The Potential of GOCE in Constraining the Structure of the Crust and Lithosphere from Post-Glacial Rebound

Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) due to Pleistocene glaciation and deglaciation has left clear imprints in the present-day geoid. The solid-earth models that are commonly used in simulating these geoid anomalies usually have the upper layer (crust/lithosphere) elastic. While this is a good approximation for oceanic lithosphere, it is over-simplified for many continental crustal areas, of which some are submerged at continental margins. At many places, these continental areas have a lower crustal zone that has low viscosities. Also at the top of the mantle (asthenosphere) such zones with low viscosities can exist. Modeling results show that, due to their shallowness and due to the laterally non-homogeneous water load, these low-viscosity layers induce discernible signatures in the high-harmonic steady-state components of the geoid. These patchlike patterns have typical length scales ranging from about 100 – 1000 km, and typical magnitudes of 1 cm – 1 m, depending on, a.o., depth and width of the low-viscosity zone, viscosity and shoreline geometry. Complications in correlating GIA modeling results with observed geoid anomalies might arise from uncertainties in isostatic corrections (topography and non-uniform composition of crust and lithosphere) and from other non-GIA related contributions to the observered anomalies. The characteristic forms of the patterns might assist in separating the various contributions to the observed geoid anomalies. This can be illustrated for the Adriatic coast of Italy, where the best fit to the spatial sea-level curve pattern is provided by a combination of GIA and regional plate tectonics. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Towards a lunar base programme

When the requisite technology exists, the US political process will inevitably include lunar surface activities as a major space objective. This article examines a manned lunar base in terms of three distinct functions: the scientific investigation of the Moon and its environment; development of the capability to use lunar resources for beneficial purposes throughout the Earth-Moon systems; and conduct of R&D leading to a self-sufficient and self-supporting manned lunar base. Three scenarios are outlined with respect to each possible function.     

玉兔号巡视器导航定位中的多目标管理方法

基于多目标管理方法,阐述了玉兔号巡视器定位多目标管理的概念。兼顾技术成熟度、定位效率、冗余验证和阶段化分层管理等原则,对玉兔号巡视器着陆点和导航点的定位方法进行建模及分析比较,给出对应的定位方案。最后,将基于此多目标管理方法制定的方案,应用于玉兔号巡视器的定位任务,定位精度优于亚像素级,相对定位精度优于4％。     

“嫦娥4号”任务有效载荷系统设计与实现

"嫦娥4号"任务将首次实现人类在月球背面软着陆。通过分析任务特点,以多类型有效载荷配置为背景,介绍了以科学目标和探测任务为核心的有效载荷系统设计思路和实现方法。同时针对首次在深空探测领域搭载国际合作有效载荷项目情况进行了说明。"嫦娥4号"任务最重要的科学目标是利用月球背面洁净的电磁环境进行天文低频射电观测,因此分别在着陆器和中继星上新增配置了国内新研制的低频射电频谱仪及荷兰研制的低频探测仪。科学探测的太阳爆发产生的低频电场信号极其微弱,如何消除着陆器和中继星上其他电子设备发射的近场噪声对远场探测信号的干扰就成了本次任务的最大难点。在相关研制单位的多方努力下,通过优化接收天线设计和地面数据处理算法等多种手段,实现了低频探测信号不低于30 d B的噪声抑制性能,具备了实现科学目标的能力。     

小推力登月飞行器轨道初步研究

进行了基于二体模型和平面三体 登月飞行器轨道控制方法的初步研究。首先研究了在二体模型下,基于逃逸条件和“远地点可达”条件下不同推力作用下的飞行器运动仿真。接着将“远地点可达”要领应用于平面三体模型下的向月飞行的轨道研究;完成了从近地低轨道到月球影响球附近的轨道飞行控制方法的研究。仿真结果证明了使用“远地点可达”概念完成地球逃逸段发动机推力终点选择的可行性。     

月球探测器路径规划的基于案例的学习算法研究

讨论了基于案例的学习方法在月球探测器局部路径规划中的应用问题。基于案例的学习算法是人工智能中的一种学习方法 ,它根据过去的经验进行学习及问题求解 ,是一种增量式的学习过程。本文对基于案例的学习方法在月球探测器路径规划中的应用框架进行了一些讨论 ,提出了一些算法。     

行星表面巡视探测器遥操作技术研究

行星表面巡视探测器的遥操作,是整个行星遥科学探测过程的重要组成部分。文章首先对遥操作的基本概念和行星表面巡视探测器遥操作的基本特性做了初步的分析,然后对成功发射到月球和火星表面并进行巡视探测的8个巡视探测器进行了归纳与总结,最后对行星表面巡视探测器的遥操作技术进行了总结与展望,并建议在我国首次登陆的月面巡视探测器上采用以遥操作为主,同时设置遥操作加半自主的操作模式。     

基于Unity3D的月面复杂地形场景构建及模拟驾驶系统

为了验证未来月面复杂地形操控技术方案,基于Unity3D物理引擎对月表模型、月球物理环境以及月面光照环境进行了模拟,设计并开发了一套用于模拟月球自主进行着陆点选址以及在线航天器着陆轨迹规划的系统。该模拟系统的工作过程包含了：基于面阵雷达与立体相机信息融合的局部月表重建、基于3D重建结果的月表地形着陆代价的快速评估与自动着陆选址,以及使登陆器能够到达选址目标的最优燃料消耗着陆运动规划,实现了月球着陆器短距离自主选址着陆的模拟系统构建,同时也从仿真的角度初步验证了“地形重建-地形评估-自主选址-软着陆”这一自主着陆过程的可行性。     

一种综合式载人月球基地总体方案及建造规划设想

构建载人月球基地是实现对月球资源深度开发和利用的重要手段之一,文章提出了刚性舱、刚性＋柔性结构以及建造式等三种典型结构的载人月球基地方案,并对三种典型方案的优缺点进行对比分析,在此基础上提出了一种综合式载人月球基地方案设想,基地内部主体创新性地采用充气式柔性连接的方式,外部主体包括月壤防护层、植物密封舱和应急救生飞船,活动系统包括月球车和月球机器人。围绕该方案并结合文章提出的载人月球基地主要技术指标,并对载人月球基地选址、结构设计和构建、空间辐射防护、热管理、能源、通信与导航、生命保障和应急救生技术等关键技术方案进行了分析,为中国未来建设载人月球基地提供了参考。     

Project “The Moon – 2012+”: Spin-orbital evolution,geophysics and selenodesy of the Moon

The Russian scientific project “The Moon – 2012+” is directed at solving fundamental problems of celestial mechanics, selenodesy and geophysics of the Moon through the pursuance of theoretical research and computer simulations of the following fields.