Evolution of the orbital elements for objects with high area-to-mass ratios in geostationary transfer orbits

A new population of uncatalogued objects in geosynchronous Earth orbits (GEO), with a mean motion of about 1 rev/day and eccentricities up to 0.6, has been identified recently. The first observations of this new type of objects were acquired in the framework of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) search for space debris in GEO and the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) using the ESA 1-m telescope on Tenerife. Earlier studies have postulated that the perturbations due to the solar radiation pressure can lead to such large eccentricities for GEO objects with a high area-to-mass ratio (A/M). The simulations showed that the eccentricities of GEO objects with large A/M exhibit periodic variations with periods of about one year and amplitudes depending on the value of A/M. The findings of these studies could be confirmed by observations from the ESA 1-m telescope on Tenerife.     

DPOD2005: An extension of ITRF2005 for Precise Orbit Determination

For Precise Orbit Determination of altimetry missions, we have computed a data set of DORIS station coordinates defined for specific time intervals called DPOD2005. This terrestrial reference set is an extension of ITRF2005. However, it includes all new DORIS stations and is more reliable, as we disregard stations with large velocity formal errors as they could contaminate POD computations in the near future. About 1/4 of the station coordinates need to be defined as they do not appear in the original ITRF2005 realization. These results were verified with available DORIS and GPS results, as the integrity of DPOD2005 is almost as critical as its accuracy. Besides station coordinates and velocities, we also provide additional information such as periods for which DORIS data should be disregarded for specific DORIS stations, and epochs of coordinate and velocity discontinuities (related to either geophysical events, equipment problem or human intervention). The DPOD model was tested for orbit determination for TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P), Jason-1 and Jason-2. Test results show DPOD2005 offers improvement over the original ITRF2005, improvement that rapidly and significantly increases after 2005. Improvement is also significant for the early T/P cycles indicating improved station velocities in the DPOD2005 model and a more complete station set. Following 2005 the radial accuracy and centering of the ITRF2005-original orbits rapidly degrades due to station loss.     

Distribution and variability of accelerated electrons at Mars

We investigate accelerated electrons observed by Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), using data from the Electron Reflectometer (ER) instrument. We find three different types of accelerated electron events. Current sheet events occur over regions with weak or no crustal fields, have the highest electron energy fluxes, and are likely located on draped magnetotail fields. Extended events occur over regions with moderate crustal magnetic fields, and are most often observed on closed magnetic field lines. Localized events have the lowest energy fluxes, occur in strong magnetic cusp regions, and are the most likely kind of event to be found on open magnetic field lines. Some localized events have clear signatures of field-aligned currents; these events have much higher electron fluxes, and are preferentially observed on radially oriented open magnetic field lines. Electron acceleration events, especially localized events, are similar in many ways to events observed in the terrestrial auroral zone. However, physical processes related to those found in the terrestrial cusp and/or plasmasheet could also be responsible for accelerating electrons at Mars.     

锚固站数量及布局对导航星座自主定轨影响分析

针对导航星座自主定轨中的星座整体旋转问题,采用增设少量地面锚固站的方法可有效解决该问题。通过推导星地距离对卫星轨道升交点赤经的偏导数,证明了星地距离对卫星轨道升交点赤经可观。仅考虑在我国大陆范围内布设锚固站的条件下,仿真分析了锚固站数量以及布局对导航星座自主定轨精度的影响。仿真实验结果表明:采用3个以上的锚固站,即可有效控制星座整体旋转,在14d的仿真时段内卫星自主定轨精度保持4m以内;锚固站数量越多,自主定轨精度越高,但随着锚固站数量的增加,自主定轨精度改善程度越来越小;在保持4个锚固站的情形下,采用不同的锚固站布局方案,自主定轨精度并无明显差别。     

基于粒子群算法的极短弧定轨

针对经典的初轨计算方法在极短弧定轨中不适用的情况,建立了一种基于粒子群算法的极短弧(TooShort-Arc,TSA)定轨的计算方法。该方法将问题转化为两个三变量的分层优化问题,采用(a,e,M)作为优选变量,在保持问题维数较低的同时,实现了计算结果和观测资料的解耦。由于实测资料处理中的野值剔除方法不适用于粒子群算法,所以,采用稳健估计法,通过在适值函数中使用最小中值二乘准则,实现了稳健的极短弧计算方法。同时,应用MATLAB计算软件,选用缺省参数实现该算法,以进行数据验证。基于实测数据的数值验证表明,方法对于近圆轨道目标30s以下的弧段仍可以获得有效的结果,10s弧段误差仅为16km。此精度满足后续处理的需要,且方法稳健,具有很高的崩溃点。     

基于TLE的弹道系数计算方法及应用分析

针对仅使用两行要素(Two Line Element,TLE)作为数据源的应用需求,研究了基于TLE轨道衰减的弹道系数计算方法。介绍了一种常用的基于两组TLE的直接计算法,分析TLE选取间隔对结果精度的影响;提出了一种基于多组TLE的迭代计算方法,以降低异常TLE对计算结果的影响;从弹道系数计算效果、在再入预报中的应用等方面对这两种方法进行比较分析。结果表明,两种方法各有优劣,基于多组TLE的迭代计算法稳定性更高、受TLE精度的影响更小;由于数据区间更短,基于两组TLE的计算结果对短期轨道衰减特性反应得更准确,用于临近再入时的预报效果更好。     

月食对环月卫星运行影响及对策分析

从月食与环月卫星的关系出发,讨论了月食对卫星的影响机理。针对如何尽量缩短卫星进入地影时间的问题,给出了相位调整的概念和原理,同时介绍了卫星有效进影时间的概念,说明了相位调整方法的可行性。最后通过实例应用给出了相位调整的效果。文章所介绍的分析和控制方法对于环月卫星具有较广泛的适用性,可以在我国后续的月球探测任务中作为参考依据。     

火星探测器使命轨道捕获策略研究

分析了火星探测器使命轨道捕获策略研究需求,给出了三种可用的典型捕获策略,建立了速度纵向平面内的飞行动力学方程,对三种典型策略进行了飞行动力学仿真,给出了各策略完成捕获所需速度增量、任务耗时及过。通过对仿真结果的分析比较,得出研究结论为：直接制动捕获任务耗时及过载较小,但速度增量需求较大;多次穿越后捕获任务耗时较长,但速度增量需求和过载较小;一次穿越后捕获速度增量需求较小且任务耗时较短,但过载较大。     

中地球轨道高能电子辐射环境特性分析

采用中国中地球轨道卫星在太阳活动下降相到上升相的高能电子探测数据, 首次分析研究了该轨道高能电子环境的空间分布、通量强度、时序变化以及对地磁暴活动响应的特性. 结果表明, 中地球轨道高能电子的空间分布 范围稳定, 电子通量强度随能量升高而下降; 中地球轨道高能电子环境是 一个在不同时间尺度上剧烈变化的动态系统, 该系统可能间歇性地出现27天重 现性变化, 该系统变化受地磁暴事件调制, 但其对磁暴的响应呈现出非线性特征.     

ESA开展GEO上小碎片的调查

文章主要介绍了欧空局开展地球同步轨道(GEO)小碎片的调查情况及相应技术.