A comparison of radiation shielding effectiveness of materials for highly elliptical orbits

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has proposed a Polar Communications and Weather (PCW) satellite mission, in conjunction with other partners. The PCW will provide essential communications and meteorological services to the Canadian Arctic, as well as space weather observations of in situ ionizing radiation along the orbit. The CSA has identified three potential Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEOs) for a PCW satellite constellation, Molniya, Modified Tundra and Triple Apogee (TAP), each having specific merits, which would directly benefit the performance/longevity of a PCW spacecraft. Radiation shielding effectiveness of various materials was studied for the three PCW orbit options to determine the feasibility of employing materials other than conventional aluminium to achieve a specified spacecraft shielding level with weight savings over aluminium. It was found that, depending on the orbit-specific radiation environment characteristics, the benefits of using polyethylene based materials is significant enough (e.g., 22% in Molniya for PE at 50 krad TID) to merit further investigation.     

Human spaceflight and an asteroid redirect mission: Why?

The planning of human spaceflight programmes is an exercise in careful rationing of a scarce and expensive resource. Current NASA plans are to develop the new capability for human-rated launch into space to replace the Space Transportation System (STS), more commonly known as the Space Shuttle, combined with a heavy lift capability, and followed by an eventual Mars mission. As an intermediate step towards Mars, NASA proposes to venture beyond Low Earth Orbit to cis-lunar space to visit a small asteroid which will be captured and moved to lunar orbit by a separate robotic mission. The rationale for this and how to garner support from the scientific community for such an asteroid mission are discussed. Key points that emerge are that a programme usually has greater legitimacy when it emerges from public debate, mostly via a Presidential Commission, a report by the National Research Council or a Decadal Review of science goals etc. Also, human spaceflight missions need to have support from a wide range of interested communities. Accordingly, an outline scientific case for a human visit to an asteroid is made. Further, it is argued here that the scientific interest in an asteroid mission needs to be included early in the planning stages, so that the appropriate capabilities (here the need for drilling cores and carrying equipment to, and returning samples from, the asteroid) can be included.     

基于定标站的旋转扫描扇形波束散射计在轨定标方法

RFSCAT具有较宽刈幅并能够对同一个风单元提供较多的方位角和入射角观测组合,提高风场反演精度。为了达到设计的风场反演精度,必须对散射计进行在轨外定标。该文基于中法海洋卫星（Chinese French Oceanography Satellite, CFOSAT）雷达散射计的系统参数,给出了一种利用地面定标站(Calibration Ground Station,CGS)对RFSCAT进行在轨外定标的定标方法,并利用仿真数据进行验证。该方法能够达到0.01°的姿态角估计精度和0.1〖KG*9〗dB天线方向图估计精度,实现对RFSCAT天线方向图在轨监测和验证。     

红外地球敏感器辐射强度在轨数据分析

为了给在轨卫星红外地球敏感器性能评估提供更多参考依据,通过对某颗长期在轨正常运行卫星所配置的红外地球敏感器辐射强度数据进行统计分析,给出辐射强度短期、中期和长期的变化规律,并分析造成这种变化的内在机理.分析结果表明,辐射强度短期与星下点纬度相关且呈周期变化;中期与季节相关且呈周期变化;长期主要与红外地球敏感器自身特性相关呈逐渐衰减趋势.该结果可以作为在轨红外辐射强度判读的依据.     

“火星科学实验室”巡航段导航、制导与控制

介绍了美国最近实施的火星着陆任务——"火星科学实验室"在巡航段的姿轨控制和导航系统、巡航轨道控制的约束条件、控制策略设计和执行过程,并对巡航段导航、制导与控制相关经验进行了分析和总结,对于我国即将展开的自主火星探测具有一定的参考价值。可以得到的启示包括:通过蒙特卡洛仿真制定详尽的轨道控制策略,对非引力作用进行精确建模并标定,细化各种故障预案,选择合适的运载火箭入轨瞄准点,并增加海外测控站。     

基于普适变量法的火星探测器轨道初步设计及仿真

对基于普适变量的火星探测器轨道初步设计进行了研究。设计了地火转移轨道段、地球逃逸轨道段,以及基于B平面法的中途修正方法。绘制了2013年火星探测发射和到达能量等高图,将得到地火转移轨道的初始参数输入STK软件获得了空间真实摄动环境中的火星探测轨道。     

航天器自旋对测轨数据影响的修正方法

从测量原理上分析了航天器自旋对地基无线电测轨数据的影响,提出了测距和多普勒测速自旋影响修正方法,该方法也可用于估算航天器天线安装位置与自旋轴的距离。利用修正方法对嫦娥二号地月转移飞行段的地基测距与多普勒测速数据进行处理,解算的嫦娥二号天线安装位置精度在厘米量级。使用修正后的测距和多普勒测速数据,并融合时延与时延率测量数据,进行定轨计算,结果表明,使用修正后的测轨数据对事后定轨计算有近50m的精度提高。     

CAST968平台小卫星在轨故障分析和建议

统计CAST968平台从2000年至2014年在轨发生的142次故障,分析发现故障性质、故障原因、故障产品类别、故障时间和故障分系统等都存在明显的规律性.对决定卫星成败的姿态轨道控制分系统进行故障原因、故障单机和故障产品类别三个方面的统计分析,总结出设计、环境和器材是导致姿轨控分系统故障的三大重要因素.简要分析其他分系统,最后给出故障预防和设计建议,包括加强抗辐照设计、关键单机和电路的冗余设计等.     

载人火星和小行星探测任务初步分析

载人火星和小行星探测是未来深空探测的重要发展方向,以美国为代表的航天强国正在积极开展相关方案论证和技术攻关。由于任务规模庞大,受制于目前以化学推进为主的运输系统能力限制,要进行火星、小行星探测,必须发展重型运载火箭、轨道转移级等运载工具。从载人火星、小行星探测任务规划的角度出发,对总体任务进行了初步分析,提出了初步的系统方案。     

大椭圆轨道卫星交会高轨目标的高精度视线跟踪控制

针对大椭圆轨道卫星交会高轨卫星期间的相对姿态指向控制需求,提出了一种采用混合执行机构的快速、高精度视线跟踪姿态控制的方法.首先根据相对姿态控制流程设计了执行机构的配置,结合采用喷气推力器和角动量交换装置卫星的姿态动力学模型,推导了用相对四元数描述的视线运动学方程.其次,针对交会快速接近段的姿态快速机动要求设计了一种喷气相平面控制律,针对最近交会段的高精度高稳定度视线跟踪要求设计了一种鲁棒滑模控制律.最后设置了一个算例,仿真结果表明:相对距离100 km以内快速交会阶段的视线跟踪控制精度达0.005 3°,从而验证了整套控制算法的有效性.