载人航天器主动热控制系统流体回路的优化设计

载人航天器一般采用主动热控制技术为主的热控制系统,废热的排散主要通过泵驱动单相流体回路。分析了主动热控制系统的主要设计任务,如系统方案、工质的选择、回路部件的选型、系统参数的确定、控制算法等;提出了主动热控制系统方案及参数选择应满足适应性要求、安全性要求、可靠性要求以及经济性要求,指出主动热控制系统的设计是一个以系统总体质量最小为目标的约束优化问题,并讨论了优化设计的思路与实现流程。最后基于一个具体的设计案例对设计方法进行了验证。     

Toroidal magnetic fields for protecting astronauts from ionizing radiation in long duration deep space missions

Among the configurations of superconducting magnet structures proposed for protecting manned spaceships or manned deep space bases from ionizing radiation, toroidal ones are the most appealing for the efficient use of the magnetic field, being most of the incoming particle directions perpendicular to the induction lines of the field. The parameters of the toroid configuration essentially depend from the shape and volume of the habitat to be protected and the level of protection to be guaranteed. Two options are considered: (1) the magnetic system forming with the habitat a unique complex (compact toroid) to be launched as one piece; (2) the magnetic system to be launched separately from the habitat and assembled around it in space (large toroid).     

行星际空间环境对探测器可靠性影响分析

空间环境是影响航天器可靠性的重要因素。与地球轨道航天器相比,行星际探测任务可能会遭受更加恶劣的空间环境,例如极端温度环境,辐射环境,腐蚀性大气环境、宇宙尘等,再加上行星际任务寿命长,采用先进的器件和材料,空间环境对行星际探测器的可靠性构成严重的威胁,直接关系到探测目标能否实现。因此考虑空间环境对行星际探测器的影响,开展相关的预先研究无论是对于制定行星际空间探测计划,还是搭载仪器的设计都具有非常重要的意义。文章分析了极端温度、辐射环境和行星表面综合环境对探测器的影响,并对开展相关研究提出了建议。     

MESSENGER and the Chemistry of Mercury’s Surface

The instrument suite on the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft is well suited to address several of Mercury’s outstanding geochemical problems. A combination of data from the Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (GRNS) and X-Ray Spectrometer (XRS) instruments will yield the surface abundances of both volatile (K) and refractory (Al, Ca, and Th) elements, which will test the three competing hypotheses for the origin of Mercury’s high bulk metal fraction: aerodynamic drag in the early solar nebula, preferential vaporization of silicates, or giant impact. These same elements, with the addition of Mg, Si, and Fe, will put significant constraints on geochemical processes that have formed the crust and produced any later volcanism. The Neutron Spectrometer sensor on the GRNS instrument will yield estimates of the amount of H in surface materials and may ascertain if the permanently shadowed polar craters have a significant excess of H due to water ice. A comparison of the FeO content of olivine and pyroxene determined by the Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MASCS) instrument with the total Fe determined through both GRNS and XRS will permit an estimate of the amount of Fe present in other forms, including metal and sulfides.     

Studies of strong gravitational fields near super-massive black hole horizons with space missions

General relativity (GR) can be probed by several tests in the weak gravitational field limit. On the contrary, very poor information exists about GR tests in strong gravitational fields. Here, we focus on the interaction of light rays with the strong gravitational field of a massive black hole and show that relativistic images may form. Hence, we calculate the shapes of shadows (mirages) forming just near BH horizons and discuss the possibility to estimate the black hole parameters (mass, spin and charge) by future astrometric missions. In 2007, the Radioastron space telescope will be launched and it will allow to evaluate those parameters for the black hole hosted at the center of our Galaxy.     

