Space debris: Assessing risk and responsibility

We model the orbital debris environment by a set of differential equations with parameter values that capture many of the complexities of existing three-dimensional simulation models. We compute the probability that a spacecraft gets destroyed in a collision during its operational lifetime, and then define the sustainable risk level as the maximum of this probability over all future time. Focusing on the 900- to 1000-km altitude region, which is the most congested portion of low Earth orbit, we find that – despite the initial rise in the level of fragments – the sustainable risk remains below 10^-3${10}^{-3}$ if there is high (>98%) compliance to the existing 25-year postmission deorbiting guideline. We quantify the damage (via the number of future destroyed operational spacecraft) generated by past and future space activities. We estimate that the 2007 FengYun 1C antisatellite weapon test represents ≈1%$\approx 1\%$ of the legacy damage due to space objects having a characteristic size of ?10$?10$ cm, and causes the same damage as failing to deorbit 2.6 spacecraft after their operational life. Although the political and economic issues are daunting, these damage estimates can be used to help determine one-time legacy fees and fees on future activities (including deorbit noncompliance), which can deter future debris generation, compensate operational spacecraft that are destroyed in future collisions, and partially fund research and development into space debris mitigation technologies. Our results need to be confirmed with a high-fidelity three-dimensional model before they can provide the basis for any major decisions made by the space community.     

Propagation errors analysis of TLE data

Orbit position uncertainty is an important factor for collision avoidance issues. For a single object with high frequency historical data, we can attain its position uncertainty easily. But sometimes data is not enough for errors analysis, orbits need to be classified. In this paper error analysis is made from two-line element sets data (TLEs). The Simplified General Perturbations-4 (SGP4) propagator was used. Statistical errors of debris and R/B are given for lower-altitude orbits which are classified by perigee altitude and eccentricity. The errors results and analysis for SSO (the Sun synchronous orbit) typical orbits are obtained. At last atmospheric drag as a main cause of downrange errors in lower-altitude orbit is analyzed. BSTAR in TLEs is modified to improve prediction precision.     

Qualitative estimation of magnetic storm efficiency in producing relativistic electron flux in the Earth’s outer radiation belt using geomagnetic pulsations data

It is well known that during many but not all of the geomagnetic storms enhanced fluxes of high-energy electrons are observed in the outer radiation belt. Here we examine relativistic (>2 MeV) electron fluxes measured by GOES at the synchronous orbit and on-ground observations of two types of ULF pulsations during 30 magnetic storms occurred during 1996–2000. To characterize the effectiveness of the chosen magnetic storms in producing relativistic electron fluxes, following to (Reeves, G.D., McAdams, K.L., Friedel, R.H.W., O’Brien, T.R. Acceleration and loss of relativistic electrons during geomagnetic storms. Geophys. Res. Lett. 30, doi:10.1029/2002GL016513, 2003), we calculate a ratio of the maximum daily-averaged electron flux measured during the recovery phase, to the mean pre-storm electron flux. A storm is considered an effective one if its ratio exceeds 2. We compare behavior of Pi1 and Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations during effective and non-effective storms and find a tendency for a storm efficiency to be higher when the mid-latitude Pi1 pulsations are observed for a long time during the magnetic storm main phase. We note also that the prolonged powerful Pc5 pulsation activity during the recovery phase of a magnetic storm is the necessary condition for the storm effectiveness. To interpret the found dependences, we suggest that there are two prerequisites for generating relativistic electron populations during a storm: (1) the availability of seed electrons in the magnetosphere, and Pi1 emissions are indicators of the mid-energy electron interaction with the ionosphere and (2) acceleration of the seed electrons to MeV energies, and interaction of electrons with the MHD wave activity in the Pc5 range is one of the most probable mechanisms proposed in the literature for this purpose.     

椭圆轨道卫星编队燃料最优机动实时算法

文章针对椭圆轨道编队卫星最优燃料机动的实时计算问题进行研究。利用LGL伪谱法对问题进行快速求解。由于最优燃料控制为非连续控制,如直接采用伪谱法则只有当离散点数目很大时,才能实现较高精度的编队机动控制,而这会影响算法的实时计算效率。为了克服这方面的不足,文章提出了一种时间尺度变换策略,并结合模型预测的滚动优化方法,设计了一种编队实时机动控制算法。该算法在兼顾解的全局最优性的同时改善了解的局部精确性,最后通过数值仿真验证了所设计算法的有效性。     

一种无角速度信息的挠性航天器姿态控制方法

研究了一种无角速度信息挠性航天器的姿态稳定控制方法。针对挠性航天器陀螺故障或无陀螺配置中无角速度测量信息情形下的姿态控制问题,基于姿态四元数设计了姿态定点调节的无速率控制器,利用Lyapunov方法和LaSalle不变原理证明了闭环系统的全局渐近稳定性,并对控制方案进行了改进。仿真验证了控制律的有效性。     

基于二次方程组的邻近圆轨道四冲量最优交会

研究了一种基于二次方程组的邻近圆轨道四冲量最优交会的求解方法．给出邻近圆轨道交会的无量纲化动力学方程及相应的基向量方程,介绍由Carter提出的一种基于二次方程组的四冲量最优交会的求解方法,在提出邻近圆轨道最优冲量交会的原始解、相反解、对偶解、对偶相反解概念的基础上,分析基于二次方程组的四冲量最优交会的求解方法存在的问题,并给出修正方法．仿真结果表明,该方法是对Carter提出的基于二次方程组的四冲量最优交会求解方法的有效补充．     

利用GPS接收机的精确轨道确定技术

利用GPS接收机的导航信息精确确定接收机载体航天器的轨道根数.给出了为确保10 m量级的定轨精度所必需的精确坐标系变换与时间系统变换公式,提出了采用GPS接收机的导航信息与摄动运动方程式外推的组合导航方法,以保证接收机天线被短期遮挡时导航仍能正常运行.     

基于刃边法的航天光学遥感器在轨MTF测试研究

调制传递函数（MTF,Modulation Transfer Function）在轨测试是监测航天光学遥感器在轨运行性能的重要指标。准确把握遥感成像系统MTF在运行过程中的变化,关系到遥感数据资源的合理及有效利用。文章对刃边法测试MTF的原理及仿真算法进行了阐述,重点对刃边倾角、辐射定标和刃边图像的对比度对MTF测试精度的影响进行了仿真分析。     

飞行器轨道的特征点

针对飞行器轨道的数据处理问题,首次提出了轨道的特征点概念。轨道的特征点是飞行器动力突变的真实反映,轨道特征点的客观存在,要求我们在测量数据处理中,在多项式表示轨道时应以特征点为端点,或以特征点为轨道样条表示的当然节点,否则将带来轨道的表示误差,在残差数据中波动现象。介绍了提取轨道特征点的方法,仿真与实际测量数据的处理结果表明：特征点提取方法准确度较镐;特征点为当然节点的样条函数表示轨道能消除节点选     

用高精度配点法进行弹道优化

讨论了一种基于高阶Ｇａｕｓｓ－ＬｏｂａｔｏＱｕａｄｒａｔｕｒｅ定律的最优控制直接解法,使用这种方法求解了不可变推力和可变推力两种情况下空间变轨的最优化过程,给出算例,进行了讨论