载人月面着陆及起飞技术初步研究

载人登月任务中最具特色的就是载人月面着陆及起飞过程,其技术体系丰富,是影响载人登月任务成败的关键环节。文章详细分析了载人月面着陆及起飞阶段的飞行方案,阐述了载人任务与无人任务设计准则上的区别,剖析了载人月面着陆及起飞技术的内涵。此外重点分析了低温推进剂蒸发量控制技术、10∶1深度变推力液体发动机技术、发动机推力矢量控制技术、大承载着陆缓冲技术、发动机羽流导流与防护技术、月尘清除及防护技术等六项与载人登月舱推进系统和结构系统相关的关键技术,分析提出了相应的技术途径和解决方案,对深入认识载人登月飞行器系统的技术体系及技术难度具有重要意义。     

“嫦娥二号”卫星CCD立体相机的关键技术

文章介绍了中国两次绕月探测中 CCD 立体相机所采用的技术与创新,并与国际同类相机所获取的图像进行了比较;在此基础上详细介绍了“嫦娥二号”(CE-2)卫星CCD立体相机的综合创新集成技术--“单镜头两视角同轨立体成像、时间延迟积分图像传感器（TDICCD）推扫、速高比补偿”,并从工程目标与科学目标出发进行探测灵敏度及成像动态范围的需求分析;根据需求分析确定了总体技术方案,包括光、机、电的优化设计以及对月探测中首次采用TDICCD的技术困难与对策;特别讨论了速高比补偿的方案及实施途径,并进行了在轨试验验证。文章最后分别给出了虹湾地区成像分辨率为1.3m以及全月面分辨率为7m 的代表性图像,图像清晰、层次丰富,显示出中国在对月立体成像技术上取得了显著进步。     

The essential role of human spaceflight

The question is: should the United States and nations at large pursue a human spaceflight program (and if so, why)? I offer an unwavering positive answer to this question, and state the reasons for it while considering the broad challenges and benefits of (human) spaceflight. Space exploration is a human activity that is intrinsically forward-looking, and as such, has positive potential. Both national and international space programs can galvanize the population, inspire the youth, foster job-creation, and motivate the existing workforce. The nature of the enterprises involved—their scale, novelty, and complexity—requires a steady and continuous upward progression toward greater societal, scientific and technological development. That is, in order to overcome the challenges of human spaceflight, progress is required. More to the point, the survival of humanity depends on expanding beyond the confines of our planet. Human spaceflight, in short, presents us with an opportunity to significantly advance the nation and the global community.     

Experimental results for Titan aerobot thermo-mechanical subsystem development

This paper describes experimental results from a development program focused on maturing Titan aerobot technology in the areas of mechanical and thermal subsystems. Results from four key activities are described: first, a cryogenic balloon materials development program involving coupon and cylinder tests and culminating in the fabrication and testing of an inflated 4.6 m long prototype blimp at 93 K; second, a combined lab experiment and numerical simulation effort to assess potential problems resulting from radioisotope power source waste heat generation near an inflated blimp; third, an aerial deployment and inflation development program consisting of laboratory and helicopter drop tests on a near full scale (11 m long) prototype blimp; and fourth, a proof of concept experiment demonstrating the viability of using a mechanically steerable high gain antenna on a floating blimp to perform direct to Earth telecommunications from Titan. The paper provides details on all of these successful activities and discusses their impact on the overall effort to produce mature systems technology for future Titan aerobot missions.     

A methodology to support strategic decisions in future human space exploration: From scenario definition to building blocks assessment

The human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-Lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the global exploration roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterisation of several Design Reference Missions (DRMs) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities.The study presented in this paper was aimed at defining an evolutionary scenario for deep space exploration in the next 30 years with the final goal of sending astronauts on the surface of Mars by the end of 2030 decade. Different destinations were considered as targets to build the human exploration scenario, with particular attention to Earth–Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Moon. For all the destinations selected as part of the exploration scenario, the assessment and characterisation of the relative Design Reference Missions were performed. Specifically they were defined in terms of strategies, architectures and mission elements. All the analyses were based on a pure technical approach with the objective of evaluating the feasibility of a long term strategy for capabilities achievement and technological development to enable future space exploration.This paper describes the process that was followed within the study, focusing on the adopted methodology, and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenario and mission analysis.     

基于微分进化算法的深空小推力轨道优化设计

针对多目标多任务的深空探测轨道优化设计问题,基于以太阳为主引力体的二体模型,采用电推进小推力系统,提出了将目标行星的探测方式、探测顺序、发射窗口同时进行全局优化的解决方案.依此建立小推力轨道优化设计算法模型,利用微分进化算法进行全局一体化优化设计,得出多目标多任务的一体化深空探测轨道.通过与相同条件下其他设计方法的结果比对分析得出：基于小推力推进方式并采用微分进化算法进行优化的轨道优化设计方案,在多目标多任务深空轨道一体化设计问题上具有可行性及应用价值.     

