基于测速测角敏感器的火星探测器自主导航方法研究

提出了一种基于天体光谱红移测速和利用星光敏感器测角的测速测角组合导航新方法。该方法与现在的深空探测器导航方法相比,优势明显：一是无需太复杂的轨道动力学模型,简单易行。二是不需要依赖地面的无线电信息,无时延。最重要的是消除了测角导航方法引入的微分误差和测速导航方法引入的积分误差,可以实现精确天文自主导航,满足深空导航连续自主、实时高精度的基础要求。针对该导航方法,首先完成了轨道动力学模型和量测模型的建立工作,然后根据模型的非线性特点,分别采用扩展卡尔曼滤波算法完成了对该组合自主导航方法的研究。最后,对该方法进行仿真验证,通过对仿真结果的分析可以发现,测速测角组合自主导航方法满足巡航段的导航精度指标要求。     

在轨3D打印及装配技术在深空探测领域的应用研究进展

以太阳帆深空探测为引子,对以在轨3D打印及装配技术为基础的在轨制造技术的必要性和可行性进行分析,分别阐述了在轨3D打印技术的技术优势、技术可行性以及在轨装配的最新研究进展,并重点研究了美国NASA资助的“蜘蛛制造”在轨制造技术,此项研究成功地将在轨3D打印和空间自主装配有机结合起来,有望突破目前空间可展开机构无法达到万米量级的技术局限性,为中国深空探测的发展提供了一种可供选择的发展思路。     

A Delphi-Based Framework for systems architecting of in-orbit exploration infrastructure for human exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit

The current debate in the U.S. Human Spaceflight Program focuses on the development of the next generation of man-rated heavy lift launch vehicles. While launch vehicle systems are of critical importance for future exploration, a comprehensive analysis of the entire exploration infrastructure is required to avoid costly pitfalls at early stages of the design process. This paper addresses this need by presenting a Delphi-Based Systems Architecting Framework for integrated architectural analysis of future in-orbit infrastructure for human space exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit. The paper is structured in two parts.     

Evolution and History in a new “Mathematical SETI” model

In a recent paper (Maccone, 2011 [15]) and in a recent book (Maccone, 2012 [17]), this author proposed a new mathematical model capable of merging SETI and Darwinian Evolution into a single mathematical scheme. This model is based on exponentials and lognormal probability distributions, called “b-lognormals” if they start at any positive time b (“birth”) larger than zero. Indeed:

• 1.Darwinian evolution theory may be regarded as a part of SETI theory in that the factor f_l in the Drake equation represents the fraction of planets suitable for life on which life actually arose, as it happened on Earth.
• 2.In 2008 (Maccone, 2008 [9]) this author firstly provided a statistical generalization of the Drake equation where the number N of communicating ET civilizations in the Galaxy was shown to follow the lognormal probability distribution. This fact is a consequence of the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) of Statistics, stating that the product of a number of independent random variables whose probability densities are unknown and independent of each other approached the lognormal distribution if the number of factors is increased at will, i.e. it approaches infinity.
• 3.Also, in Maccone (2011 [15]), it was shown that the exponential growth of the number of species typical of Darwinian Evolution may be regarded as the geometric locus of the peaks of a one-parameter family of b-lognormal distributions constrained between the time axis and the exponential growth curve. This was a brand-new result. And one more new and far-reaching idea was to define Darwinian Evolution as a particular realization of a stochastic process called Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) having the above exponential as its own mean value curve.
• 4.The b-lognormals may be also be interpreted as the lifespan of any living being, let it be a cell, or an animal, a plant, a human, or even the historic lifetime of any civilization. In Maccone, (2012 [17, Chapters 6, 7, 8 and 11]), as well as in the present paper, we give important exact equations yielding the b-lognormal when its birth time, senility-time (descending inflexion point) and death time (where the tangent at senility intercepts the time axis) are known. These also are brand-new results. In particular, the σ=1 b-lognormals are shown to be related to the golden ratio, so famous in the arts and in architecture, and these special b-lognormals we call “golden b-lognormals”.
• 5.Applying this new mathematical apparatus to Human History leads to the discovery of the exponential trend of progress between Ancient Greece and the current USA Empire as the envelope of the b-lognormals of all Western Civilizations over a period of 2500 years.
• 6.We then invoke Shannon's Information Theory. The entropy of the obtained b-lognormals turns out to be the index of “development level” reached by each historic civilization. As a consequence, we get a numerical estimate of the entropy difference (i.e. the difference in the evolution levels) between any two civilizations. In particular, this was the case when Spaniards first met with Aztecs in 1519, and we find the relevant entropy difference between Spaniards an Aztecs to be 3.84 bits/individual over a period of about 50 centuries of technological difference. In a similar calculation, the entropy difference between the first living organism on Earth (RNA?) and Humans turns out to equal 25.57 bits/individual over a period of 3.5 billion years of Darwinian Evolution.
• 7.Finally, we extrapolate our exponentials into the future, which is of course arbitrary, but is the best Humans can do before they get in touch with any alien civilization. The results are appalling: the entropy difference between aliens 1 million years more advanced than Humans is of the order of 1000 bits/individual, while 10,000 bits/individual would be requested to any Civilization wishing to colonize the whole Galaxy (Fermi Paradox).
• 8.In conclusion, we have derived a mathematical model capable of estimating how much more advanced than humans an alien civilization will be when SETI succeeds.

