Mars Sample Return: Do Australians trust NASA?

Mars Sample Return (MSR) represents an important scientific goal in space exploration. Any sample return mission will be extremely challenging from a scientific, economic and technical standpoint. But equally testing, will be communicating with a public that may have a very different perception of the mission. A MSR mission will generate international publicity and it is vital that NASA acknowledge the nature and extent of public concern about the mission risks and, perhaps equally importantly, the public’s confidence in NASA’s ability to prepare for and manage these risks. This study investigated the level of trust in NASA in an Australian population sample, and whether this trust was dependent on demographic variables. Participants completed an online survey that explored their attitudes towards NASA and a MSR mission. The results suggested that people believe NASA will complete the mission successfully but have doubts as to whether NASA will be honest when communicating with the public. The most significant finding to emerge from this study was that confidence in NASA was significantly (p < 0.05) related to the respondent’s level of knowledge regarding the risks and benefits of MSR. These results have important implications for risk management and communication.     

21世纪国外深空探测发展计划及进展

21世纪初期,国外深空探测计划层出不穷,各类深空探测器不断升空。文章主要概述新世纪各航天国家或地区的深空探测计划,并分别论述对月球、火星和其他行星以及小天体的探测计划及其进展,最后进行综合分析研究。     

火星无人探测与行星保护

行星保护是每一个开展深空探测的国家都要面对的问题,火星是太阳系里最可能存在地外生命的星球之一,也是行星保护的重点关注对象,在我国火星探测即将正式启动之际,对标国际上行星保护的政策、标准、技术和管理措施,对我国未来在火星探测中满足国际上行星保护的要求至关重要。主要回顾了行星保护的历史,国外在火星探测历史上行星保护正向防护所采取的措施,以及现代科学技术发展对行星保护正向防护相关技术的影响,并对我国未来火星及深空探测活动中应该采取的行星保护正向污染防护技术提出了建议。     

基于约束预测控制的火星大气进入轨迹跟踪

针对火星着陆任务大气进入段的轨迹跟踪控制问题,给出了一种基于约束预测控制的跟踪策略。综合考虑大气进入段动力学模型的非线性、状态初值的不确定性、控制量限幅约束以及参数摄动,设计了基于线性化阶跃响应预测模型、反馈校正和含约束滚动优化的约束预测控制器,并通过数学仿真对该方法进行了数值验证,结果表明:约束预测控制较PID对参考指令跟踪精度更高,开伞点误差圆半径远小于PID方法;能得到控制量限幅约束条件下平稳的控制曲线。     

类火星环境中火箭起降过程喷流影响研究

采用尺度自适应模拟（Scale Adaptive Simulation, SAS）方法对火箭在起降过程中喷流的地面效应进行了数值研究,对比分析了在海平面和类火星环境下的喷流冲击倾斜地面和水平地面时的流场结构以及喷管的侧向载荷。在海平面环境下,喷管内部出现流动分离,喷管内壁压力先减小,在分离点处压力达到最低点,然后压力增加至环境压力。喷流冲击倾斜地面时具有更强烈的流动不稳定性,喷流出现明显的时间演化现象。在类火星环境下,喷管内部不发生流动分离,内壁的压力沿着流向逐渐减小。喷流冲击倾斜地面时,在喷管出口的外侧形成了上下移动的马赫盘;喷流冲击水平地面时,喷流和地面反弹气流相互作用,阻碍了马赫盘的形成。研究结果还表明在类火星环境和海平面环境下,喷流冲击倾斜地面时喷管内壁温度均上升。研究结果将为火箭回收和火星着陆的方案选取提供参考。     

Effect of mixing section configurations on combustion efficiency of Mg-CO2 Martian ramjet

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the mixing section configurations on the Mg-CO₂ Martian ramjet combustion efficiency. It was carried out at a mainstream mass flow rate of 110 g/s and a temperature of 810 K. The chamber pressure was measured under different configurations and Oxidizer to Fuel(O/F) ratios. Results showed that the engine achieved self-sustaining combustion and worked stably during experiments. The pre-combustion chamber is needed to increase the co...     

载人火星探测进展及其EDL过程GNC关键技术

随着火星探测技术的不断发展和探测任务的不断推进,载人火星探测在未来将会成为火星探测的重要手段。首先,回顾了无人火星探测任务的发展历程,对比分析了部分无人火星探测器进入、下降与着陆（EDL）过程的参数。然后,结合无人火星探测、载人月球探测和载人航天再入过程,梳理了载人火星探测的特点及需求,系统地总结了前苏联/俄罗斯和美国的载人火星探测研究进展以及技术储备。接着,归纳了载人火星探测的体系构成、集结方式和主要的技术挑战。最后,概括了载人火星EDL过程面临的难题,重点阐述了EDL的导航、制导与控制（GNC）关键技术。     

Multi-objective optimization of parachute triggering algorithm for Mars exploration

A multi-objective optimization procedure to design parachute triggering algorithm, based on Monte Carlo analysis of flight uncertainties, has been developed in this paper. Most of Mars explorations missions utilize parachute for a safe descent through the lowest of the atmosphere. The parachute triggering algorithm is designed to accommodate the range of off-nominal entry trajectories, and is aimed to parachute opening in certain range of Mach numbers, dynamic pressure and altitude. Our novel algorithm takes the fight uncertainty into the account through Monte Carlo analysis, selects maximization of altitude statistical mean and minimization of Mach number statistical mean as two objectives, then employs multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D), to search the Pareto-front framework. Such a methodology can be implemented on the future design of entry, descent, and landing (EDL) mission.     

Water in Space: The Water World of ISO

In this review we present the main results obtained by the ISO satellite on the abundance and spatial distribution of water vapor in the direction of molecular clouds, evolved stars, galaxies, and in the bodies of our Solar System. We also discuss the modeling of H₂O and the difficulties found in the interpretation of the data, the need of collisional rates and the perspectives that future high angular and high spectral resolution observations of H₂O with the Herschel Space Observatory will open.     

Development of a micro-balance system for dust and water vapour detection in the Mars atmosphere

Quartz crystal piezoelectric sensors are suitable for deposition analyses that need very high sensitivity. Due to the wide working ranges and high performances, micro-balances can measure the mass settling in average Mars conditions during a period of months before saturation is reached. This ensures a proper use for short and long term water and dust deposition monitoring. Micro-balances have been studied, calibrated and used for the GIADA (grain impact analyser and dust accumulator) experiment for the ESA-Rosetta space mission. Experience on micro-balance performance study by dust deposition has been acquired and water vapour deposition studies are in progress in a Martian atmosphere simulation chamber. Preliminary results show that micro-balances are capable to detect up to partial pressure values corresponding to parts per billion of the typical Martian atmosphere.