欧洲再入大气层试验飞行器

欧洲再入大气层试验飞行器是简单的不载人座舱式飞行器。它将随“阿里安5”火箭的第二次鉴定飞行发射升空。这是欧洲载人航天计划中的重要一步,旨在试验航天器返回地面的全套回收技术、获取在再入大气层阶段的各种参数,为正式设计载人飞船提供依据。文中对这种试验飞行器的总体及试验测量技术作了简要介绍。     

Clipper返回舱气动布局优化方法研究

俄罗斯联邦空间局提出的Clipper飞船返回舱采用升力再入方式，结合了飞船和航天飞机的特点，升阻比高、机动性强、稳定性好、过载低、空间大，而且可以部分重复使用，是未来低成本天地往返运输系统可能的发展方向。采用基于牛顿理论的气动力工程方法对气动特性进行预测，建立了考虑高超声速升阻比和效用容积时的多目标气动布局优化模型，利用多目标遗传算法进行了优化计算，获得了约束条件下的Pareto最优解集。     

关于航天遥感的若干问题

文章对航天遥感的任务、航天遥感系统和遥感数据链及遥感信息链的组成、遥感数据质量和遥感解译质量的概念予以综述,对航天遥感面临的若干问题加以说明和讨论.     

Active shielding for long duration interplanetary manned missions

For long duration interplanetary manned missions the protection of astronauts from cosmic radiation is an unavoidable problem that has been considered by many space agencies. In Europe, during 2002–2004, the European Space Agency supported two research programs on this thematic: one was the constitution of a dedicated study group (on the thematic ‘Shielding from cosmic radiation for interplanetary missions: active and passive methods’) in the framework of the ‘life and physical sciences’ report, and the other an industrial study concerning the ‘radiation exposure and mission strategies for interplanetary manned missions to Moon and Mars’. Both programs concluded that, outside the protection of the magnetosphere and in the presence of the most intense and energetic solar events, the protection cannot rely solely on the mechanical structures of the spacecraft, but a temporary shelter must be provided. Because of the limited mass budget, the shelter should be based on the use of superconducting magnetic systems. For long duration missions the astronauts must be protected from the much more energetic galactic cosmic rays during the whole mission period. This requires the protection of a large habitat where they could live and work, and not the temporary protection of a small volume shelter. With passive absorbers unable to play any significant role, the use of active shielding is mandatory. The possibilities offered by superconducting magnets are discussed, and recommendations are made about the needed R&D. The technical developments that have occurred in the meanwhile and the evolving panorama of possible near future interplanetary missions, require revising the pioneering studies of the last decades and the adoption of a strategy that considers long lasting human permanence in ‘deep’ space, moreover not only for a relatively small number of dedicated astronauts but also for citizens conducting there ‘normal’ activities.     

Small satellite survey mission to the second Earth moon

This paper presents an innovative space mission devoted to the survey of the small Earth companion asteroid by means of nano platforms. Also known as the second Earth moon, Cruithne, is the target identified for the mission. Both the trajectory to reach the target and a preliminary spacecraft budget are here detailed. The idea is to exploit high efficient ion thrusters to reduce the propellant mass fraction in such a high total impulse mission (of the order of 1e6 Ns). This approach allows for a 100 kg class spacecraft with a very small Earth escape energy (5 km²/s²) to reach the destination in about 320 days. The 31% propellant mass fraction allows for a payload mass fraction of the order of 8% and this is sufficient to embark on such a small spacecraft a couple of nano-satellites deployed once at the target to carry out a complete survey of the asteroid. Two 2U Cubesats are here considered as representative payload, but also other scientific payloads or different platforms might be considered according with the specific mission needs. The small spacecraft used to transfer these to the target guarantees the manoeuvre capabilities during the interplanetary journey, the protection against radiations along the path and the telecommunication relay functions for the data transmission with Earth stations. The approach outlined in the paper offers reliable solutions to the main issues associated with a deep space nano-satellite mission thus allowing the exploitation of distant targets by means of these tiny spacecraft. The study presents an innovative general strategy for the NEO observation and Cruithne is chosen as test bench. This target, however, mainly for its relevant inclination, requires a relatively large propellant mass fraction that can be reduced if low inclination asteroids are of interest. This might increase the payload mass fraction (e.g. additional Cubesats and/or additional scientific payloads on the main bus) for the same 100 kg class mission.