On the practical exploitation of perturbative effects in low Earth orbit for space debris mitigation

This paper presents the results of a numerical evaluation of the natural lifetime reduction in low Earth orbit, due to dynamical perturbations. The study considers two values for the area-to-mass ratio, a nominal ratio which resembles a typical value of spacecraft in orbit today, and an enhanced ratio which covers the surface augmentation. The results were obtained with two orbit propagators, one of a semi-analytical nature and the second one using non-averaged equations of motion. The simulations for both propagators were set up similarly to allow comparison. They both use the solar radiation pressure and the secular terms of the geopotential ($J_2,J_4$ and $J_6$). The atmospheric drag was turned on and off in both propagators to alternatively study the eccentricity build up and the residual lifetime. The non-averaging case also covers a validation with the full 6?×?6 geopotential. The results confirm the findings in previous publications, that is, the possibility for de-orbiting from altitudes above the residual atmosphere if a solar sail is deployed at the end-of-life, due to the combined effect of solar radiation pressure and the oblateness of the Earth. At near polar inclinations, shadowing effects can be exploited to the same end. The results obtained with the full, non-averaging propagator revealed additional de-orbiting corridors associated with solar radiation pressure which were not found by previous work on space debris mitigation. The results of both tools are compared for specific initial conditions. For nominal values of area-to-mass ratio, instead, it is confirmed that this resonance effect is negligible.The paper then puts the findings in the perspective of the current satellite catalogue. It identifies space missions which are currently close to a resonance corridor and shows the orbit evolution within the resonances with a significantly shorter residual orbital lifetime. The paper finishes with a discussion on the exploitation of these effects with regards to the long-term simulation of the space debris environment and a flux and collision probability comparison.     

Using consecutive point clouds for pose and motion estimation of tumbling non-cooperative target

This paper proposes a consecutive point clouds-based estimation scheme to resolve the state estimation problem for tumbling non-cooperative space target during the rendezvous phase without a prior knowledge about its structure. First, a consistent pose estimation algorithm is realized by maintaining a global structure of the target that is reconstructed upon the pose graph optimization. Then an extend Kalman filter on Lie group is adopted to estimate the motion and inertia parameters of the target using the pose measurements of the point clouds. Finally, a semi-physical experimental study is carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimation scheme. The result shows that the structure, motion and the inertia parameters can be estimated, and the total computation time is approximately linear with the number of point clouds.     

Medium Earth Orbit dynamical survey and its use in passive debris removal

The Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) region hosts satellites for navigation, communication, and geodetic/space environmental science, among which are the Global Navigation Satellites Systems (GNSS). Safe and efficient removal of debris from MEO is problematic due to the high cost for maneuvers needed to directly reach the Earth (reentry orbits) and the relatively crowded GNSS neighborhood (graveyard orbits). Recent studies have highlighted the complicated secular dynamics in the MEO region, but also the possibility of exploiting these dynamics, for designing removal strategies. In this paper, we present our numerical exploration of the long-term dynamics in MEO, performed with the purpose of unveiling the set of reentry and graveyard solutions that could be reached with maneuvers of reasonable $\mathrm{\Delta }V$ cost. We simulated the dynamics over 120–200?years for an extended grid of millions of fictitious MEO satellites that covered all inclinations from 0 to 90°, using non-averaged equations of motion and a suitable dynamical model that accounted for the principal geopotential terms, 3rd-body perturbations and solar radiation pressure (SRP). We found a sizeable set of usable solutions with reentry times that exceed $～40$ years, mainly around three specific inclination values: 46°, 56°, and 68°; a result compatible with our understanding of MEO secular dynamics. For $\mathrm{\Delta }V?300$ m/s (i.e., achieved if you start from a typical GNSS orbit and target a disposal orbit with $e<0.3$), reentry times from GNSS altitudes exceed $～70$ years, while low-cost ($\mathrm{\Delta }V?5–35$ m/s) graveyard orbits, stable for at lest 200?years, are found for eccentricities up to $e\approx 0.018$. This investigation was carried out in the framework of the EC-funded “ReDSHIFT” project.     

