Systems design of a hybrid sail pole-sitter

This paper presents the preliminary systems design of a pole-sitter. This is a spacecraft that hovers over an Earth pole, creating a platform for full hemispheric observation of the polar regions, as well as direct-link telecommunications. To provide the necessary thrust, a hybrid propulsion system combines a solar sail with a more mature solar electric propulsion (SEP) thruster. Previous work by the authors showed that the combination of the two allows lower propellant mass fractions, at the cost of increased system complexity. This paper compares the pure SEP spacecraft with the hybrid spacecraft in terms of the launch mass necessary to deliver a certain payload for a given mission duration. A mass budget is proposed, and the conditions investigated under which the hybrid sail saves on the initial spacecraft initial mass. It is found that the hybrid spacecraft with near- to mid-term sail technology has a lower initial mass than the SEP case if the mission duration is 7 years or more, with greater benefits for longer duration missions. The hybrid spacecraft with far-term sail technology outperforms the pure SEP case even for short missions.     

Modeling ground and space based cosmic ray observations

After entering our local astrosphere (called the heliosphere), galactic cosmic rays, as charged particles, are affected by the Sun’s turbulent magnetic field. This causes their intensities to decrease towards the inner heliosphere, a process referred to as modulation. Over the years, cosmic ray modulation has been studied extensively at Earth, utilizing both ground and space based observations. Moreover, modelling cosmic ray modulation and comparing results with observations, insight can be gained into the transport of these particles, as well as offering explanations for observed features. We review some of the most prominent cosmic ray observations made near Earth, how these observations can be modelled and what main insights are gained from this modelling approach. Furthermore, a discussion on drifts, as one of the main modulation processes, are given as well as how drift effects manifest in near Earth observations. We conclude by discussing the contemporary challenges, fuelled by observations, which are presently being investigated. A main challenge is explaining observations made during the past unusual solar minimum.     

Comparisons of several transport models in their predictions in typical space radiation environments

We have used several transport codes to calculate dose and dose equivalent values as well as the particle spectra behind a slab or inside a spherical shell shielding in typical space radiation environments. Two deterministic codes, HZETRN and UPROP, and two Monte Carlo codes, FLUKA and Geant4, are included. A soft solar particle event, a hard solar particle event, and a solar minimum galactic cosmic rays environment are considered; and the shielding material is either aluminum or polyethylene. We find that the dose values and particle spectra from HZETRN are in general rather consistent with Geant4 except for neutrons. The dose equivalent values from HZETRN and Geant4 are not far from each other, but the HZETRN values behind shielding are often lower than the Geant4 values. Results from FLUKA and Geant4 are mostly consistent for considered cases. However, results from the legacy code UPROP are often quite different from the other transport codes, partly due to its non-consideration of neutrons. Comparisons for the spherical shell geometry exhibit the same qualitative features as for the slab geometry. In addition, results from both deterministic and Monte Carlo transport codes show that the dose equivalent inside the spherical shell decreases from the center to the inner surface and this decrease is large for solar particle events; consistent with an earlier study based on deterministic radiation transport results. This study demonstrates both the consistency and inconsistency among these transport models in their typical space radiation predictions; further studies will be required to pinpoint the exact physics modules in these models that cause the differences and thus may be improved.     

Comparison of GPS TEC measurements with IRI-2007 TEC prediction over the Kenyan region during the descending phase of solar cycle 23

This paper presents an analysis of the Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from the International GNSS Service receiver (formerly IGS) at Malindi (2.9°S, 40.1°E), Kenya for the periods 2004–2006 during the declining phase of solar cycle 23. The diurnal, monthly and seasonal variations of the TEC are compared with TEC from the latest International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-2007). The GPS–TEC exhibits features such as an equatorial noon time dip, semi-annual variations, Equatorial Ionization Anomaly and day-to-day variability. The lowest GPS–TEC values are observed near the June solstice and September equinox whereas largest values are observed near the March equinox and December solstice. The mean GPS–TEC values show a minimum at 03:00 UT and a peak value at about 10:00 UT. These results are compared with the TEC derived from IRI-2007 using the NeQuick option for the topside electron density (IRI–TEC). Seasonal mean hourly averages show that IRI-2007 model TEC values are too high for all the seasons. The high prediction primarily occur during daytime hours till around midnight hours local time for all the seasons, with the highest percentage deviation in TEC of more 90% seen in September equinox and lowest percentage deviation in TEC of less than 20% seen in March equinox. Unlike the GPS–TEC, the IRI–TEC does not respond to geomagnetic storms and does overestimate TEC during the recovery phase of the storm. While the modeled and observed data do correlate so well, we note that IRI-2007 model is strongly overestimating the equatorial ion fountain effect during the descending phase of solar cycle, and this could be the reason for the very high TEC estimations.     

