An active debris removal parametric study for LEO environment remediation

Recent analyses on the instability of the orbital debris population in the low Earth orbit (LEO) region and the collision between Iridium 33 and Cosmos 2251 have reignited interest in using active debris removal (ADR) to remediate the environment. There are, however, monumental technical, resource, operational, legal, and political challenges in making economically viable ADR a reality. Before a consensus on the need for ADR can be reached, a careful analysis of its effectiveness must be conducted. The goal is to demonstrate the need and feasibility of using ADR to better preserve the future environment and to explore different operational options to maximize the benefit-to-cost ratio. This paper describes a new sensitivity study on using ADR to stabilize the future LEO debris environment. The NASA long-term orbital debris evolutionary model, LEGEND, is used to quantify the effects of several key parameters, including target selection criteria/constraints and the starting epoch of ADR implementation. Additional analyses on potential ADR targets among the existing satellites and the benefits of collision avoidance maneuvers are also included.     

基于HLA的航天飞行任务联合仿真系统设计

简要说明了HLA的基本特点,描述了一个已经实现的航天测控仿真系统,并将其结构思想与HLA进行了对照。在此基础上,提出了一个依据HLA标准,对航天员座舱仿真、火箭和飞船仿真、测控网仿真等进行集成的航天飞行任务联合仿真系统框架,分析了各个仿真联邦成员的功能需求和信息接口,并着重介绍了针对任务要求的时间管理、数据通信等关键RTI机制的设计和实现方法,以及参照FEDEP模型和借助商业成品软件工具的系统开发策略。     

A study of the material density distribution of space debris

Material density is an important, yet often overlooked, property of orbital debris particles. Many models simply use a typical density to represent all breakup fragments. While adequate for modeling average characteristics in some applications, a single value material density may not be sufficient for reliable impact damage assessments. In an attempt to improve the next-generation NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model, a study on the material density distribution of the breakup fragments has been conducted and summarized in this paper.     

Longitudinal behaviors of the IRI-B parameters of the equatorial electron density profiles retrieved from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC radio occultation measurements

The electron density profiles in the bottomside F₂-layer ionosphere are described by the thickness parameter B0 and the shape parameter B1 in the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. We collected the ionospheric electron density (N_e) profiles from the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) radio occultation measurements from DoY (day number of year) 194, 2006 to DoY 293, 2008 to investigate the daytime behaviors of IRI-B parameters (B0 and B1) in the equatorial regions. Our fittings confirm that the IRI bottomside profile function can well describe the averaged profiles in the bottomside ionosphere. Analysis of the equatorial electron density profile datasets provides unprecedented detail of the behaviors of B0 and B1 parameters in equatorial regions at low solar activity. The longitudinal averaged B1 has values comparable with IRI-2007 while it shows little seasonal variation. In contrast, the observed B0 presents semiannual variation with maxima in solstice months and minima in equinox months, which is not reproduced by IRI-2007. Moreover, there are complicated longitudinal variations of B0 with patterns varying with seasons. Peaks are distinct in the wave-like longitudinal structure of B0 in equinox months. An outstanding feature is that a stable peak appears around 100°E in four seasons. The significant longitudinal variation of B0 provides challenges for further improving the presentations of the bottomside ionosphere in IRI.     

Peculiarities of the nighttime winter foF2 increase over Irkutsk

An analysis of properties and peculiarities of the nighttime winter foF2 increases (NWI) in the East Siberia is made on data of ionospheric station Irkutsk in the periods 1958–1992 and 2002–2009 and the empirical model of the F2 layer critical frequency under the geomagnetic quiet conditions deduced from these data (model Q-F2). It is revealed, that the NWI is the stable regularity of the quiet ionosphere over Irkutsk. The amplitude of the NWI (the difference between maximum and minimum foF2 values at night hours) is the greatest in December–January and nearly the same at low and middle solar activity. It is a peculiarity of the quiet ionosphere in the East Siberia. Maximum in night foF2 under quiet geomagnetic conditions is observed mainly after midnight (02-04 LT) and is shifted to predawn hours as solar activity increases. At low solar activity the quiet ionosphere at ∼02–04 LT shows the following properties: (a) the fluctuations of foF2 and hmF2 are in the reverse correlation but this dependence is weak; (b) very strong fluctuations of foF2 (|δfoF2| > 30%) occur seldom (∼4% of events) and almost all of them are positive; an example of very strong fluctuations of foF2 up to 60% can be an extreme increase in the foF2 on 19.12.2008; (c) the very strong enhancements of foF2 in the NWI maximum can be observed at the low geomagnetic activity, they occur more often during substorms but very seldom during geomagnetic storms. Possible reasons of these properties of NWI are discussed.     