基于卫星编队的空间碎片视觉高精度导航方法

视觉方法被广泛应用于空间碎片这类和卫星之间没有任何通信的非合作目标导航。针对观测过程中视觉传感器的像差偏差引起位置不确定的问题,提出了利用卫星编队的立体视觉导航方法。首先,利用卫星编队构造了长基线的视觉传感器,通过Fisher矩阵对系统的可观测性进行了分析,验证了系统是可观的;其次,对视觉传感器进行了误差分析,通过安排最优视差角,使多颗卫星的观测信息融合达到最优;最后,应用卫星编队的视觉导航方法对空间碎片进行了导航仿真验证。结果表明,基于卫星编队的视觉导航方法可以显著减小观测误差,精度能达到01m量级,而且编队构形简单,易于工程实现。     

中间轨道实用化的进一步探讨

对于受摄二体问题,通常都是处理成一个变化椭圆轨道问题。而对于强摄动情况,椭圆变化太快,人们希望能找到另一种更接近真实运动的所谓中间轨道来代替椭圆轨道。特别针对一些环绕大行星(包括地球)或小行星运行的低轨卫星(探测器),因中心天体的扁率影响较大,给出了几类中间轨道。如Vinti型中间轨道,它可完整地包含扁率项的摄动影响。但它毕竟不能完全反映中心天体的非球形引力作用,在此基础上再去求各种剩余摄动是否简单,人们作了一些有益的探讨。本文就是在此背景下对Vinti型中间轨道的实用化作进一步的深入探讨。结果表明,对一些特殊的中心天体,中间轨道还是有一定实用价值的。     

非合作失效航天器绳系拖曳系统研究

空间碎片的不断增加给人类航天活动的开展和在轨资产的安全造成严重威胁。在已经提出的多种空间碎片主动清除方式中,绳系拖曳（tethered space tug,TST）系统因有较好的应用前景而受到广泛关注。部分失效航天器因星上器件损坏且姿态控制系统异常,始终将姿态维持在某一特定指向,针对此类具有典型的非合作特征的大型空间碎片,开展绳系拖曳动力学与控制研究。将拖船和目标均视作刚体,用牛顿法建立了TST系统的动力学模型;根据目标姿态稳定方式分为自旋稳定和三轴稳定两种情况,开展了绳系拖曳动力学分析与控制设计,并考察了系绳在失效航天器表面连接点位置对系统稳定状态的影响。仿真结果表明,拖船和失效航天器会在系绳连接下表现出抗衡特点,最终系统会稳定在不同的均衡状态附近。此研究为安全清除尚有残余姿态控制能力的失效航天器中相关拖曳动力学与控制问题提供了参考。     

Prospects of de-tumbling large space debris using a two-satellite electromagnetic formation

Capturing large space debris with complex rotational motion is extremely challenging. A de-tumbling phase before capturing may be necessary to reduce the risk of collision with debris. This paper proposes a new noncontact de-tumbling method using a two-satellite electromagnetic formation, in which two small electromagnetic satellites, each having a high-temperature superconducting coil, generate control torques to reduce the rotation rate of debris prior to making any physical contact. The electromagnetic interaction of the target-satellite system is analyzed. A relative translational dynamics of the target–satellite system and the attitude dynamics of the target are established. Simulation results show that the proposed method effectively eliminates the rotational motion of the target. It can be safely concluded that the noncontact method for de-tumbling space debris using a two-satellite electromagnetic formation is feasible and potentially applicable to on-orbit capture.     

卫星空间外热流轨道参数ψ_0,Ω_0和ω_0计算

文章给出了卫星热分析空间外热流计算中所需要的轨道参数太阳黄经、升交点赤经和近地点幅角的初值φ_0、Ω_0、ω_0 的计算公式。其精确度满足卫星热分析要求。     

自由飞行段跟踪数据的系统误差估计

连续波雷达是目前外火箭轨道测量的主要高精度设备,用数学方法估计和修正其系统误差有特别重要的意义。根据自由飞行轨道方程准确的特点,利用轨道方程建立了估计自由段系统误差的非线性模型,并给出了求解系统误差和轨道参数估计值的计算方法。运用该方法,只要一套MISTRAM系统的跟踪数据,就能给出自由飞行段常值系统误差的估计。     

空间碎片自然衰减和太阳活动

分析研究了空间碎片数随太阳辐射流量Ｆ１０．７的变化;给出预报Ｆ１０．７长期变化的计算方法和预测空间碎片数的数学模型。结果显示：①强太阳活动造成空间碎片年增长率下降;②空间碎片数与太阳活动１１年变化密切相关,相关数为０．９;③空间碎片增长率约为发射率的两倍;④若发射率保持不变,则到２０２０年,大于１０ｃｍ的碎片数将达到１４５００;⑤若小碎片的增长为大碎片增长的两倍,则到２０２０年,大于１ｃｍ的碎片数可达１２５０００。