Assessment of the close approach frequency and collision probability for satellites in different configurations of large constellations

The Earth orbital environment is drastically changing due to an intensification of the space activities. In particular, several projects of large constellations, proposed for the next years for communications purpose like global internet access, Internet of Things, or for Earth observations, will lead to the deployment of several thousands of new satellites at an unprecedented rate. It is a crucial challenge for space traffic management, which will deal with a great number of satellite conjunctions, potentially causing a collision with damaging consequences for the constellation itself and the space environment sustainability.In this paper, we investigate the close approach frequency and the cumulative collision probability for each referenced constellation. For this purpose, we compute the orbital evolution of satellites in different constellations during the lifecycle, from the deployment to the decommissioning, and we apply the CUBE algorithm and the Foster method to assess the collision probability with the background space debris population assuming a constant uncertainty in position. We show the variation of risk defined by the close approach frequency and the cumulative collision probability as a function of the proposed configuration. In particular, satellites of the Iridium and Kuiper constellation, but also satellite of the Telesat constellation on polar orbits are the most exposed at a collision. Moreover, the decommissioning phase contribute for a major part to the final cumulative collision probability.     

Effect of bristle pack position on the rotordynamic characteristics of brush-labyrinth seals at various operating conditions

Over the last few decades, the research on the effect of bristle pack position on the rotordynamic characteristics of the brush-labyrinth seals is not sufficient. To this end, two kinds of brush-labyrinth seals for the bristle pack element installed upstream of the labyrinth teeth named BSU and installed downstream of the labyrinth teeth called BSD were used to investigate the effect of bristle pack position on the rotordynamic characteristics of the brush-labyrinth seals. Using the numerical model combining the porous medium model and the whirling rotor method, the rotordynamic characteristics of the BSU and BSD at various operating conditions including four kinds of pressure ratios, five kinds of inlet preswirl speeds and four kinds of rotor spinning speeds were conducted. The obtained results show that the effects of operating conditions on rotordynamic coefficients for the different seal configurations are different. The direct stiffness, cross-coupled stiffness and direct damping of the BSU are lower than those of the BSD. The rotordynamic coefficients of the BSU are more insensitive to the operating conditions variation. From the perspective of the seal stability, the BSU is a better brush-labyrinth seal configuration at high pressure ratio, high positive preswirl or high rotor spinning speed conditions. While in the case of low pressure ratio, low positive preswirl or low rotor spinning speed conditions, the BSD is a better choice.     

Deorbiter CubeSat mission design

This paper presents the mission design for a CubeSat-based active debris removal approach intended for transferring sizable debris objects from low-Earth orbit to a deorbit altitude of 100 km. The mission consists of a mothership spacecraft that carries and deploys several debris-removing nanosatellites, called Deorbiter CubeSats. Each Deorbiter is designed based on the utilization of an eight-unit CubeSat form factor and commercially-available components with significant flight heritage. The mothership spacecraft delivers Deorbiter CubeSats to the vicinity of a predetermined target debris, through performing a long-range rendezvous maneuver. Through a formation flying maneuver, the mothership then performs in-situ measurements of debris shape and orbital state. Upon release from the mothership, each Deorbiter CubeSat proceeds to performing a rendezvous and attachment maneuver with a debris object. Once attached to the debris, the CubeSat performs a detumbling maneuver, by which the residual angular momentum of the CubeSat-debris system is dumped using Deorbiter’s onboard reaction wheels. After stabilizing the attitude motion of the combined Deorbiter-debris system, the CubeSat proceeds to performing a deorbiting maneuver, i.e., reducing system’s altitude so much so that the bodies disintegrate and burn up due to atmospheric drag, typically at around 100 km above the Earth surface. The attitude and orbital maneuvers that are planned for the mission are described, both for the mothership and Deorbiter CubeSat. The performance of each spacecraft during their operations is investigated, using the actual performance specifications of the onboard components. The viability of the proposed debris removal approach is discussed in light of the results.     

任意波发生器静态特性的评价

介绍了任意波发生器的主要静态特性指标、校准方法及实现过程。通过一组实验．获得了实际校准结果，并对校准中需要注意的问题进行了讨论。所述方法涉及的静态特性内容比较全面。具有足够的测量准确度、分辨力和稳定性。可用于任意波发生器的静态指标评价和计量。     

等质量异形粒子超高速撞击侵蚀

用数值方法模拟双锥，圆柱，椭球、圆锥和倒圆锥五类等质量异形铝粒子五种高宽比共２５种粒子对半无限铝靶的超高速撞击侵蚀，撞击速度为４ｋｍ／ｓ，给出了坑深、坑径、坑形参数和坑体积随粒子形状及高宽比的变化曲线。结果与非圆球异形粒子超高速撞击侵蚀计算有重要参考价值。     

Modelling of Ejecta as a Space Debris Source

When a micro-debris or a micrometeoroid impacts a spacecraft surface, a large number of secondary particles, called ejecta, are produced. These particles can contribute to a modification of the debris environment: either locally by the occurrence of secondary impacts on the components of complex and large space structures, or at great distance by the formation of a population of small orbital debris. This paper describes firstly, the ejecta overall production, and secondly, the lifetime and the orbital evolution of the particles. Finally the repartition of ejecta in LEO is computed. Some results describing the population as a function of size and altitude are presented.     

Modelling of Spall in an Anisotropic Aluminium Alloy

Spall caused by hypervelocity impacts at the lower range of velocities could result in significant damage to spacecraft. A number of polycrystalline alloys, used in spacecraft manufacturing, exhibit a pronounced anisotropy in their mechanical properties. The aluminium alloy AA 7010, whose orthotropy is a consequence of the meso-scale phase distribution or grain morphology, has been chosen for this investigation. The material failure observed in plate impact was simulated using a number of spall models. The Hugoniot elastic limit and spall strength have been studied as a function of orientation, and compared to experimental results.     

水洞动态测力和流动显示一体化实验技术

研制能够用于低速水流中的三分量内式测力天平,结合氢气泡(或染色液)方法,在水洞(槽)中实现测力和流动显示实验同步进行的动态实验系统,克服了通常测力和流动显示分别在风洞和水洞中进行,实验条件不同给结果分析带来的困难。天平采用高精度位移传感器,避开传统的应变片技术应用于水中所遇到的技术困难。简易飞行器模型的静态和等速俯仰实验结果表明了测量系统的可靠性。     

基于因子模糊化BP神经网络的磨损颗粒识别

在引入了一套磨粒形态学描述子来提取磨损颗粒的显微形态特征的基础上 ,采用人工神经网络技术 ,编制了用于磨损颗粒自动识别的 BP网络计算机模拟程序。在网络训练的过程中应用了本文引入的因子模糊化训练方法 ,使训练速度大大加快 ,以异或问题为例 ,速度可提高 5～ 1 0倍。应用此网络对磨粒测试库进行识别实验 ,识别正确率在 90 %以上 ,并且识别速度很快 ,大大优于传统的磨粒识别方法。     

动态三角翼的非定常气动特性和压力分布相关研究

文章介绍了不同后掠角三角翼在进行俯仰振荡时的动态压力特性,说明这种动态压力特性同三角翼的法向力的变化是密切相关的,试验研究揭示了流态、压力和气动力之间的密切关系。同时试验研究显示三角翼上翼面压力的动态变化曲线呈现出双峰形态;不同后掠角三角翼在动态试验过程中压力、法向力都具有相似特性。