Improved orbit predictions using two-line elements

The density of orbital space debris constitutes an increasing environmental challenge. There are two ways to alleviate the problem: debris mitigation and debris removal. This paper addresses collision avoidance, a key aspect of debris mitigation. We describe a method that contributes to achieving a requisite increase in orbit prediction accuracy for objects in the publicly available two-line element (TLE) catalog. Batch least-squares differential correction is applied to the TLEs. Using a high-precision numerical propagator, we fit an orbit to state vectors derived from successive TLEs. We then propagate the fitted orbit further forward in time. These predictions are validated against precision ephemeris data derived from the international laser ranging service (ILRS) for several satellites, including objects in the congested sun-synchronous orbital region. The method leads to a predicted range error that increases at a typical rate of 100 m per day, approximately a 10-fold improvement over individual TLE’s propagated with their associated analytic propagator (SGP4). Corresponding improvements for debris trajectories could potentially provide conjunction analysis sufficiently accurate for an operationally viable collision avoidance system based on TLEs only.     

Charged particles on the Earth–Jupiter–Europa spacecraft trajectory

Charged particle fluxes on the trajectory of future Russian space research mission to Jupiter and its satellite Europa are investigated. The existing experimental data and models of Jupiter’s main magnetic field and radiation belts are summarized. Preliminary results of computations of energetic particle fluxes and radiation doses for each stage of the flight are given. Special attention is paid to estimation of radiation conditions in Europa’s orbit and on its surface; influence of the satellite on spatial distribution of the fluxes of charged particles of various energies is studied.     

关于航天遥感的若干问题

文章对航天遥感的任务、航天遥感系统和遥感数据链及遥感信息链的组成、遥感数据质量和遥感解译质量的概念予以综述,对航天遥感面临的若干问题加以说明和讨论.     

History of UK contribution to astronautics: Politics and government

In all developed countries, once it emerged from the amateur era, Space (and especially rocketry) moved on the public agenda because of its potential significance for both the civil and military policies of governments (coupled with its appetite for new money). In the UK the policy treatment of Space broadly paralleled that in other countries until the post-Empire trauma, the burn-out of the White-Hot Technological revolution of Harold Wilson, and the financial crises of the 1970s exhausted the public appetite for large scale publicly funded projects in high technology. The culmination for Space of these pressures came in 1986–1987 when the UK rejected the emerging international consensus and, almost alone, stayed outside the manned space commitments which developed into the International Space Station. In this paper, Colin Hicks will review the UK political developments which led up to the 1986–1987 decision and how the politics and organisation of UK space activity have developed since then to the point where in 2008 a major government review of the UK involvement in manned space was commissioned.     

NASA和ESA的空间系统维修性/维修技术研究

本文对维修性／维修工程技术在NASA和ESA的发展做了简要回顾，并从人的因素对空间系统的影响、承制方负责全寿命周期保障、改进的RCM方法、RMA信息的标准化、仿真技术、在轨维修等几个方面对NASA和ESA在维修性／维修工程领域的理论、技术，以及NASA和ESA在这些方面实施维修性／维修工程的情况作了介绍和分析，其中对改进的RCM方法作了详细的介绍。     

Space Astronomy in China During 2004 - 2006

For the past two years, some real progress has been made in Chinese Space Astronomy, though we have not launched any missions exclusively belonging to the scope of Astronomy. In order to program the next five years' national plan (2006-2010), the Chinese Space Agency organized a series of authorized evaluations for the future missions. Among more than ten astronomical mission proposals, several were selected to give the green light to continue for their Phase A studies. We try to briefly outline these proposals.     

Introduction to Meridian Space Weather Monitoring Project

The Meridian Project is a ground- based network program to monitor solar-terrestrial space environment, which consists of a chain of ground-based observatories with multiple instruments including magnetometers, ionosondes, HF and VHF radar, Lidar, IPS monitors, sounding rockets etc. The chain is mainly located in the neighborhood of 120°E meridian, and is thus named the Meridian Project. It has officially been approved by the Chinese government and will be finished by 2009. This talk will give an overview of the Meridian Project and the proposed International Space Weather Meridian Circle Program.     

提高空间环模设备中铝热沉高真空气密性的工艺措施

我国大型空间环境模拟器的铝热沉,工作于-196～+100℃的温度,内压最高1.6MPa。其中主容器热沉是一个直径10.5m、高20m 的鼠笼形立式铝列管热交换器。整个热沉由2500多根铝管焊接而成,焊缝数量超过5000道。热沉有很严格的真空气密性要求,整个热沉的总漏率要求不大于1×10~(-6)Pa·m~3/s。文章分别从管件检测、纯铝焊接、高真空检漏等方面论述了确保热沉高真空气密性的措施。     

Nonlinear dust Alfvén modes

Nonlinear modes are investigated in magnetized dusty plasmas, where the dust dynamics is modelled by a number of cold, highly negatively charged and very massive fluids, besides ordinary electrons and protons. Several low-frequency motions occur which are typical for the dust components, some of them described by model equations such as the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation for electromagnetic waves. One can include equilibrium drifts and even fluctuations in the grain charges. Most of the preceding conclusions are relevant for different kinds of astrophysical and heliospheric plasmas.