基于X射线脉冲星的深空探测自主导航方法

自主导航是实现深空探测任务的关键技术,基于X射线脉冲星的导航方法可靠、稳定、精度高,不受近地空间的限制,为深空自主导航提供了全新的思路。文章分析了X射线脉冲星导航的基本原理,提出了脉冲到达时间预报算法和整周模糊度求解方法,基于最小二乘理论研究了位置估计算法。仿真算例表明该方法在脉冲星方位误差为0.001弧秒、脉冲到达时间测量误差为1μs的情况下,140d飞行时间中定位精度优于10km,且对初始误差不敏感,可以满足深空探测的导航需要。     

Search for organic molecules at the Mars surface: The “Martian Organic Material Irradiation and Evolution” (MOMIE) project

The life on Mars remains an open question because of the lack of proof of its past emergence and its current presence. The only indices of a potential Martian life were provided by the Viking Landers, and the study of the Martian meteorite ALH84001 discovered in the Antarctic. In the two case, the results of experiments could be explained either by the presence of life forms or by abiotic processes. The recent data of Mars Express orbiter and Mars Exploration Rovers show different proofs of a past environment favourable for life. Among the targets we seek, the organic molecules are primordial because they are necessary to the origin of life. A key question is to know if they are present, in which concentration and under which form. Within the framework of a search for organic, we are developing an experimental setup simulating as close as possible the environmental conditions of Mars surface in order to determine how organic species evolve. We present here the first step of the development of this experiment which focuses on the study of the impact of the solar UV radiations reaching the Mars surface on glycine. First results show that glycine does not resist if directly exposed to UV radiations.     

深空光学敏感器“拖尾图像”的处理方法研究

主要研究深空探测巡航段的光学敏感器拖尾图像的处理方法,通过导航信息预测得到系列特征运动轨迹点,对预测点进行修正并进行特征模板的提取和归一化处理,然后进行交互相关,给出多个轨迹线上匹配的对应点位置,计算偏移量,对轨迹点进行修正,更新模板进行相关,再次迭代,直到结果收敛．最后对多个点的位置进行加权平均,得到准确的相对角矩信息,用于星图识别提供小行星指向信息,文中给出了图像处理的仿真结果．     

面向浅层月壤的小型取样器研究

面向浅层月壤取样,设计一种重量轻、功耗低、收缩体积小的卷簧式可伸缩月壤取样器,分别给出取样臂的静力学和动力学模型,并进行有限元分析,研究取样臂几何参数对其最大推力的影响,给出最大推力的数学估计公式,研究取样臂为不同长度时取样器的振动模态,得出取样器谐振频率与取样臂长度呈幂函数关系。实验证明取样器能够在模拟月壤、水泥及黄沙样品表面以下10cm内定量取样,取样器在有、无振动时取样的比较实验表明振动法能够有效提高钻进效率、钻进深度和样品抛丢效率。理论分析、仿真及实验验证了取样器设计的合理性及振动法取样的有效性。     

全太阳系深空探测轨迹全局优化(英文)

针对太阳系中全部的248997颗行星的探测问题,给出了一种关于探测飞行器的深空探测全局四维轨迹(t,x,y,z)优化方案,即飞行器从地球发射进入太阳系并采用小推力控制,优化方案的性能指标为飞行器与太阳系中全部行星中相遇和交会的星的数量最多并且燃料消耗最少。本方案给出了四维飞行轨迹进行全局优化的一套算法,该算法由搜索算法和四维轨迹优化算法组成。此搜索算法从太阳系的248997颗行星中寻找获得尽可能多的经过近地球3维走廊内的行星;而四维轨迹优化算法由改进的动态规划算法、基于最优控制理论的共轭梯度算法和静态参数优化算法组成,其中静态参数优化算法用于搜索最优发射时间窗口。基于该组合算法,通过长时间的大规模的飞行数字仿真,最终计算出探测器的四维最优飞行轨迹,在一年内路过了太阳系中全部行星中的12颗行星。     

