Cross-hemisphere comparison of mid-latitude ionospheric variability during 1996–2009: Juliusruh vs. Hobart

Analysis of a long-time series of hourly median characteristics of the ionospheric plasma at two mid-latitude locations in the Northern and Southern hemisphere, Juliusruh (54.6N; 13.4E) and Hobart (42.9S; 147.3E), reveals patterns of their synchronous and independent variability. We studied timelines of GPS vTEC, ionogram-derived F2-layer peak electron density NmF2, ionospheric equivalent slab thickness τ, and their ratios at two locations during the complete 23rd solar cycle and its following period of the extremely low solar activity in 2008–2009. This study has also involved the comparative analysis of the observed data versus the model predictions by IRI-2012. During the high solar activity in 2000–2002, seasonal variations show a complicated cross-hemisphere behavior influenced by the winter and semi-annual anomalies, with the largest noon-time values of TEC and NmF2 observed around equinoxes. Strength of the winter anomaly in NmF2 was significantly greater at Juliusruh in comparison with Hobart. The winter anomaly in GPS vTEC values was much weaker than in NmF2 for the Northern hemisphere mid-latitudes and was entirely absent at the Southern hemisphere. Cross-hemisphere analysis of the equivalent slab thickness shows its clear seasonal dependence for all levels of solar activity: the day-time maximum τ_max is observed during local summer, whereas the day-time minimum τ_min is observed during local winter. The night-time values of τ were higher compared to the day-time values during the winter and equinox seasons. Comparative model-data study shows rather good IRI performance of the day-time NmF2 for mid-latitudes of both hemispheres and rather noticeable overestimations for the mid-night NmF2 values during high solar activity. Analysis of IRI vTEC demonstrates the model limitations, related with the absence of the plasmaspheric part, and actual demand in a reliable and standard ionosphere–plasmasphere model for analysis of GPS vTEC.     

Hesperides: Solar/nuclear missions to the Sun׳s inner gravity focus

The Sun?s gravity focus at >550 AU is of interest to astrophysicists including SETI scientists, researchers seeking to image extra-solar planets and others. One method for an extra-solar probe to reach the Sun?s inner gravity focus within a human working lifetime (less than 50 years) is to combine solar and nuclear propulsion techniques. Here, we present a non-optimized probe concept including state-of-the-art solar-sail, radioisotope-electric propulsion and giant-planet gravity assists. Application of radioisotope propulsion allows some cross range capability during and after the powered and cruise phases of the flight to >600 AU. Such a capability is likely necessary to fully utilize the solar gravitational lens effect for SETI and astrophysical observations.     

多旋转关节空间太阳能电站概念方案设计

对于国际上典型的空间太阳能电站概念方案进行了分析,在此基础上提出了一种新的概念方案--多旋转关节空间太阳能电站,并给出总体构型和主要分系统初步方案设计结果。该方案采用多个相互独立的太阳电池子阵代替了传统的整体式太阳电池阵,以多个中等功率的导电旋转关节替代传统的极高功率的旋转关节,不仅解决了传统空间太阳能电站方案中的极大功率导电旋转关节技术难题,还可以避免导电关节的单点失效问题,模块化的设计也使得系统的组装和构建更加可行。     

大型航天器再入陨落时太阳翼气动力/热模拟分析

采用直接模拟蒙特卡洛（DSMC）方法对大型航天器离轨再入陨落过程中,其太阳翼帆板在稀薄过渡流域的气动力、气动热特性进行数值模拟,计算中采用流场直角与表面三角形非结构混合网格以及网格自适应技术处理这类复杂外形的流动模拟,考虑内能激发和化学反应来准确模拟气动加热,并基于MPI环境的并行算法解决计算量庞大的难题。通过计算分析太阳翼水平和垂直放置时在不同高度、不同攻角下的复杂流动特征,表明在90km以上高空,太阳翼垂直放置时,飞行器头部脱体激波与帆板脱体激波会产生更强烈、更复杂的激波/激波和激波/边界层的干扰,在气动力和气动热的双重作用下要比水平放置时的太阳翼更快地被撕裂并脱离目标航天器。     

临近空间长航时太阳能飞行器动导数特性及机理

为解决现有计算方法无法用于动导数机理分析的问题,通过理论推导得到了一组只需要较少总体气动参数的动导数计算公式。根据此计算公式进行的机理分析表明,临近空间长航时太阳能飞行器的大展弦比气动布局、高巡航升力系数对横航向动导数有直接影响。推导的动导数计算公式可用作此类飞行器动导数计算和分析的简便工具。     

极月轨道上太阳电池阵外热流规律分析

准确的月球表面温度分布模型对于开展月球探测具有重要意义. 目前有关月球表面温 度模型还缺乏对完整月球表面温度分布的计算方法研究. 本文建立了一套计算完整月球表面温度的方法, 其中月球阳面温度采用Racca模型直接计算得到; 对于月球阴面, 将其沿纬度方向划分为若干区域, 每个区域的地表土壤采用一维非稳态热传导模型, 根据嫦娥三号着陆器太阳电池阵在轨环月阶段的温度数据, 修正得到月球表面土壤导热系数、密度及比热容, 通过数值计算求解一维非稳态热传导方程, 得出任意时刻月球阴面表面温度随时间的变化. 嫦娥三号着陆器太阳电池阵环月阶段热分析结果与在轨温度符合较好, 初步说明本文建立的完整月球表面温度计算方法正确可行. 基于本文方法计算得到整个月球表面温度分布, 进一步研究了极月轨道太阳电池阵外热流变化规律.      

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.     

一种基于太阳自转轴观测角的新型天文导航方法

针对太阳探测器,提出一种基于太阳自转轴观测角的新型天文导航方法,通过光谱仪测量太阳圆盘面边缘上两组连线互相垂直点的速度差值,建立速度差值与太阳自转轴观测角的数学模型,并以该观测角作为量测量来提供探测器的位置信息。仿真结果表明:相较于传统以太阳视方向作为量测量的导航方法,以太阳自转轴观测角作为量测量的新型天文导航方法的导航精度提高了17.4%。此外,还分析了测速敏感器精度、滤波周期和轨道倾角对导航性能的影响,为深空探测自主导航提供了新的理论与方法。     

An analytical model of prominence dynamics

Solar prominences are magnetic structures incarcerating cool and dense gas in an otherwise hot solar corona. Prominences can be categorized as quiescent and active. Their origin and the presence of cool gas ($～{10}^4$?K) within the hot ($～{10}^6\text{K}$) solar corona remains poorly understood. The structure and dynamics of solar prominences was investigated in a large number of observational and theoretical (both analytical and numerical) studies. In this paper, an analytic model of quiescent solar prominence is developed and used to demonstrate that the prominence velocity increases exponentially, which means that some gas falls downward towards the solar surface, and that Alfvén waves are naturally present in the solar prominences. These theoretical predictions are consistent with the current observational data of solar quiescent prominences.     

东方红三号卫星的机械太阳阵和通信天线

介绍了中德合作研制、生产东方红三号机械太阳阵和通信天线的有关技术和项目的进展情况。机械太阳阵的设计是在经过自行验证的技术基础上进行的,有了这些经验,加上计算机设计优化,能够满足苛刻的质量和刚度要求。通信天线的主要特点是收发共用和全极化复用。它是通过两套7喇叭馈源阵照射极化敏感反射器实现的。天线电性能和结构性能均满足技术要求。