深空探测用低温推进剂贮箱热力排气系统研究

Cryogenic propellant usually experiences long term on orbit storage. The pressure increase in cryogenic storage tank is faced by most of space missions. The thermodynamic vent system (TVS) is treated as the promising method to control the increase of the tank pressure by scholars both at home and abroad. Based on the investigation conducted by different research agencies, literature review and management are conducted to reflect the recent research statue on TVS. The development profile of the experimental research on the pressure control performance of TVS is specially summarized. The condition setting and performance difference of TVS conducted by different agencies are compared and analyzed. The key technique and related conclusion are refined during the operation of TVS. Finally, based on the requirement of the large scale using of cryogenic propellant in deep space exploration in China, the development plan is proposed on the aspect of TVS pressure control on cryogenic storage tanks.     

基于权衡空间探索的多约束弹道初值确定方法

运载火箭弹道设计对初值的选取敏感,需要设计人员具备相应经验,新构型或新任务下迭代设计易发散,设计过程依靠人员手动调整,效率较低。应用权衡空间探索及全局优化思想,给出了多约束弹道设计初值确定方法,并在此基础上重新建立了弹道设计流程,自动完成初值选取及精确设计,降低了设计过程对人员经验的依赖性,提升了弹道设计方法的智能化程度,提高了论证及设计效率。     

Application of WorldView-3 imagery and ASTER TIR data to map alteration minerals associated with the Rodalquilar gold deposits,southeast Spain

The Rodalquilar epithermal quartz-alunite gold deposits that occur within the Rodalquilar caldera complex in southeast Spain, are associated with a pronounced hydrothermal alteration of the country rocks. The hydrothermal alteration zones that are exposed on the surface consist of the vuggy silica zone, the advanced argillic alteration zone, the intermediate argillic alteration zone, the propylitic alteration zone, and a second stage supergene acid sulfate alteration. High spatial resolution multispectral imagery recorded by the WorldView-3 satellite was used in this study to map the spatial distribution of the main alteration minerals in the Rodalquilar caldera complex. Thermal infrared (TIR) data of the ASTER satellite were used to detect the quartz-rich zones. The analysis of the Rodalquilar WorldView-3 data was based on the Adaptive Coherence Estimator (ACE), a partial unmixing algorithm. The ACE processing accurately mapped the spatial distribution of alunite, kaolinite, illite and goethite. Alunite is abundant in the vuggy silica and advanced argillic alteration zones, and in the second stage supergene acid sulfate alteration. Kaolinite is predominant in the intermediate argillic alteration zone. Illite is abundant in the outer parts of the intermediate argillic alteration zone. Goethite image maps gossans that mainly occur in the vuggy silica and advanced argillic alteration zones, and in the areas characterized by the second stage supergene acid sulfate alteration. The detection of quartz-rich zones from the ASTER TIR data complemented the WorldView-3 mapping results. The study shows the efficiency of high spatial resolution multispectral remote sensing imagery recorded by the WorldView-3 satellite for district-level mineral exploration studies.     

Extrasolar space exploration by a solar sail accelerated via thermal desorption of coating

For extrasolar space exploration it might be very convenient to take advantage of space environmental effects such as solar radiation heating to accelerate a solar sail coated by materials that undergo thermal desorption at a particular temperature. Thermal desorption can provide additional thrust as heating liberates atoms, embedded on the surface of the solar sail. We are considering orbital dynamics of a solar sail coated with materials that undergo thermal desorption at a specific temperature, as a result of heating by solar radiation at a particular heliocentric distance, and focus on two scenarios that only differ in the way the sail approaches the Sun. For each scenario once the perihelion is reached, the sail coat undergoes thermal desorption. When the desorption process ends, the sail then escapes the Solar System having the conventional acceleration due to solar radiation pressure. We study the dependence of a cruise speed of a solar sail on perihelion of the orbit where the solar sail is deployed. The following scenarios are considered and analyzed: (1) Hohmann transfer plus thermal desorption. In this scenario the sail would be carried as a payload to the perihelion with a conventional propulsion system by a Hohmann transfer from Earth’s orbit to an orbit very close to the Sun and then be deployed. Our calculations show that the cruise speed of the solar sail varies from 173?km/s to 325?km/s that corresponds to perihelion 0.3?AU and 0.1 AU, respectively. (2) Elliptical transfer plus Slingshot plus thermal desorption. In this scenario the transfer occurs from Earth’s orbit to Jupiter’s orbit; then a Jupiter’s fly-by leads to the orbit close to the Sun, where the sail is deployed and thermal desorption comes active. In this case the cruise speed of the solar sail varies from 187?km/s to 331?km/s depending on the perihelion of the orbit. Our study analyses and compares the different scenarios in which thermal desorption comes beside traditional propulsion systems for extrasolar space exploration.