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.     

Study of the radiation fields in LEO with the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM)

We present the analysis of data taken by the Space Application of Timepix Radiation Monitor (SATRAM). It is centred on a Timepix detector (300?$\mathrm{\mu }$m thick silicon sensor, pixel pitch 55?$\mathrm{\mu }$m, 256?×?256 pixels). It was flown on Proba-V, an Earth observing satellite of the European Space Agency (ESA) from an altitude of 820?km on a sun-synchronous orbit, launched on May 7, 2013. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to determine the detector response to electrons (0.5–7?MeV) and protons (10–400?MeV) in an omnidirectional field taking into account the shielding of the detector housing and the satellite. With the help of the simulation, a strategy was developed to separate electrons, protons and ions in the data. The measured dose rate and stopping power distribution are presented as well as SATRAM’s capability to measure some of the stronger events in Earth’s magnetosphere. The stopping power, the cluster height and the shape of the particle tracks in the sensor were used to separate electrons, protons and ions. The results are presented as well. Finally, the pitch angles for a short period of time were extracted from the data and corrected with the angular response determined by the simulation.     

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.     

A longitudinal & longitudinal-torsional vibration actuator for rotary-percussive ultrasonic planetary drills

Ultrasonic drills, which can sample rocks using a lower weight on bit and lower power, are more suitable for sampling on a minor planet than conventional drills. To remove cutting chips and improve drilling efficiency, rotary-percussive ultrasonic drills (RPUD) drive drill tools for rotary-percussive motion. This paper proposes a novel longitudinal & longitudinal-torsional (L-LT) actuator, which is composed of a stepped horn, a piezoelectric stack, and a longitudinal-torsional (LT) coupler, for the RPUD. The horn magnifies the longitudinal vibration on the front surface of the piezoelectric stack, which is clamped between the horn and the LT coupler, and impacts the drill tool. The LT coupler transforms the longitudinal vibration on the back surface into longitudinal-torsional vibration, which generates elliptical movements that drive the rotor to rotate. Then, the rotor drives the drill tool to rotate. A method of adjusting the displacement amplitudes of the horn and the driving tips is discussed. The prototype achieved a maximum speed and torque of 193?r/min and 0.065?N$·$m, respectively. The maximum drilling speed through sandstone under a weight on bit of 5?N was 13?mm/min.     

空间核动力源的安全性研究进展

同位素热/电源以及空间核反应堆在深空探测任务中有重要应用。通过调研其技术特点以及国际上针对核能空间应用安全性的相关规范,研究了其空间安全性规范的法律法规。以ALRH(Apollo Lunar Radiosotope Heater,阿波罗月球任务同位素热源)、GPHS(General Purpose Heater Source,通用型热源)、LWRHU(Lighted Weighted Radiosotope Heater Unit,轻量放射性同位素热源)、MMRTG(Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator,多任务型放射性同位素电源)等同位素热/电源及俄罗斯热离子空间反应堆电源(TOPAZ-II型号)为例,结合美俄开展的同位素热/电源的系列安全性试验,重点关注了不同型号的试验及分析技术细节,并分析了同位素热/电源的空间应用安全评价方法,可为开展相关研发提供技术参考。     

美国深空网的无线电跟踪测量新技术

本文介绍了美国航空航天局所属深空网(DSN)在无线电跟踪测量方面已采用的新技术的应用情况,探讨了这些技术对于我国发展深空导航技术的实际意义。     

世界时与地球时转换经验公式的改进与比较

针对世界时与地球时的差值ΔT问题,提出了新的拟合多项式。基于美国海军天文台发布的1657年~2020年间的ΔT数据,以及IERS(International Earth Rotation and reference systems Service,国际地球自转和参考系服务组织)公报中公布的LS(Leap Seconds,跳秒)数据,在美国NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration,国家航空航天局)经验公式的基础上进行了改进,分别用3次、4次、5次、6次多项式进行拟合。然后,基于最小二乘法得到一组多项式经验公式,可适用于公元纪年、儒略日、简约儒略日以及从J2000.0起算的儒略世纪数等4种时间格式。通过精度计算表明,该组经验公式计算结果与USNO(United States Navy Observatory,美国海军天文台)基准序列的残差不超过±1.29s,与IERS基准序列的残差不超过±0.16s,整体优于NASA经验公式的计算精度。同时还给出了得到更高精度经验公式的拟合方法。     

基于Traits泛化技术的SLE API编译码处理

在对CCSDS(Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems,空间数据咨询委员会)制定的SLE(Space Link Extension,空间链路扩展)的标准API(Application Program Interface,应用程序接口)设计开发过程中,需要对各种不同服务类型的操作进行ASN.1(Abstract Syntax Notation One,抽象语法标记1)编码译码,使用一般方法处理会存在大量的冗余且可扩展性不强。因此,设计了基于Traits技术的SLE API编码译码泛化模型,该模型从服务、协议数据单元、操作等3个层级,以及编码、译码这2个方向分别定义模板,并进行特化、偏特化以及萃取,从而实现了对编码、译码过程的泛化,并通过实例描述了应用过程。该模型有效提高了SLE API设计的灵活性、层次性、通用性,以及SLE服务的可拓展性。     

空间推力器用铠装热控器件技术研究发展概况（空间推进专刊）

空间推力器是调整宇航飞行器运行轨道和姿态的推进系统中的关键部件,为保证推力器启动温度和可靠运行,必须采用专门的热控设施。本文介绍了各类空间推力器的不同热控需求,重点阐述了目前空间推力器用铠装热控器件技术以及种类、性能和应用,总结了铠装热控器件的考核试验及判定指标,并提出了铠装热控器件技术的发展方向。     

空间推力器用铠装热控器件技术研究发展述评

空间推力器是调整航天器运行轨道和姿态的推进系统中的关键部件,为保证推力器启动温度和可靠运行,必须采用专门的热控设施。本文介绍了各类空间推力器的不同热控需求,重点阐述了目前空间推力器用铠装热控器件关键技术以及种类、性能和应用,总结了铠装热控器件的考核试验及判定指标,并提出了铠装热控器件技术的发展方向。