Experiments and numerical simulations of an electrodynamic tether deployment from a spool-type reel using thrusters

The amount of space debris is ever increasing, and pollution of the space environment has become a serious problem that can no longer be ignored. Consequently, the active removal of large space debris from crowded economically useful orbits should begin as soon as possible. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been investigating an active debris removal system that employs highly efficient electrodynamic tether (EDT) technology for orbital transfer. This study investigates the tether deployment from a spool-type reel using thrusters by means of numerical simulations of an EDT system. The thrusters are used in order to ensure the deployment of a tether with the length of several kilometers. In the simulations using a multiple mass tether model, the key parameters are estimated from various on-ground experiments. By means of the numerical simulations, the dynamics of tether deployment is studied and requirements of thruster needed for the deployment, such as the thrust forces and the periods of thruster activation, are clarified.     

Deployment dynamic analysis of deployable antennas considering thermal effect

Dynamic analysis of flexible multibody systems is complex. Several successful methods have been demonstrated. However, few works discussed the dynamic performance of the flexible multibody under different temperatures. This paper uses the absolute nodal coordinate formulation to analyze the flexible body dynamics of deployment structures under different temperatures to simulate space environments. The dynamic equations of finite element in temperature field are developed. Then a computer-aided simulation of flexible multibody systems in temperature field is implemented. A general four-bar mechanism under different temperatures as a simulation example is demonstrated, and the deployment characteristics of a special four-bar mechanism as a basic module of the hoop truss deployable antenna is analyzed under different temperatures in order to evaluate the dynamic performance of the deployable antenna in space environments. The simulation results indicate the influence factors of deployment dynamic characteristics include the structural form, material properties, geometric parameters and deployment planning in ambient and thermal/vacuum environments.     

充气太阳能帆板展开动力学数值模拟预报

充气太阳能帆板是一种通过气体驱动支撑管展开的新型太阳能帆板。首先简要介绍其研究进展，然后针对充气展开支撑管，提出了分段式充气体积控制模型，基于LS—DYNA模拟了空间环境下Z型折叠充气太阳能帆板在支撑管无约束与有轴向约束控制时的展开过程，分析了支撑管每折叠段的气压变化，上横板的动力学特性以及基板的平面外振动，预报了展开过程中支撑管与基板的接触碰撞，并通过悬吊式展开试验验证了计算结果。结果表明，本文计算能够预报充气太阳能帆板在空间展开的动力学特性。     

系绳力对降落伞拉直过程的影响

文章采用多刚体模型研究了伞绳的系力对降落伞拉直过程的影响。在物伞系统的动力学模型中将引导伞、伞包、伞绳及回收物处理为开链式多刚体,提出了n阶的递推算法来求解绳段间的约束力。利用该模型研究了伞绳的系力对物伞系统运动的影响。仿真结果表明伞绳的系力是影响伞包角加速度的关键因素。     

周边桁架式大型星载天线的展开可能性分析

对某周边桁架式大型星载天线的展开可能性进行了研究。在其展开运动机理分析的基础上，建立了展开机构的力学分析模型，并推导了桁架杆内力的计算式。从桁架展开要满足的功能函数出发，给出机构运动可靠性的分析模型。综合考虑尺寸误差和太空环境因素的影响，将运动功能函数视为随机变量函数，利用二阶矩法导出可靠性计算公式。最后，对机构在整个展开过程中的运动可靠性进行预测和仿真。计算结果的变化趋势与实际进程比较吻合，表明本文方法是合理的、有效的。     

Nanosatellite constellation deployment using on-board magnetic torquer interaction with space plasma

One of the advantages that drive nanosatellite development is the potential of multi-point observation through constellation operation. However, constellation deployment of nanosatellites has been a challenge, as thruster operations for orbit maneuver were limited due to mass, volume, and power. Recently, a de-orbiting mechanism using magnetic torquer interaction with space plasma has been introduced, so-called plasma drag. As no additional hardware nor propellant is required, plasma drag has the potential in being used as constellation deployment method. In this research, a novel constellation deployment method using plasma drag is proposed. Orbit decay rate of the satellites in a constellation is controlled using plasma drag in order to achieve a desired phase angle and phase angle rate. A simplified 1D problem is formulated for an elementary analysis of the constellation deployment time. Numerical simulations are further performed for analytical analysis assessment and sensitivity analysis. Analytical analysis and numerical simulation results both agree that the constellation deployment time is proportional to the inverse square root of magnetic moment, the square root of desired phase angle and the square root of satellite mass. CubeSats ranging from 1 to 3?U (1–3?kg nanosatellites) are examined in order to investigate the feasibility of plasma drag constellation on nanosatellite systems. The feasibility analysis results show that plasma drag constellation is feasible on CubeSats, which open up the possibility of CubeSat constellation missions.     

空间结构展开与刚化

空间展开结构具有能构建大型结构、轻质而且成本低廉的特点。在航天器中呈折叠状的空间结构在空间充气展开后,要呈刚化,使其不因温度变化而引起变形并且不会因空间碎片或流星体的碰撞而被损坏。文中提出了展开前的折叠方法和包装效率评估方法。提出了两种刚化薄膜,在储存状态下易于折叠并能保持其所有的性能。一种采用单层薄膜浸渍长储存寿命树脂基的三轴编织纤维,另一种采用宽广温度范围长储存寿命的交互编织纤维刚性薄膜。     

构架式可展开天线的展开试验研究

对构架式可展开天线结构的缩比试验样机进行了展开试验, 设计了试验方案, 采集了运动过程中测点的展开加速度; 然后用基于Moore-Penrose广义逆矩阵理论编制的程序的分析结果与试验进行了对比, 试验结果与理论分析结果较吻合, 可证明广义逆矩阵理论分析此类结构的可行性.      

空间索杆铰接式伸展臂故障树分析

结合空间索杆铰接式伸展臂的应用环境, 在分析空间索杆铰接式伸展臂组成和展开原理的基础上, 建立以伸展臂展开失效为顶事件的故障树, 分别对其进行定性及定量分析, 获得各底事件的失效概率、概率重要度和关键度结果, 确定引起伸展臂展开失效的主要因素. 结果表明驱动力不足、 角点滚轮卡死、精度失效是影响伸展臂正常展开的主要因素, 据此提出了相应的改进措施, 为空间索杆铰接式伸展臂的展开可靠性分析提供了依据.