficiency exceeds 70% at the wavelength of 532 nm. This is the highest photon detection efficiency ever reported for such a device. The timing properties of the detector have been investigated in detail. The timing resolution is better than 80 ps r.m.s, the detection delay is stable within units of picoseconds over several hours of operation. The detection delay stability in a sense of time deviation of 800 fs has been achieved. The temperature change of the detection delay is 0.5 ps/K. The detector has been tested as an echo signal detector in laser tracking of space debris at the satellite laser station in Graz, Austria. Its application in lunar laser ranging is under consideration by several laser stations.