The Solar Wind interactions with Lunar Magnetic Anomalies: A case study of the Chang’E-2 plasma data near the Serenitatis antipode

In this paper, we present the first and preliminary results on the near-Moon plasma environment, based on the spectrogram data obtained with the Solar Wind Ion Detector (SWID) onboard Chang’E-2 from four lunar orbits on 10–11 Oct 2010. These orbits, at a constant altitude of ∼100 km, approach gradually the Lunar Magnetic Anomaly (LMA) at the Serenitatis antipode. The data reveal tentatively a region with decrement in proton density and enhancement in temperature. The near coincidence of this region with the Serenitatis antipode probably suggests the presence of a minimagnetosphere associated with the LMA, which effectively shields and heats the incident Solar Wind (SW) protons.     

嫦娥三号巡视器-着陆器释放分离过程关键力学问题分析

针对嫦娥三号探测器两器释放分离过程几个关键力学问题,给出两器释放分离过程的主要风险点与影响参数,应用ADAMS建立两器释放分离全过程仿真模型,开展了全过程动力学仿真与相关试验。分析得到可适应安全释放分离要求的着陆器最大着陆姿态边界与关键性能参数,为两器释放分离提供了理论支撑与依据。     

求解最优月球软着陆轨道的隐式打靶法

基于间接法思想推导出一种隐式打靶法对月球软着陆轨道优化问题进行了研究。建立月球软着陆轨道归一化系统模型,利用庞特亚金极大值原理将月球软着陆轨道优化问题转化为满足最优必要条件的两点边值问题（TPBVP）,采用一种新的时间变量使两点边值问题的终端时刻固定,同时将终端时刻看作状态变量并引入终端时刻的哈密尔顿函数值作为隐式终端条件,提出一种隐式打靶法对含有隐式终端条件的两点边值问题进行迭代求解,从而得出燃料消耗最优的月球软着陆轨道。仿真结果表明,与直接法和混合法相比,隐式打靶法优化精度高,收敛速度快,实现了月球软着陆过程燃料消耗最优。同时应用隐式打靶法求解不同发动机推力值的最优月球软着陆问题,得到燃料消耗最小的最优推重比,可为月面着陆器下降级发动机选型提供参考。     

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。     

月球探测器动力下降段最优轨迹参数化方法

为保证月球探测器进入姿态调整段时具有充分的高度与速度余量,本文提出一种基于控制变量参数化的月球探测器动力下降段最优轨迹求解方法.在三维探测器软着陆动力学模型基础上,将月球探测器软着陆制导律设计等效为燃料最优约束下的探测器俯仰角控制问题,利用控制变量参数化(Control Variables Parameterizati...     

Fuel-optimal and Energy-optimal guidance schemes for lunar soft landing at a desired location

Two guidance schemes (i) fuel-optimal (ii) energy-optimal to realize soft landing at a desired location on the moon are developed using the optimal control laws. The optimal control laws are obtained by solving a two-point boundary value problem formulated based on Pontryagin’s principle. The guidance laws, adapted from the optimal control laws, are obtained as a function of unknown co-state variables. Differential Transformation (DT) technique is employed to determine the unknown co-states at each time instant of landing trajectory using the information on the current vehicle state, target landing site (loaded on-board apriori) and the time-to-go. The numerical integration of co-state dynamics is avoided due to the DT based approach. The time-to-go, a critical parameter for any guidance scheme, is computed and updated real time using a simple strategy which uses the current and end states. The simple strategy for time-to-go works well even when the shape of the trajectory is nonlinear. Extensive analysis is carried out to evaluate and compare the proposed guidance schemes. Further, the proposed schemes are compared with other popular guidance schemes. The DT based proposed schemes help quantify the landing masses for fuel-optimal and energy-optimal objectives. Other features of the proposed schemes are that they do not assume constant gravity field and independent of reference trajectory.     

Depth dependency of neutron density produced by cosmic rays in the lunar subsurface

Depth dependency of neutrons produced by cosmic rays (CRs) in the lunar subsurface was estimated using the three-dimensional Monte Carlo particle and heavy ion transport simulation code, PHITS, incorporating the latest high energy nuclear data, JENDL/HE-2007. The PHITS simulations of equilibrium neutron density profiles in the lunar subsurface were compared with the measurement by Apollo 17 Lunar Neutron Probe Experiment (LNPE). Our calculations reproduced the LNPE data except for the 350–400 mg/cm² region under the improved condition using the CR spectra model based on the latest observations, well-tested nuclear interaction models with systematic cross section data, and JENDL/HE-2007.     

月面着陆动力下降段最优轨迹序列凸优化方法

针对月面着陆器动力下降制导过程中,时变惯性加速度和重力加速度难以估计与补偿等问题,提出一种基于序列凸优化的在线制导算法。在考虑月面曲率及月球自转的着陆器动力学建模基础上,首先对模型及约束条件进行凸化,得到一个二阶锥规划(SOCP)问题;然后对经典序列凸优化进行了改进,对时变加速度剖面予以实时估计和补偿,提升了现有优化算法的性能,使着陆器在尽可能节约燃料的前提下实现高精度着陆。仿真结果表明,与经典的显式制导律相比,所提出的算法在动力下降段燃料消耗更少。由多种位置偏差下的打靶分析结果可知,所提出的算法均能满足性能指标要求;即使起始位置存在±2500 m的较大波动时,仍能以高精度的速度、位置完成动力下降制导。     

Plume aerodynamic effects of cushion engine in lunar landing

 During the second period of China "Tanyue" Project, the explorer will softland on the moon. The cushion engines are used to decelerate the explorer and reduce the impact on the lunar ground. It is necessary to study its plume effects on the explorer component. The self-developed PWS (Plume WorkStation) software based on direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is used to simulate the plume effects of two 150 N engines. Due to the complex structure of the explorer, PWS uses a decoupling method to treat the boundary mesh, which mainly interacts with simulation particles, and has no relation with the computational grids. After the analytical expressions of plane surfaces and curved surfaces of each boundary block are given, the particle position within or without the boundary blocks can be easily determined. Finally the 3D plume field of two 150 N engines is simulated. The pressure, temperature and velocity distributions of plume field are clearly presented by three characteristic slices. The aerodynamic effects on the explorer bottom, the landfall legs and antenna are separately shown. The compression influence on the plume flow of four landfall legs can be observed.     

Journey to the Moon: Recent results,science, future robotic and human exploration

The upcoming fleet of lunar missions, and the announcement of new lunar exploration initiatives, show an exciting “Journey to the Moon”, covering recent results, science, future robotic and human exploration. We review some of the questions, findings and perspectives given in the papers included in this issue of Advances in Space Research.