电离层薄层高度对电离层模型化的影响

利用IRI2012模型分析了电离层薄层高度的时空变化规律,提出了基于应用中STEC的电离层改正误差分析理论,分析了电离层薄层高度变化的相关影响.结果表明,电离层薄层高度变化对电离层穿刺点位置、投影映射函数值、电离层建模结果、电离层模型精化和电离层模型精度评估结果的影响较大.高度截止角为10°时,电离层薄层高度变化导致电离层穿刺点的经纬度差异最大可达3.2°,投影映射函数最高可引入约15.46%的误差,电离层建模结果差异和建模实用误差最高分别达9.71%,3.64%,采用不同薄层高度数据的电离层模型参数拟合和模型精化结果最大可引入约9.26%的误差,采用不同电离层薄层高度数据进行模型精度评定时最大可引入约9.62%的误差.根据这些研究结果可知：在实际应用中应采用电离层薄层高度模型,并选取较大的卫星高度截止角来减小薄层高度变化引入的误差;采用固定高度时,区域电离层建模采用与实际电离层薄层一致的固定高度;进行精度评估时,参考数据的电离层薄层高度与需要精度评估的电离层模型薄层高度相等.     

基于参数化外形的通用大气飞行器建模与分析

提出了一类翼身组合升力体外形通用大气飞行器(Common Aero Vehicle, CAV)的参数化外形建模方法,采用气动工程预估方法计算CAV的气动系数,拟合得到能用于再入飞行器制导与控制仿真的气动模型,并通过分析,得到该模型静稳定性、气动效率及气动控制特性等方面的结论。结合飞行器再入飞行的运动方程,选取平衡工作点,基于小扰动线性化模型得到系统特征根分布来分析其稳定性,发现固定姿态的滑翔飞行时系统有正半平面极点,需主动控制调节;为了分析机动性,提出了以星下点轨迹曲率求取CAV转弯半径的方法,可快速获取机动性评估与参考指标,结果表明,该模型具有较好的转弯机动能力。     

基于Pro/E的双轴定位机构虚拟样机的建模与校核

介绍了在Pro/E设计平台上完成某卫星天线双轴定位机构虚拟样机模型的建模、仿真与校核。根据该定位机构的特点,建立了虚拟样机模型并完成静态校核。通过设定必要的参数值,对虚拟样机作包括运动学和动力学仿真的动态校核。由仿真结果与规定设计指标的比较可知,该虚拟样机符合设计要求。     

A review of bird-like flapping wing with high aspect ratio

Bird-like flapping-wing vehicles with a high aspect ratio have the potential to fulfill missions given to micro air vehicles, such as high-altitude reconnaissance, surveillance, rescue, and bird group guidance, due to their good loading and long endurance capacities. Biologists and aeronautical researchers have explored the mystery of avian flight and made efforts to reproduce flapping flight in bioinspired aircraft for decades. However, the cognitive depth from theory to practice is still very limited. The mechanism of generating sufficient lift and thrust during avian flight is still not fully understood. Moving wings with unique biological structures such as feathers make modeling, simulation, experimentation, and analysis much more difficult. This paper reviews the research progress on bird-like flapping wings from flight mechanisms to modeling. Commonly used numerical computing methods are briefly compared. The aeroelastic problems are also highlighted. The results of the investigation show that a leading-edge vortex can be found during avian flight. Its induction and maintenance may have a close relationship with wing configuration, kinematics and deformation. The present models of flapping wings are mainly two-dimensional airfoils or three-dimensional single root-jointed geometric plates, which still exhibit large differences from real bird wings. Aeroelasticity is encouraged to consider the nonignorable effect on aerodynamic performance due to large-scale nonlinear deformation. Introducing appropriate flexibility can improve the peak values and efficiencies of lift and thrust, but the detailed conclusions always have strong background dependence.     

Martian obstacle and bow shock: origins of boundaries anisotropy

The origin of the anisotropy in the shape of the Martian obstacle and bow shock is analyzed using Mars Global Surveyor observations. The influence of MHD or ion pick-up effects on Martian obstacle position was to be small found, however, localized Martian crustal magnetization increases the thickness of the downstream planetary magnetotail by 500–1000 km in agreement with earlier Phobos 2 observations. A new analytical model is presented for Martian obstacle shape variation for different solar wind ram pressure. Elongation of the Martian BS cross-section in the direction perpendicular to IMF was confirmed while the shift of this cross section in the +Y direction of Martian interplanetary medium reference frame was discovered. The shift of BS cross section in the direction of interplanetary electric field was not revealed thus not conforming the idea that mass-loading play some role in BS control.