Small satellite survey mission to the second Earth moon

This paper presents an innovative space mission devoted to the survey of the small Earth companion asteroid by means of nano platforms. Also known as the second Earth moon, Cruithne, is the target identified for the mission. Both the trajectory to reach the target and a preliminary spacecraft budget are here detailed. The idea is to exploit high efficient ion thrusters to reduce the propellant mass fraction in such a high total impulse mission (of the order of 1e6 Ns). This approach allows for a 100 kg class spacecraft with a very small Earth escape energy (5 km²/s²) to reach the destination in about 320 days. The 31% propellant mass fraction allows for a payload mass fraction of the order of 8% and this is sufficient to embark on such a small spacecraft a couple of nano-satellites deployed once at the target to carry out a complete survey of the asteroid. Two 2U Cubesats are here considered as representative payload, but also other scientific payloads or different platforms might be considered according with the specific mission needs. The small spacecraft used to transfer these to the target guarantees the manoeuvre capabilities during the interplanetary journey, the protection against radiations along the path and the telecommunication relay functions for the data transmission with Earth stations. The approach outlined in the paper offers reliable solutions to the main issues associated with a deep space nano-satellite mission thus allowing the exploitation of distant targets by means of these tiny spacecraft. The study presents an innovative general strategy for the NEO observation and Cruithne is chosen as test bench. This target, however, mainly for its relevant inclination, requires a relatively large propellant mass fraction that can be reduced if low inclination asteroids are of interest. This might increase the payload mass fraction (e.g. additional Cubesats and/or additional scientific payloads on the main bus) for the same 100 kg class mission.     

Wireless sensor networks for planetary exploration: Experimental assessment of communication and deployment

Planetary surface exploration is an appealing application of wireless sensor networks that has been investigated in recent years by the space community, including the European Space Agency. The idea is to deploy a number of self-organizing sensor nodes forming a wireless networked architecture to provide a distributed instrument for the study and exploration of a planetary body. To explore this concept, ESA has funded the research project RF Wireless for Planetary Exploration (RF-WIPE), carried out by GMV, SUPSI and UPM. The purpose of RF-WIPE was to simulate and prototype a wireless sensor network in order to assess the potential and limitations of the technology for the purposes of planetary exploration.     

深空探测智能遥感技术展望

在深空探测背景下,采用传统遥感方式进行探测带有一定的局限性,文章以美国为例介绍了智能遥感技术的发展情况。分析了深空探测任务对于传统遥感器的新需求,提出在深空探测信息智能化获取模式、深空探测遥感器参数智能化调整和在轨数据智能化处理3个方面开展深空目标智能遥感研究,以解决传统遥感器在深空探测中面临的局限。重点阐述了实现深空探测智能遥感的关键技术。最后提出中国深空探测智能遥感技术的发展建议。     

从月球逃逸探测小行星的发射机会搜索

从月球逃逸探测小行星的发射机会搜索因需考虑日、地、月引力的影响而使问题变得复杂。针对该多体系统的发射机会搜索问题,提出了一种分层渐近的搜索方法。该方法首先通过分析地月系质心与小行星的几何关系,搜索从地月系质心到小行星的发射机会,进而以地月运动为研究对象,推导出了从月球轨道切向逃逸机会的判别条件,并基于此判别条件及等高线图法对逃逸机会进行了搜索。同时,为提高所得发射机会在多体模型下的轨道修正收敛性,给出了基于月心逃逸轨道参数为终端约束的日-地与日-地-月动力学模型的轨道渐近修正方法。最后,以近地小行星(3908)Nyx和(190491)2000 FJ20为例,搜索其从月球逃逸的发射机会,仿真计算表明了该方法的有效性。     

载人深空探测任务航天医学工程问题研究

航天医学工程问题关系到载人深空探测任务中的人员生存及健康。文章从人员长期生存的生命保障、变重力生理效应及防护、地外环境效应与防护、人员生理健康监测与维护、人员心理健康等方面的问题入手,分析了问题产生的原因及解决的必要性,并提出了解决思路,为后续深入开展相关关键技术的攻关提供参考。最后,以载人月球基地任务为案例,提出了生命保障、变重力防护、辐射及月尘防护、生理及心理健康监测及维护等问题的解决方案。     

小行星形貌测绘与表征技术

小行星表面形貌测绘是深空小行星探测的首要任务。提出了一种适应探测器抵近观测的立体视觉在线测绘小行星形貌的方法,即先由立体相机获得所摄重叠区的三维地形,再用前后立体模型的连接点将各个独立模型连成一个完整地形信息,经整体最小二乘平差,确定小行星的形貌模型及特征;同时提出了一种基于等值线分析的撞击坑特征提取方法,即通过提取、分析地形等值线识别出地形中撞击坑特征。实验结果显示,本文所构建的原型系统能够快速重建出探测区域的三维地形,并识别出地形中撞击坑特征,证明了所提方法具有实用性。     

集成火星进入弹道的开伞过程动力学特性研究

针对火星探测任务设计阶段的需求,提出集成再入弹道、开伞过程仿真一体化设计方法。首先,利用质点动力学模型,计算质点弹道,进行探测器进入过程的飞行轨迹仿真,获得开伞初始状态。其次,基于任意拉格朗日-欧拉（ALE）方法,建立开伞过程的流固耦合（FSI）动力学模型,进行典型工况开伞过程数值模拟,分析开伞动压和马赫数对降落伞充气过程的影响。数值模拟开伞过程伞衣几何外形变化和降落伞的流固耦合动力学行为,得到开伞过载变化曲线、伞衣阻力面积变化等典型特征参数。计算结果表明,降落伞开伞动力学的数值仿真方法为火星再入、减速和着陆（EDL）过程的概念设计提供了一定的参考依据。     

月壤剖面锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头设计

针对月壤剖面钻进成孔探测需求,提出一种锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头,建立其钻进排屑性能的理论模型,并以此开展钻头结构参数的优化设计。在此基础上,分析螺旋刃切削姿态及其切削参数,基于直线刃平面切削理论建立锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头钻进切削负载预估模型,开展锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头模拟月壤剖面钻进负载特性试验验证。研究结果表明,相比于直线刃钻头,锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头的钻进排屑性能更优,而且钻进切削负载模型与试验结果具有较好的吻合度。研究成果对我国拟实施的月面钻取采样工程具有重要的借鉴价值。     

结合深空机动的多次行星借力轨道设计

行星借力技术是减小星际探测任务发射能量的有效途径,传统的行星借力模型不能保证探测器借力前后的速度矢量转角达到理想要求。为此,进行了行星借力建模,并基于该模型,推导了探测器飞出借力天体影响球的双曲线超速矢量。针对轨道设计参数的强耦合性,提出了一种全局-局部混合搜索算法,并对地球-金星-地球-火星-木星转移轨道进行了设计。仿真结果验证了轨道模型的正确性和有效性,表明该文方法可以有效地对多次行星借力轨道进行设计。     

基于显式制导的月地返回轨道中途修正研究

月地返回轨道存在各种摄动误差,终端约束复杂,有必要对其进行中途修正研究。显式制导法通过二体轨道与精确轨道之间的差别进行多次迭代求解给定时刻所需的修正速度。文章利用显式制导法,采用月球段及地球段分段进行中途修正的策略,给出了基于分段落点预报显式制导的月地返回轨道中途修正方案。该方案无需计算雅克比矩阵,算法简单、计算快速、实用性强,能满足再入点参数要求。算例仿真与蒙特卡洛仿真验证了该方案的适用性。