Removing orbital debris with lasers

Orbital debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) are now sufficiently dense that the use of LEO space is threatened by runaway collision cascading. A problem predicted more than thirty years ago, the threat from debris larger than about 1 cm demands serious attention. A promising proposed solution uses a high power pulsed laser system on the Earth to make plasma jets on the objects, slowing them slightly, and causing them to re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere. In this paper, we reassess this approach in light of recent advances in low-cost, light-weight modular design for large mirrors, calculations of laser-induced orbit changes and in design of repetitive, multi-kilojoules lasers, that build on inertial fusion research. These advances now suggest that laser orbital debris removal (LODR) is the most cost-effective way to mitigate the debris problem. No other solutions have been proposed that address the whole problem of large and small debris. A LODR system will have multiple uses beyond debris removal. International cooperation will be essential for building and operating such a system.     

姿态机动中SGCMG的一种改进奇异鲁棒操纵律设计

单框架控制力矩陀螺(SGCMG)在卫星姿态控制中以其具有大力矩输出能力而受到重视并已成功应用于在轨卫星,其应用难点是构形奇异问题,特别是在快速连续机动的过程中,CMG框架角必须迅速脱离奇异状态.使用描述CMG输出力矩和期望控制力矩夹角的奇异度量方法,以便在仿真中观察判别CMG构形的奇异程度.着重改进CMG的奇异鲁棒操纵律,应用高斯函数的方法确定鲁棒系数.仿真实例表明,与传统的梯度型零运动相比,该方法可以在卫星的连续快速机动中使CMG系统更为迅速地摆脱奇异,更为快速地完成机动并减小姿态抖动.     

基于状态空间法的快速俯仰运动建模研究

通过对过失速机动运动规律和气动力特性进行简要分析,说明了过失速机动气动力建模思路;采用状态空间法建立了快速俯仰运动气动力模型,并对模型的输出方程进行了分析和简化;验证结果表明,气动力模型具有较好的预测结果。     

Progress of microgravity material research during the period of 2007—2009

Orbital experimental researches on crystal growth of Mn-doped GaSb and Bi2Se0.21Te2.79 are briefly summarized. The space experiments were completed in September of 2007 on broad the Foton-M3 satellite of Russia. Ground-based researches on the solidification behaviors of Al-Al3Ni, Al-Al2Cu, Ag-Cu eutectic, Al-Pb monotectic and Cu-Co peritectic alloys in a 50-meter-high drop tube were investigated. New experimental results on the ultrasonic field and the temperature recycling induced to chiral symmetry breaking of NaClO3 crystal also were reported in the present paper.      

面向复杂构型飞机的非定常气动力建模与辨识

不论是现代高机动隐身战斗机的设计需求还是常规布局飞机的飞行动力学分析,深入研究大迎角飞行时的非线性非定常气动力模型都极其重要。基于纵向运动小振幅及大振幅强迫振荡试验数据,分析了常规稳定导数模型的准确性,并从导数模型出发发展了简化涡流和分离流时间迟滞效应的非定常气动力线性模型和非线性模型,最后应用风洞典型机动历程模拟试验验证了模型的有效性。结果表明：对于复杂构型高机动飞机模型,发展并改进的非线性微分方程模型可以准确预测飞机不同机动下的非定常气动力特性,具有较强的工程可行性。     

非凸二次约束下航天器姿态机动路径迭代规划方法

针对复杂约束下航天器姿态机动路径规划问题,首先描述和分析了航天器姿态机动过程中面临的动力学和运动学约束、有界约束、姿态指向约束,把姿态指向约束利用非凸二次型进行表述;其次从能量最优角度出发,将该约束机动问题归纳为非凸二次约束二次规划问题;然后引入线性松弛技术,将该问题转化成双线性规划问题,求出其中一个变量的凸包络和凹包络,降低求解复杂度,从而求出原问题的一个线性松弛。同时为了提高求解精度,提出一种基于评价函数的迭代规划算法,利用线性松弛求出的解作为初值,通过评价函数进行迭代规划,最终求出原问题的最优解。仿真结果表明该方法不仅可以满足复杂的姿态约束,得到全局姿态优化路径,而且能够降低能量消耗。     

On the effect of considering more realistic particle shape and mass parameters in MMOD risk assessments

One of the primary mission risks tracked in the development of all spacecraft is that due to micro-meteoroids and orbital debris (MMOD). Both types of particles, especially those larger than 0.1 mm in diameter, contain sufficient kinetic energy due to their combined mass and velocities to cause serious damage to crew members and spacecraft. The process used to assess MMOD risk consists of three elements: environment, damage prediction, and damage tolerance. Orbital debris risk assessments for the Orion vehicle, as well as the Shuttle, Space Station and other satellites use ballistic limit equations (BLEs) that have been developed using high speed impact test data and results from numerical simulations that have used spherical projectiles. However, spheres are not expected to be a common shape for orbital debris; rather, orbital debris fragments might be better represented by other regular or irregular solids. In this paper we examine the general construction of NASA’s current orbital debris (OD) model, explore the potential variations in orbital debris mass and shape that are possible when using particle characteristic length to define particle size (instead of assuming spherical particles), and, considering specifically the Orion vehicle, perform an orbital debris risk sensitivity study taking into account variations in particle mass and shape as noted above. While the results of the work performed for this study are preliminary, they do show that continuing to use aluminum spheres in spacecraft risk assessments could result in an over-design of its MMOD protection systems. In such a case, the spacecraft could be heavier than needed, could cost more than needed, and could cost more to put into orbit than needed. The results obtained in this study also show the need to incorporate effects of mass and shape in mission risk assessment prior to first flight of any spacecraft as well as the need to continue to develop/refine BLEs so that they more accurately reflect the shape and material density variations inherent to the actual debris environment.     

航天器热平衡试验中的热流测量技术

文章介绍了在航天器热平衡试验中到达航天器表面或被其吸收的红外辐射热流密度的测量技术。     

基于特征模型的挠性航天器姿态快速机动研究

刚体卫星的大角度姿态机动可以用常规的四元数反馈控制,当挠性帆板的振动和中心刚体的耦合系数很大时,大角度快速机动后姿态的稳定度较差．结合特征建模理论,设计一种卫星大角度机动的黄金分割控制算法,对三轴带挠性帆板的航天器姿态机动进行仿真,仿真结果表明,机动完成后的控制精度比四元数反馈控制方法的精度高一个数量级以上。     

小卫星临近作业轨道和姿态联合控制

建立了小卫星相对轨道和姿态的误差动力学模型,根据作业任务和姿态指向要求确定了小卫星相对轨道和姿态的期望运动;采用相对轨道和姿态联合控制策略,并考虑小卫星作业过程中质量和转动惯量的不确定性,设计了自适应全状态反馈控制律;数值仿真结果表明该控制律具有较强的自适应性。