Learning in an immersive digital theater

The Houston Museum of Natural Science, in collaboration with Rice University has an outreach program taking portable digital theaters to schools and community sites for over five years and has conducted research on student learning in this immersive environment. By using an external independent evaluator, the effectiveness of NASA-funded Education and Public Outreach (EPO) projects can be assessed. This paper documents interactive techniques and learning strategies in full-dome digital theaters. The presentation is divided into Evaluation Strategies and Results and Interactivity Strategies and Results. All learners from grades 3–12 showed statistically significant short-term increase in knowledge of basic Earth science concepts after a single 22-min show. Improvements were more significant on items that were taught using more than one modality of instruction: hearing, seeing, discussion, and immersion. Thus immersive theater can be an effective as well as engaging teaching method for Earth and Space science concepts, particularly those that are intrinsically three-dimensional and thus most effectively taught in an immersive environment. The portable system allows taking the educational experience to rural and tribal sites where the underserved students could not afford the time or expense to travel to museums.     

载人小行星探测的总体方案设想

载人探测近地小行星的工程规模和技术难度介于载人探月和载人火星探测之间,是人类开展载人火星探测和飞向更遥远深空的跳板,对于航天技术的发展和科学问题的探索有着极其重要的意义。在调研国外载人小行星探测方案设想的基础上,结合我国航天技术现状和发展趋势,提出了一种载人小行星探测的总体方案设想,并梳理了载人小行星探测的关键技术。研究成果可以作为我国载人小行星探测任务论证和设计的有益参考。     

低轨卫星的气动特性预测与分析

针对低轨卫星高空自由分子流区的飞行环境特征,采用GOCE卫星典型弹道下的气动数据对DSMC仿真方法进行了算例验证,并就CLL模型下不同物面反射系数对GOCE卫星流场特征及气动特性的预测差异进行了对比分析,给出不同物面反射系数对卫星阻力预测的定量差异.结果表明,本文方法所得气动阻力与文献结果吻合较好,能够在此飞行区域给出合理的气动阻力;当反射系数从0.1逐渐变化至1.0时,卫星流场的驻点区域、尾部方向舵区域压力分布逐渐从带状结构向扇形结构过渡;在所研究的工况下,随着物面反射系数的增加,摩阻系数预测结果偏大,压阻系数预测结果偏小,总阻力先增加后减小,约在反射系数0.8附近达到最大.      

Polynomial networks based adaptive attitude tracking control for NSVs with input constraints and stochastic noises

This paper proposes a backstepping technique and Multi-dimensional Taylor Polynomial Networks (MTPN) based adaptive attitude tracking control strategy for Near Space Vehicles (NSVs) subjected to input constraints and stochastic input noises. Firstly, considering the control input has stochastic noises, and the attitude motion dynamical model of the NSVs is actually modeled as the Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) stochastic nonlinear system form. Furthermore, the MTPN is used to estimate the unknown system uncertainties, and an auxiliary system is designed to compensate the influence of the saturation control input. Then, by using backstepping method and the output of the auxiliary system, a MTPN-based robust adaptive attitude control approach is proposed for the NSVs with saturation input nonlinearity, stochastic input noises, and system uncertainties. Stochastic Lyapunov stability theory is utilized to analysis the stability in the sense of probability of the entire closed-loop system. Additionally, by selecting appropriate parameters, the tracking errors will converge to a small neighborhood with a tunable radius. Finally, the numerical simulation results of the NSVs attitude motion show the satisfactory flight control performance under the proposed tracking control strategy.     

一种具备星间链路的中轨对地观测星座设计

采用轨道高度为2165.6 km、回归周期为1天的太阳同步回归轨道建立了一个包含6颗卫星、具备星间链路的中轨对地观测星座。通过卫星自身的侧摆姿态机动功能,可以实现对同一目标1天之内的多次观测,以完成区域性准实时成像、灾害灾情监测等任务,极大地提高了观测的时间分辨率。在星座内部,相邻两颗卫星之间建立了5000 bit/s码速率测控和250 Mbit/s码速率数传的星间链路,能够充分利用单颗卫星在境内的可视弧段,通过地面与单颗卫星建立星地链路就可以同时完成与所有卫星的星地通信。     

小行星探测用双谱段相机设计

基于DSP+FPGA架构,采用全透式光学系统及非制冷红外探测器和CMOS探测器,设计并实现了一种轻小型双谱段相机。该相机同时具备红外和可见光成像能力,可作为小行星探测用光学敏感器的原型机,也可作为微小卫星的光学载荷。首先,建立了双谱段相机的技术指标体系;其次,论述了相机的组成和基本工作原理;再次,详细阐述了相机的光学系统和电子学设计;最后,介绍了原理样机的研制情况。     

主带小行星采样返回任务中的离子电推进应用方案

由于离子电推进的高比冲特性,采用它执行小行星探测器巡航阶段轨道机动任务时,将使探测器在同样的有效载荷下的发射重量大大减轻。针对我国规划中的主带小行星采样返回任务,调研了国外离子电推进在深空探测任务中的应用情况,在借鉴国外成功经验和任务需求分析的基础上,设计了主带小行星探测器离子电推进系统方案和应用策略,计算了在目前离子推力器寿命水平下,既定探测任务对离子电推进推力、比冲、推进剂量以及功耗需求。研究表明,目前研制的离子推力器可以满足规划中的主带小行星探测任务需求。研究成果对探测器的方案设计有参考价值。     

载人小行星探测任务总体方案研究

设计了在近地轨道组装具有分组单元结构的载人深空飞船,包括核热推进单元、燃料储箱与供给单元、主动防辐射单元、人工重力单元、深空居住舱与多任务乘员舱等,给出了各个单元的尺寸与质量参数,并对主要单元的具体组成、功能和技术特点进行了分析。在此基础上,本文以编号4660的Nereus小行星为探测目标,设计了两脉冲转移初始轨道,并进行了轨道优化,得到了发射窗口和最优转移轨道。仿真结果表明,给出的最优两脉冲转移轨道单次施加脉冲在5km/s以内,单程转移时间在160d以内,能够满足未来能量较小的载人小行星探测任务。     

临近空间高超声速飞行器RCS特性研究

首次系统地对升力体外形临近空间飞行器雷达散射截面（RCS）特性开展了研究,主要研究内容包括本体及绕流RCS特性研究,亚密湍流尾迹RCS特性研究和层流尾迹的RCS特性研究等。结果显示：等离子体绕流将降低飞行器后向RCS;亚密湍流尾迹对低频段RCS影响明显,对高频段影响不明显。另外,双站雷达对临近空间高超声速飞行器也会有较好的探测效果。     

地磁场中卫星不侧置态下磁矩测试方法

对地磁场中卫星不倒置状态下分离卫星Z分量磁矩的测试及数据处理方法进行了研究。利用地球磁场方向特征、卫星剩磁矩与感磁矩在不同测量状态和测量过程中的变化,确定卫星Z分量磁矩含地磁垂直向感磁影响与不含地磁垂直向感磁影响的比例关系,基于积累的不同卫星水平和垂直向的磁测试数据,用近场法计算,获得了卫星Z分量的感磁系数。试验表明:用该法测得的Z分量磁矩测量相对误差不大于30%,工程上有较高的实用价值。