Sulfur “concrete” for lunar applications – Sublimation concerns

Melting sulfur and mixing it with an aggregate to form “concrete” is commercially well established and constitutes a material that is particularly well-suited for use in corrosive environments. Discovery of the mineral troilite (FeS) on the moon poses the question of extracting the sulfur for use as a lunar construction material. This would be an attractive alternative to conventional concrete as it does not require water. However, the viability of sulfur concrete in a lunar environment, which is characterized by lack of an atmosphere and extreme temperatures, is not well understood. Here it is assumed that the lunar ore can be mined, refined, and the raw sulfur melded with appropriate lunar regolith to form, for example, bricks. This study evaluates pure sulfur and two sets of small sulfur concrete samples that have been prepared using JSC-1 lunar stimulant and SiO₂ powder as aggregate additions. Each set was subjected to extended periods in a vacuum environment to evaluate sublimation issues. Results from these experiments are presented and discussed within the context of the lunar environment.     

Hipparchus vs. Ptolemy and the Antikythera Mechanism: Pin–Slot device models lunar motions

The ancient Greek astronomical calculator known as the Antikythera Mechanism has been analyzed using geometrical, calculus, trigonometric and complex variable methods. This analysis demonstrates that the Mechanism modeled the variations in the Moon’s angular velocity as seen from the Earth, to better than 1 part in 200. A major implication of this analysis is that the Antikythera Mechanism of the 2nd century BCE modeled the anomalistic motion of the Moon more accurately than Ptolemy’s account of Hipparchus’s theory of the 2nd century CE. In the present work, mathematics, astronomy, history and methodology of the sciences combine in the study of a unique artifact, preserved for posterity in an ancient ship that sank in the Mediterranean 2100 years ago and recovered by Greek sponge divers at the dawn of the 20th century.     

Technology Progress Report for Microwave Remote Sensing

In this presentation, technological progress for China's microwave remote sensing is introduced. New developments of the microwave remote sensing instruments for China's lunar exploration satellite (Chang'E-1), meteorological satellite FY-3 and ocean dynamic measurement satellite (HY-2) are reported.     

YingHuo-1——Martian Space Environment Exploration Orbiter

This paper gives a brief introduction of YingHuo-1 (YH-1), a Chinese Martian Space Environment Exploration Orbiter. YH-1 is a micro-satellite developed by Chinese Aerospace Industry,and will be launched together with Russian spacecraft, Phobos-Grunt, to orbit Mars in September,2009. Four payloads are selected for the mission, plasma package, including of electron analyzer, ion energy and mass analyzer; sat-sat occultation receiver; flux-gate magnetometer; and optical monitor.YH-1 mission focus on the investigation of the characteristics and its evolution of the Martian space Environment, and identifying major plasma processes, which provide channels for Martian volatiles escaping.     

用于月球软着陆最优轨迹跟踪制导过程的模糊神经网络控制方法

软着陆过程的制导控制已经成为月球探测中一个具有挑战性的问题。神经网络与模糊逻辑都是处理不确定性(受控对象缺乏精确的数学描述或具有非线性的复杂性)问题的有效手段。本文根据终端着陆条件和性能指标,以由Pontryagin’s极大值原理得出从近月点到月球表面的最优着陆轨迹为基础,给出一种基于模糊神经网络的非线性最优控制策略,使被控系统能够通过模糊神经网络的非线性映射能力实现某种最优的闭环制导控制。最后通过数学仿真验证了该控制策略的可行性与有效性。     

月球探测器着陆性能若干影响因素分析

软着陆缓冲装置是月球探测器的核心组成,对其着陆过程进行动力学分析 是着陆器设计的重要环节。论文以四腿悬架式着陆器为研究对象,首先在综合考虑月面非线 性变形、反推火箭残余应力、姿态控制力等基础上建立了探测器倾斜月面着陆过程动力学方 程。其次,研究了月面摩擦系数、月面着陆倾斜角度、反推火箭残余应力、着陆速度对探测 器着陆性能的影响。结果表明探测器着陆稳定性能伴随着月球表面土壤摩擦系数、月面倾斜 角度、着陆速度的升高而急速降低;探测器反推火箭残余应力虽能较大地减缓月面对着 陆器的冲击,但过大却容易导致探测器在月面反弹甚至翻滚。
     

嫦娥一号卫星的初步科学成果与嫦娥二号卫星的使命

嫦娥一号卫星于2007年10月24日在西昌卫星发射中心成功发射,2009年3月1日受控落月,在轨运行495d,一共取得了1.37Tbyte的原始科学探测数据,在此基础上生产出4Tbyte科学应用数据产品。通过对这些科学探测数据的初步分析和应用研究,已经获得了包括＂我国首次月球探测工程全月球影像图＂等在内的一系列科学成果,圆满实现了预期的各项科学目标,为推动我国月球与行星科学的研究和后续月球探测工程的开展奠定了重要基础。嫦娥二号卫星在嫦娥一号卫星取得圆满成功之后,进行了一系列技术改进,作为探月二期工程的先导星,将于今年年底前发射升空。嫦娥二号卫星从发射到第一次近月制动所经历的时间由13d缩短为5d,环月轨道高度由200km降低为100km,CCD相机的像元分辨率由120m提高到10m,激光高度计测量月面高程由1次/s提高到5次/s。嫦娥二号卫星将重点开展对月面着陆区地形地貌的精细探测,试验验证相关关键技术,为探月二期月面软着陆奠定科学和技术基础。     

嫦娥一号卫星的近期科学探测成果

嫦娥一号月球探测卫星采用CCD相机和激光高度计,对月球表面参数特征进行了测量,获得了覆盖完整、分辨率高的全月球数字高程模型（DEM）。基于数字高程模型,可以鉴别中尺度的月球表面的地质地貌、盆地和火山等。这些新的研究成果将有益于对月球地质演化的深入研究。     

同波束VLBI技术用于月球双探测器精密定轨及重力场解算

同波束VLBI通过同时观测两个探测器的多点频信号,可以得到两个探测器之间高精度的差分相位时延,日本月球探测计划SELENE充分体现了这一技术在月球探测器精密定轨中的贡献。本文针对采样返回的月球探测任务中,轨道器和返回器同时绕月飞行期间,研究利用同波束VLBI跟踪数据在探测器精密定轨和月球重力场仿真解算中的贡献。结果表明,加入同波束VLBI跟踪数据之后,探测器定轨精度有显著提高,改进超过一个量级。综合同波束VLBI跟踪数据解算得到的重力场模型相比于传统的USB双程测距测速数据,中低阶次位系数精度有明显改进,并且定轨精度有望能达到米级。
     

月球软着陆的二次型最优制导方法

为实现在月球表面指定区域的精确软着陆,研究了月球软着陆的线性二次型最优制导方法。利用简化的轨道动力学模型,给出了一种基于状态和能耗最优的软着陆二次型制导方法。由于制导律要求同时提供3个方向的时变推力,所以需要通过变推力发动机和姿态机动来实现。该制导方法虽能满足精确软着陆的需要,但对姿态变化的要求超出了着陆器姿态机动能力。因此,本文修正了二次型最优制导方法,取消了对轨道参数的过程约束,仅对其终端进行约束,通过求解着陆指定目标点的能耗最优两点边值问题,得到了发动机推力大小和方向的显式表达式。研究结果表明,利用一定的姿态机动能力,修正的制导方法能够满足精确软着陆的需要。