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.     

Climate Variability on Venus and Titan

Venus and Titan are both slowly-rotating, approximately Earth-sized bodies with cloudy, dynamic atmospheres. Each has a complex climate system, even less well understood than the terrestrial equivalent, and the processes that appear to maintain the climate near the surface on both bodies have interesting similarities and differences with each other and with the Earth. By considering these factors and their possible evolution with the aid of elementary climate models, some interesting, albeit tentative, conclusions can be reached concerning the stability of climate on Earth-like planets, and the likely nature of past and future climate change.     

Cosmic Rays at High Heliolatitudes

The Ulysses spacecraft has been the first to orbit the Sun over its poles and to explore the heliosphere at these high heliolatitudes. It has now completed two fast latitude scans, one at solar minimum and one at solar maximum. Since its launch in October 1990, this mission has led to several surprising discoveries concerning energetic particles, cosmic rays, Jovian electrons, the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field and the global features of the heliosphere. This review addresses mainly the propagation and modulation of cosmic rays and other charged particles, from both an observational and theoretical point of view, with emphasis on what has been learned from exploring the inner heliosphere to high heliolatitudes. This is done for solar minimum and maximum conditions. The review is concluded with a summary of the main scientific discoveries and insights gained so far from the Ulysses mission.     

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.     

建筑卷扬机摆线针轮行星减速器优化设计

本文采用复合形法对摆线行星机构以摆线轮和输出轴圆盘体积之和最小为目标函数进行优化设计，并给出某快速电动卷扬机优化设计实例。     

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.