     

火星精确着陆制导问题分析与展望

美国火星科学实验室(MSL)任务成功将“好奇”号火星车着陆到火星表面,开创了火星精确着陆探测的新局面。以MSL着陆任务为典型代表,分析了目前火星着陆探测进入、下降和着陆（Entry, Descent and Landing, EDL）过程的制导方案及制导系统的发展趋势。以在火星高海拔、复杂地形区域定点着陆为潜在工程目标,归纳了火星EDL过程面临的制导主要问题。根据未来制导系统自主性和自适应性的技术需求及潜在工程任务制导面临的问题,提出了火星EDL制导方面需要解决的关键技术,并对其在未来工程中的应用潜力进行了展望。     

γ源辐射角度对光子高度计性能的影响分析

为了研究分析月球环境下γ光子高度计源辐射角度对其性能的影响,文章建立了月球着陆器简化模型,利用基于蒙特卡罗方法的粒子输运程序（MCNP）软件仿真计算了接收处理器捕获的光子计数随γ源辐射角度的变化规律。仿真结果表明：辐射角度小于一定值时,光子计数随着辐射角度的增大近似呈线性增长;当γ源辐射角度增大到一定值时,光子计数基本不再有变化。文章的分析方法和结果可以为合理确定γ光子高度计源辐射角度提供设计参考。     

火星探测任务对环境模拟技术的需求展望

火星探测是深空探测的重点领域,任务特点决定了火星探测器发射前必须在地面进行各种验证试验。随着火星探测任务的持续深入开展将对环境模拟技术提出新的需求。文章在回顾了人类火星探测的历程之后,展望了未来火星探测任务的可能形式,分析了各种环境的地面模拟方法、试验技术所遇到的新挑战,并给出了建议。     

A longitudinal & longitudinal-torsional vibration actuator for rotary-percussive ultrasonic planetary drills

Ultrasonic drills, which can sample rocks using a lower weight on bit and lower power, are more suitable for sampling on a minor planet than conventional drills. To remove cutting chips and improve drilling efficiency, rotary-percussive ultrasonic drills (RPUD) drive drill tools for rotary-percussive motion. This paper proposes a novel longitudinal & longitudinal-torsional (L-LT) actuator, which is composed of a stepped horn, a piezoelectric stack, and a longitudinal-torsional (LT) coupler, for the RPUD. The horn magnifies the longitudinal vibration on the front surface of the piezoelectric stack, which is clamped between the horn and the LT coupler, and impacts the drill tool. The LT coupler transforms the longitudinal vibration on the back surface into longitudinal-torsional vibration, which generates elliptical movements that drive the rotor to rotate. Then, the rotor drives the drill tool to rotate. A method of adjusting the displacement amplitudes of the horn and the driving tips is discussed. The prototype achieved a maximum speed and torque of 193?r/min and 0.065?N$·$m, respectively. The maximum drilling speed through sandstone under a weight on bit of 5?N was 13?mm/min.     

Traverses for the ISECG-GER design reference mission for humans on the lunar surface

This study explores the Design Reference Mission (DRM) architecture developed by Hufenbach et al. (2015) as a prelude to the release of the 2018 Global Exploration Roadmap (GER) developed by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). The focus of this study is the exploration of the south polar region of the Moon, a region that has not been visited by any human missions, yet exhibits a multitude of scientifically important locations – the investigation of which will address long standing questions in lunar research. This DRM architecture involves five landing sites (Malapert massif, South Pole/Shackleton crater, Schrödinger basin, Antoniadi crater, and the South Pole-Aitken basin center), to be visited in sequential years by crew, beginning in 2028. Two Lunar Electric Rovers (LER) are proposed to be tele-robotically operated between sites to rendez-vous with crew at the time of the next landing. With engineering parameters in mind we explore the feasibility of tele-robotic operation of these LERs between lunar landing sites, and identify potential high interest sampling locations en-route. Additionally, in-depth sample collection and return traverses are identified for each individual landing site across key geologic terrains that also detail crew Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA). Exploration at and between landing sites is designed to address a suite of National Research Council (2007) scientific concepts.     

基于同波束干涉的空间三维相对位置测量研究

针对深空探测器相对位置精确测量需求,建立了空间三维相对位置测量模型,研究了基于单基线同波束干涉测量(Same-beam VLBI,SBI)的空间三维位置最小二乘解算方法。利用"嫦娥3号"着陆器的测控天线与定向天线的SBI实测数据,验证了测量模型与解算方法的有效性。结果显示:SBI干涉时延随机误差约0.225 ps(0.07 mm);测控天线与定向天线之间距离误差约0.216 m,方向误差约30.4°。该研究结果有望应用于后续深空探测任务譬如"嫦娥5号"器间高精度相对测量中。