Behavior of tethered debris with flexible appendages

Active exploration of the space leads to growth of a near-Earth space pollution. The frequency of the registered collisions of space debris with functional satellites highly increased during last 10 years. As a rule a large space debris can be observed from the Earth and catalogued, then it is possible to avoid collision with the active spacecraft. However every large debris is a potential source of a numerous small debris particles. To reduce debris population in the near Earth space the large debris should be removed from working orbits. The active debris removal technique is considered that intend to use a tethered orbital transfer vehicle, or a space tug attached by a tether to the space debris. This paper focuses on the dynamics of the space debris with flexible appendages. Mathematical model of the system is derived using the Lagrange formalism. Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the mutual influence of the oscillations of flexible appendages and the oscillations of a tether. It is shown that flexible appendages can have a significant influence on the attitude motion of the space debris and the safety of the transportation process.     

United Nations Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI)

The Human Space Technology Initiative was launched in 2010 within the framework of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications implemented by the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the United Nations. It aims to involve more countries in activities related to human spaceflight and space exploration and to increase the benefits from the outcome of such activities through international cooperation, to make space exploration a truly international effort.     

Challenges and perspectives of transport cargo vehicles utilization for performing research in free flight

Russian Progress transport cargo vehicles have successfully been used in different space station programs since 1978. At present time, they play an important role in the International Space Station (ISS) project. Main tasks performed by the transport cargo vehicle (TCV) in the station program are the following: refueling of the station, delivery of consumables and equipment, waste removal, station attitude control and orbit correction maneuver execution.     

An ethical duty: Let astronautical development unfold – to make the people more secure

In examining alternative space-development models, one observes that Heinlein postulated the first Moon flight as the outcome of the focused action of an individual – building upon an ample commercial aerospace transportation infrastructure. The same technological basis and entrepreneurial drive would then sustain a fast human and economic expansion on three new planets. Instead, historically, humans reached the Moon thanks to a “Faustian bargain” between astronautical developers and governments. This approach brought the early Apollo triumphs, but it also created the presumption of this method as the sole one for enabling space development. Eventually, the application of this paradigm caused the decline of the astronautical endeavor. Thus, just as conventional methods became unable to sustain the astronautical endeavor, space development appeared as vital, e.g., to satisfy the people?s basic needs (metabolic resources, energy, materials, and space), as shown elsewhere. Such an endeavor must grow from actions generating new wealth through commercial activities to become self-supporting. Acquisition and distribution of multiform space resources call, however, for a sound ethical environment, as predatory governments can easily forfeit those resources.     

Analytical-HZETRN model for rapid assessment of active magnetic radiation shielding

The use of active radiation shielding designs has the potential to reduce the radiation exposure received by astronauts on deep-space missions at a significantly lower mass penalty than designs utilizing only passive shielding. Unfortunately, the determination of the radiation exposure inside these shielded environments often involves lengthy and computationally intensive Monte Carlo analysis. In order to evaluate the large trade space of design parameters associated with a magnetic radiation shield design, an analytical model was developed for the determination of flux inside a solenoid magnetic field due to the Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) radiation environment. This analytical model was then coupled with NASA’s radiation transport code, HZETRN, to account for the effects of passive/structural shielding mass. The resulting model can rapidly obtain results for a given configuration and can therefore be used to analyze an entire trade space of potential variables in less time than is required for even a single Monte Carlo run. Analyzing this trade space for a solenoid magnetic shield design indicates that active shield bending powers greater than ∼15 Tm and passive/structural shielding thicknesses greater than 40 g/cm² have a limited impact on reducing dose equivalent values. Also, it is shown that higher magnetic field strengths are more effective than thicker magnetic fields at reducing dose equivalent.     

液态水相变发散冷却的实验

以液态水为冷却介质,采用高温合金粉末烧结多孔材料制造平板实验件,实验研究了具有液态水相变的发散冷却特性.用远红外热像系统记录实验平板热端表面温度分布,通过热电偶及压力传感器监控冷却腔内温度和压力变化,从而分析液态水的相变过程.实验表明:随着液态水注入率的增大,平均冷却效率不断提高;当液态水在暴露于高温主流的平板表面发生气液相变时,平均冷却效率趋于稳定且不再大幅上升;主流温度与液态水注入率决定了液态水的相变位置,并对冷却腔内压力变化产生影响.      

压电自适应桁架结构主动控制模型及实验

为提高结构对外部环境的抗干扰能力,构造了压电柔性自适应桁架结构,并对其主动控制进行了研究.由传感器、作动器与柔性梁组成压电自适应桁架结构.基于自适应结构的机电耦合理论,在测量位移的情况下,采用改进的二次积分力反馈控制方法研究了空间压电柔性自适应桁架结构的振动主动控制问题.建立了压电柔性自适应桁架结构主动控制实验系统,并对这类自适应结构进行了实时计算机振动主动控制实验研究.实验研究表明柔性自适应桁架结构能够改善结构的动力学特性,对外界的干扰具有良好的自适应性.     

空间光学望远镜在轨建造中的结构机构技术

围绕空间光学望远镜在轨建造中的结构机构技术进行分析,重点包括结构机构相关的关键技术基本概念和技术特点,分别对大型望远镜空间结构拓扑构型优化及模块技术、光机结构机构的高精度展开调整及锁合技术、典型光机元件的在轨增材制造技术、机器人辅助自主精密装配及控制技术进行了技术内涵及先进技术途径分析.最后展望了在轨建造中结构机构技术...     

基于声发射的单层铝板高速撞击损伤类型识别

针对基于声发射技术的在轨航天器遭受空间碎片撞击损伤的评估问题,采用AUTODYN软件进行了弹丸超高速正撞击铝板所产生声发射波动信号的数值模拟,给出了二维模拟结果;对所得到的声发射信号进行小波重构,得到低频和高频部分的信号。通过研究低频和高频信号的峰值变化,发现第一和第二峰值幅度与撞击速度的变化具有一定的规律性,通过低频第二峰值幅度与第一峰值幅度比值将高速撞击损伤模式分为成坑、锥形穿孔和圆柱形穿孔三种类型。
     

长期贮存固体火箭发动机安全性评估

为评估长期贮存后固体火箭发动机安全性的变化,对贮存时间为18年的某型固体火箭发动机进行了解剖.测试并比较了经过长期贮存后发动机药柱的力学性能和各种感度,而后进行了长期贮存后推进剂和发动机试件的枪击试验,各种试验项目中均利用贮存期为4年的推进剂方坯进行对比.结果表明:长期贮存后推进剂热安全特性变化不明显,但撞击感度和摩擦感度明显增加并且在枪弹高速冲击下破碎严重,长期贮存后发动机在模拟枪击试验中表现出爆炸倾向,使用安全性大大降低.