Transforming solar system exploration: The origins of the Discovery Program, 1989–1993

The Discovery Program is a rarity in the history of NASA solar system exploration: a reform program that has survived and continued to be influential. This article examines its emergence between 1989 and 1993, largely as the result of the intervention of two people: Stamatios “Tom” Krimigis of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), and Wesley Huntress of NASA, who was Division Director of Solar System Exploration 1990–92 and the Associate Administrator for Space Science 1992–98. Krimigis drew on his leadership experience in the space physics community and his knowledge of its Explorer program to propose that it was possible to create new missions to the inner solar system for a fraction of the existing costs. He continued to push that idea for the next two years, but it took the influence of Huntress at NASA Headquarters to push it on to the agenda. Huntress explicitly decided to use APL to force change on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the planetary science community. He succeeded in moving the JPL Mars Pathfinder and APL Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission proposals forward as the opening missions for Discovery. But it took Krimigis's political skill and access to Sen. Barbara Mikulski in 1993 to get the NEAR into the NASA budget, thereby likely ensuring that Discovery would not become another one-mission program.     

Space debris and the need for space traffic control

This report summarises the presentations which took place at the ‘Space Traffic Control – Is the Space Debris Problem Solvable?’ conference hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society on the 2nd July 2013. The conference sought to promote discussion over methods to deal with the issue of space debris in particular and speakers included representatives from the European Space Agency, the United Kingdom Space Agency, practitioners and academia. Themes which emerged during the conference included the urgency of the problem of space debris, the need for short-term and long-term solutions, the necessity for the development and implementation of space debris remediation technologies to complement existing mitigation efforts and, last but not least, the wider applications of space traffic control. Regarding the sub-title of the conference, ‘is the space debris problem solvable?’, it would appear from the presentations that while there is the potential for future management of the issue through debris remediation and harmonised mitigation efforts, no comprehensive solutions exist at the time of writing.     

Portfolios of promise: A review of R&D investment techniques and how they apply to technology development in space agencies

Despite a rich legacy of impressive technological accomplishments, the government acquisition of advanced space systems is increasingly synonymous with schedule slips and cost overruns. Program reviews have suggested that investing more in centralized and strategic research and development outside particular programs will reduce technical uncertainties and improve cost and schedule outcomes. This paper suggests roles for a centralized technology office by examining the methods available in the literature for managing portfolios of research projects.     

ESA strategic planning for space exploration

The European Space Agency (ESA) is pursuing an independent strategic planning process for consolidating a destination driven (LEO, Moon, Mars) space exploration strategy. ESA's space exploration strategy is driven by the goals to maximise knowledge gain and to contribute to economic growth. International cooperation is a key pillar of ESA's strategy as it is considered both, an enabler for achieving common goals and a benefit, opening new perspective for addressing future challenges. The achievement of ESA's space exploration strategy is enabled through international partnerships. The interagency coordination process conducted within the framework of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) plays an important role in laying the foundations for future partnerships. It has achieved so far the development of a common vision for space exploration, a common plan for implementing the vision in the form of the Global Exploration Roadmap, as well as a common approach for articulating the value of global space exploration. ESA has been a strong promoter and supporter of the interagency coordination process conducted within ISECG and thanks to its unique expertise in international cooperation the Agency has contributed to its success.     

地球同步轨道区域电磁频谱监视效能分析

地球同步轨道区域电磁频谱的监视效能进行了分析和仿真。首先针对目标卫星主瓣,进行了频谱监视的目标覆盖率与监视概率分析,结果表明通过主瓣方式实现频谱监视的可行性较差;进而提出基于目标卫星副瓣进行频谱监视的方法。理论分析得到了实现同步轨道目标卫星全覆盖的轨道高度差、监视角及监视距离之间的关系;最后以实际在轨的同步轨道卫星作为目标样本库,进行目标覆盖率仿真分析,结果验证了基于目标卫星副瓣进行地球同步轨道区域电磁频谱监视是可行的。     

弱撞击对接机构捕获系统运动空间研究

以弱撞击对接机构（LIDM）捕获系统的运动空间为研究对象,提出了影响运动空间的主要因素如驱动臂长度、转动副转角、结构框内径等对运动空间的限制。在此基础上,对捕获系统运动空间及其各截面进行了分析,并详细讨论了结构框内径对运动空间的影响,对LIDM的设计和优化具有重要意义。     

重力梯度对自由漂浮空间机器人姿态扰动分析

分析重力梯度对在轨运行的自由漂浮空间机器人姿态运动影响。由Lagrange方法建立自由漂浮空间机器人受重力梯度扰动的非线性动力学模型。首先,考虑无控关节自由状态,分析重力梯度对关节运动的影响。其次,利用相平面轨迹分析重力梯度对自由漂浮系统姿态运动影响。最后,由速度偏差曲线分析重力梯度对机械臂的影响。结果表明,当作用时间接近轨道周期或更长时,重力梯度引起的关节偏差已十分显著,且这种扰动作用主要由轨道偏心率决定;关节锁定时俯仰姿态受扰运动有周期振动与翻滚两种形式,若初始角速度满足一定限值可以保证俯仰运动不发生翻滚;当机械臂长时间工作时,忽略重力梯度将产生明显的末端定位误差。     

多目标融合的冗余空间机械臂碰前轨迹优化

面向在轨对接与装配任务,提出了多目标融合的冗余度空间机械臂碰前轨迹优化方法。通过分析任务特点,阐述了空间机械臂碰前的多重任务目标。针对由空间机械臂连续轨迹跟踪、碰撞姿态控制及碰撞冲量幅值优化三个目标组成的第一类任务,通过设置任务优先级融合多目标并采用基于主任务零空间的方法实现对碰前轨迹的优化;而对由空间机械臂点到点规划、碰撞姿态控制及碰撞冲量幅值优化三个目标组成的第二类任务,通过设置任务权重将多目标融合并采用遗传算法对碰前轨迹进行优化。以典型七自由度机械臂为例开展仿真实验,验证了提出的轨迹优化方法的有效性。     

柔性绳网动力学建模与天地差异性分析

采用有限元模型研究了柔性绳网系统的动力学特性。针对空间绳网直接弹射展开方式,首先将绳网离散为若干单元,各单元处理为非线性“半阻尼弹簧”模型,然后分别计算各单元所受气动力和重力,最终建立绳网系统多柔体动力学模型。基于所建立的动力学模型分别对柔性绳网在地面和太空展开的动力学过程进行了仿真分析,研究了绳网在展开面积、空间位形和飞行距离等方面的天地差异性及其动力学机理,为未来空间绳网系统的分析设计提供理论参考。