基于激光测距的月球探测重载六足机器人自主避障控制

月面未知环境下具有高承载力的六足移动机器人是月球探测中不可或缺的装备。六足机器人虽然可以借助足地接触信息和姿态信息在不平坦路面行走,在遇到较小障碍物时可以做出适当的反射动作,但当遇到无法逾越的障碍物时,基于视觉信息实现腿式机器人避障运动是非常重要的。针对电驱动六边形对称分布的六足机器人,基于激光测距仪的信息实现了模拟月壤地面的地形建模,提出基于虚拟机体模型的自主避障策略,获得最优可行方向和运动最短距离,规划了实时避障的机体和足端运动轨迹。实验结果表明,六足机器人可以实时、准确地跟踪避障策略得到实时偏航角度,实现了机器人在未知环境下的自主避障运动,为月球探测重载足式机器人研究奠定了基础。     

Thermospheric X-Ray and Euv Heating by the Young Sun on Early Venus and Mars

In view of the low H₂O abundance in the present Venusian and Martian atmospheres several observations by spacecraft and studies suggest that both planets should have lost most of their water over the early active period of the young Sun. During the first Gyr after the Sun arrived at the Zero- Age-Main-Sequence high X-ray and EUV fluxes between 10 and 100 times that of the present Sun were responsible for much higher temperatures in the thermosphere-exosphere environments on both planets. By applying a diffusive-gravitational equilibrium and thermal balance model for investigating radiation impact on the early thermospheres by photodissociation and ionization processes, due to exothermic chemical reactions and cooling by CO₂ IR emission in the 15μm band we found expanded thermospheres with exobase levels between about 200 km (present) and 2000 km (4.5 Gyr ago). The higher temperatures in the upper atmospheres of both planets could reach “blow-off” conditions for H atoms even at high CO₂ mixing ratios of 96%. Lower CO₂/N₂ mixing ratio or higher contents of H2O vapor in the early atmospheres could have had a dramatic impact from the loss of atmosphere and water on both planets. The duration of this phase of high thermal loss rates essentially depended on the mixing ratios of CO₂, N₂, and H₂O in the early atmospheres and could have lasted between about 150 and several hundred Myr.     

Locations of Atmospheric Photoelectron Energy Peaks Within the Mars Environment

By identifying peaks in the photoelectron spectrum produced by photoionization of CO₂ in the Martian atmosphere, we have conducted a pilot study to determine the locations of these photoelectrons in the space around Mars. The significant result of this study is that these photoelectrons populate a region around Mars bounded externally by the magnetic pileup boundary, and internally by the lowest altitude of our measurements (∼250 km) on the dayside and by a cylinder of approximately the planetary radius on the nightside. It is particularly noteworthy that the photoelectrons on the nightside are observed from the terminator plane tailward to a distance of ∼3 R _M, the Mars Express apoapsis. The presence of the atmospherically generated photoelectrons on the nightside of Mars may be explained by direct magnetic field line connection between the nightside observation locations and the Martian dayside ionosphere. Thus the characteristic photoelectron peaks may be used as tracers of magnetic field lines for the study of the magnetic field configuration and particle transport in the Martian environment.     

The MAGO experiment for dust environment monitoring on the Martian surface

Among the main directions identified for future Martian exploration, the study of the properties of dust dispersed in the atmosphere, its cycle and the impact on climate are considered of primary relevance. Dust storms, dust devils and the dust “cycle” have been identified and studied by past remote and in situ experiments, but little quantitative information is available on these processes, so far. The airborne dust contributes to the determination of the dynamic and thermodynamic evolution of the atmosphere, including the large-scale circulation processes and its impact on the climate of Mars. Moreover, aeolian erosion, redistribution of dust on the surface and weathering processes are mostly known only qualitatively. In order to improve our knowledge of the airborne dust evolution and other atmospheric processes, it is mandatory to measure the amount, mass-size distribution and dynamical properties of solid particles in the Martian atmosphere as a function of time. In this context, there is clearly a need for the implementation of experiments dedicated to study directly atmospheric dust. The Martian atmospheric grain observer (MAGO) experiment is aimed at providing direct quantitative measurements of mass and size distributions of dust particles, a goal that has never been fully achieved so far. The instrument design combines three types of sensors to monitor in situ the dust mass flux (micro balance system, MBS) and single grain properties (grain detection system, GDS + impact sensor, IS). Technical solutions and science capabilities are discussed in this paper.     

深空探测发展与未来关键技术

深空探测指人.类对月球及以远的天体或空间环境开展的探测活动,作为人类航天活动的重要方向和空间科学与技术创新的重要途径,是当前和未来航天领域的发展重点之一。在简要总结深空探测50多年的发展历程与未来发展趋势的基础上,重点分析了深空探测发展的5个特点,提出了未来深空探测应重点研究和突破的6类关键技术。