在月球背面进行低频射电天文观测的关键技术研究

月球具有足够大的尺寸,能够有效地遮挡来自地球的低频电磁波干扰,因此月球背面是进行低频射电天文观测的最佳场所。本文论述了利用低频射电频谱仪在月球背面进行空间低频射电天文观测的意义,给出了低频射电频谱仪工作原理、科学探测目标和系统组成。研究了低频射电频谱仪的设计,并采用低频射电频谱仪对北京中关村地区空中低频电磁波辐射频谱进行了试验探测,结果表明:低频射电频谱仪能够清晰地探测到0.1~40 MHz频带内的广播电台及授时台等发射的低频电磁波信号。     

The charge-sign dependent effect in the solar modulation of cosmic rays

The centennial anniversary of the discovery of cosmic rays was in 2012. Since this discovery considerable progress has been made on several aspects related to galactic cosmic rays in the heliosphere. It is known that they encounter a turbulent solar wind with an imbedded heliospheric magnetic field when entering the Sun’s domain. This leads to significant global and temporal changes in their intensity inside the heliosphere, a process known as the solar modulation of cosmic rays. The prediction of a charge-sign dependent effect in solar modulation in the late 1970s and the confirmatory observational discoveries can also be considered as a milestone. A short review is given of these predictions based on theoretical and numerical modelling work, the observational confirmation and related issues.     

一种三维地形特征提取和匹配方法

针对行星漫游器地形相关导航中的地形匹配问题,提出一套三维地形特征提取匹配方法。该方法通过特征邻域散布矩阵特征值检测凸起和凹陷地形,以特征间距离和方向为元素构成三维特征描述集合,并引入集合相似理论判别特征是否匹配。由于采用特征之间的相对位置关系描述特征,从而提高了稀疏三维点云条件下地形特征的显著性。仿真结果表明,对于激光雷达（LiDAR）获取的三维地形数据,所提方法在特征重复检出率和正确匹配率方面优于现有方法,能够满足行星漫游器导航对地形匹配的要求。     

敏捷卫星高刚度太阳翼的设计与验证

基于对国内外敏捷卫星带辅助支撑式太阳翼现状及存在问题的分析,开展了太阳翼的构型设计与布局优化,设计一种基于带簧铰链与自适应锁定式铰链的单臂支撑式高刚度太阳翼。利用支撑臂中部带簧铰链在弯折后形态可变的特性,解决了多连杆闭环机构收拢状态下的杆长匹配问题;利用太阳翼根部自适应锁定式铰链可自动调节锁定状态的特性,解决了展开末了过约束锁定的技术难题,实现了带辅助支撑式太阳翼根部铰链的可靠锁定功能。开展太阳翼展开静力矩裕度分析、模态分析和展开动力学分析,结果表明,太阳翼展开力矩裕度大于1,展开状态下基频大于8 Hz,展开过程顺畅无死点,展开末了冲击力不超过750 N。开展了太阳翼地面试验验证和在轨飞行验证,结果表明,该高刚度太阳翼满足敏捷卫星在轨长时间快速机动的使用要求。     

空间太阳能阵列光照的建模仿真及优化

针对空间救援飞行器在无控模式下,固定的太阳能阵列可能受到光线照射面积不足的问题,提出采用建模仿真及优化阵列布局的方法来提高任意光照角度下的受光面积。通过建立参数化驱动的空间飞行器外形几何模型、任意角度下的光线投射模型和考虑自身结构阴影遮挡的光照模型,研究空间任意光照角度下太阳能阵列接收光线照射的有效面积,并得到最低受光面积。基于建立的光照模型,采用遗传算法,对影响太阳能阵列布局的关键参数进行优化。可视化仿真结果校验了模型的有效性,优化结果显示算法收敛且获得了最优结果,满足空间无控飞行任务要求。