Influence of Earth’s shadowing effects on space debris stability

Solar radiation pressure affects the evolution of high area-to-mass geostationary space debris. In this work, we extend the stability study of Valk et al. (2009) by considering the influence of Earth’s shadows on the short- and long-term time evolutions of space debris. To assess the orbits stability, we use the Mean Exponential Growth factor of Nearby Orbits (MEGNO), which is an efficient numerical tool to distinguish between regular and chaotic behaviors. To reliably compute long-term space debris motion, we resort to the Global Symplectic Integrator (GSI) of Libert et al. (2011) which consists in the symplectic integration of both Hamiltonian equations of motion and variational equations. We show how to efficiently compute the MEGNO indicator in a complete symplectic framework, and we also discuss the choice of a symplectic integrator, since propagators adapted to the structure of the Hamiltonian equations of motion are not necessarily suited for the associated variational equations. The performances of our method are illustrated and validated through the study of the Arnold diffusion problem. We then analyze the effects of Earth’s shadows, using the adapted conical and cylindrical Earth’s shadowing models introduced by Hubaux et al. (2012) as the smooth shadow function deriving from these models can be easily included into the variational equations. Our stability study shows that Earth’s shadows greatly affect the global behaviour of space debris orbits by increasing the size of chaotic regions around the geostationary altitude. We also emphasize the differences in the results given by conical or cylindrical Earth’s shadowing models. Finally, such results are compared with a non-symplectic integration scheme.     

Rainfall estimation over a Mediterranean region using a method based on various spectral parameters of SEVIRI-MSG

The ultimate objective of this paper is the estimation of rainfall over an area in Algeria using data from the SEVIRI radiometer (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager). To achieve this aim, we use a new Convective/Stratiform Rain Area Delineation Technique (CS-RADT). The satellite rainfall retrieval technique is based on various spectral parameters of SEVIRI that express microphysical and optical cloud properties. It uses a multispectral thresholding technique to distinguish between stratiform and convective clouds. This technique (CS-RADT) is applied to the complex situation of the Mediterranean climate of this region. The tests have been conducted during the rainy seasons of 2006/2007 and 2010/2011 where stratiform and convective precipitation is recorded. The developed scheme (CS-RADT) is calibrated by instantaneous meteorological radar data to determine thresholds, and then rain rates are assigned to each cloud type by using radar and rain gauge data. These calibration data are collocated with SEVIRI data in time and space.     

“嫦娥二号”卫星CCD立体相机的关键技术

文章介绍了中国两次绕月探测中 CCD 立体相机所采用的技术与创新,并与国际同类相机所获取的图像进行了比较;在此基础上详细介绍了“嫦娥二号”(CE-2)卫星CCD立体相机的综合创新集成技术--“单镜头两视角同轨立体成像、时间延迟积分图像传感器（TDICCD）推扫、速高比补偿”,并从工程目标与科学目标出发进行探测灵敏度及成像动态范围的需求分析;根据需求分析确定了总体技术方案,包括光、机、电的优化设计以及对月探测中首次采用TDICCD的技术困难与对策;特别讨论了速高比补偿的方案及实施途径,并进行了在轨试验验证。文章最后分别给出了虹湾地区成像分辨率为1.3m以及全月面分辨率为7m 的代表性图像,图像清晰、层次丰富,显示出中国在对月立体成像技术上取得了显著进步。     

SOCIT4 collisional-breakup test data analysis: With shape and materials characterization

In this paper we revisit the 1995 Kaman database of the SOCIT4 fragment characteristics with added analysis of a subset of the cataloged fragments from the test. This database was compiled from the last of a series of four hypervelocity impact tests conducted under a U.S. Department of Defense program in 1991–1992. This test targeted a flight-ready, U.S. Transit navigation satellite, yielding collision fragments in the size regime of sub-millimeter through tens of centimeters. Results in this database were used in the 1998 NASA Standard Breakup Model to represent characteristic length (size) and area-to-mass distributions of fragments smaller than 10 cm.     

Reducing variability in short term orbital lifetime prediction

Within the last year three major re-entries occurred. The satellites UARS, ROSAT and Phobos-Grunt entered Earth’s atmosphere with fragments reaching the surface. Due to a number of uncertainties in propagating an object’s trajectory the exact place and time of a satellite’s re-entry is hard to determine. Major influences when predicting the re-entry time are the changing precision of the available orbital data, the satellite’s ballistic coefficient, the activity of the sun which influences the Earth’s atmosphere and the underlying quality of the atmospheric model. In this paper a method is presented which can reduce the variability in short-term orbital lifetime prediction induced by fluctuating orbital data accuracies. A re-entry campaign is used as a reference for this purpose. For a window of a few weeks before the re-entry the position data of a synthetic object is disturbed considering different degrees of orbital data errors. As a result different predictions will exist for the generated position data of a given day. Using a regression algorithm on the available data an average position is obtained, which is then used for the orbital lifetime prediction. The effect of this measure is a more consistent prediction of the orbital lifetime. The paper concludes with the comparison of the generated re-entry windows in various test cases for the original and the averaged data.     

Finite Element Modelling of Failure of a Multi-Material Target due to High Velocity Space Debris Impacts

Lagrangian finite element methods have been used extensively in the past to study the non-linear transient behaviour of materials, ranging from crash tests of cars to simulating bird strikes on planes. However, as this type of space discretisation does not allow for motion of the material through the mesh when modelling extremely large deformations, the mesh becomes highly distorted. This paper describes some limitations and applicability of this type of analysis for high velocity impacts. A method for dealing with this problem by the erosion of elements is proposed, where the main driver is the definition of element failure strains. Results were compared with empirical perforation results and were found to be in good agreement. The results were then used to simulate high velocity impacts upon a multi-layered aluminium target in order to predict a ballistic limit curve. LS-DYNA3D was used as the FE solver for all simulations. Meshes were generated using Truegrid.     

Effect of Multi-wall System Composition on Survivability for Spacecraft Impacted by Orbital Debris

Long-duration spacecraft in low earth orbit such as the International Space Station (ISS) are highly susceptible to high-speed impacts by pieces of debris from past earth-orbiting missions. Among the hazards that accompany the penetration of a pressurized manned spacecraft are critical crack propagation in the module wall, crew hypoxia, and uncontrolled thrust due to air rushing out of the module wall hole. A Monte Carlo simulation tool was used to determine the effect of spacecraft wall construction on the survivability of ISS modules and crew following an orbital debris penetration. The simulation results indicate that enhanced shield wall designs (i.e., multi-wall systems with heavier inner bumpers) always lead to higher overall survivability of the station and crew due to an overwhelming decrease in likelihood of module penetration. The results of the simulations also indicate that changes in crew operations, equipment locations, and operation procedures can significantly reduce the likelihood of crew or station loss following an orbital debris penetration.     

确定高速碰撞试验中碎片特性的测试技术

文章介绍了高速碰撞试验中碎片特性的几种测试技术,软捕获技术、照相技术、间接测量技术,及其适用情况。     

空间碎片数据形式及轨道演化算法

根据建立空间碎片工程模型的需要,定义了一种描述单个空间碎片运行位置及其物理特性的数据形式。基于空间碎片运动规律给出了一种用于计算单个空间碎片运行时＂平均位置＂的演化算法。计算的演化结果与STK软件计算的标称轨道比较表明：该演化算法正确。