The classical Laplace plane as a stable disposal orbit for geostationary satellites

The classical Laplace plane is a frozen orbit, or equilibrium solution for the averaged dynamics arising from Earth oblateness and lunisolar gravitational perturbations. The pole of the orbital plane of uncontrolled GEO satellites regress around the pole of the Laplace plane at nearly constant inclination and rate. In accordance with Friesen et al. (1993), we show how this stable plane can be used as a robust long-term disposal orbit. The current graveyard regions for end-of-life retirement of GEO payloads, which is several hundred kilometers above GEO depending on the spacecraft characteristics, cannot contain the newly discovered high area-to-mass ratio debris population. Such objects are highly susceptible to the effects of solar radiation pressure exhibiting dramatic variations in eccentricity and inclination over short periods of time. The Laplace plane graveyard, on the contrary, would trap this debris and would not allow these objects to rain down through GEO. Since placing a satellite in this inclined orbit can be expensive, we discuss some alternative disposal schemes that have acceptable cost-to-benefit ratios.     

Active space debris charging for contactless electrostatic disposal maneuvers

The remote charging of a passive object using an electron beam enables touchless re-orbiting of large space debris from geosynchronous orbit (GEO) using electrostatic forces. The advantage of this method is that it can operate with a separation distance of multiple craft radii, thus reducing the risk of collision. The charging of the tug–debris system to high potentials is achieved by active charge transfer using a directed electron beam. Optimal potential distributions using isolated- and coupled-sphere models are discussed. A simple charging model takes into account the primary electron beam current, ultra-violet radiation induced photoelectron emission, collection of plasma particles, secondary electron emission and the recapture of emitted particles. The results show that through active charging in a GEO space environment high potentials can be both achieved and maintained with about a 75% transfer efficiency. Further, the maximum electrostatic tractor force is shown to be insensitive to beam current levels. This latter later result is important when considering debris with unknown properties.     

空间伸展臂的技术现状与难点

空间伸展臂是一类最基本的空间可展开结构,是大型复杂空间结构的基础,对迅速发展的空间活动有着十分重要的研究意义。文章总结并介绍了不同结构形式空间伸展臂的研究与应用情况,根据各方面性能进行了较为全面的对比分析,并从力学、材料、空间环境影响、振动控制几方面深入分析了空间伸展臂设计和应用的技术难点,初步探讨了空间伸展臂的发展方向,从而为空间伸展臂的设计、选型和分析提供必要的支持。     

基于非抽取小波包变换的信号滤波算法

对航天测控信号进行滤波处理,有利于改善信号品质,提高系统的测量性能。针对航天测控信号中的差分单程测距(DifferentialOne-wayRanging, DOR)信标信号等侧音信号,提出了基于非抽取小波包变换（Un-decimatedWaveletPacketTransform,UWPT）的滤波改进算法。该算法以功率平坦度为准则,判断某一节点是否需要继续分解。改进算法克服了以能量聚焦度为准则时算法误判停止分解或多重分解算法复杂、计算量大等的缺点,同时解决了阈值不易确定的问题。仿真结果表明改进算法在降低算法复杂度的同时,滤波性能相对有所提高。最后采用改进算法对仿真信号和在轨卫星数据进行处理,结果表明滤波后仿真信号差分相位估计精度提高约3倍、实测数据差分相位估计精度提高0.72倍。     

基于竞争环境下的舱位控制博弈模型分析

近年来,收益管理已然成为航空公司增加收益的重要手段,而收益管理模型也已广泛应用。在收益管理舱位控制的研究中,大部分是采用静态或动态建模的方法,针对某一个航空公司进行分析,而对竞争环境下的博弈模型的研究较少。本文在前人研究的基础之上,分析我国航空运输市场,给出一个舱位等级和多个舱位等级情况下的竞争博弈模型,通过对模型的分析可以得出影响舱位控制的因素。     

Debris dispersion effect in N-shape configuration

Spacecraft shields play an important role in shielding against the impact of space debris. Increasing the dispersion degree of the debris produced by the impact of the space debris on the bumper of configuration is able to lower the concentration of debris impacting on the rear plate and thus to reduce the risk of debris perforating the rear plate. In order to improve the dispersion degree, the N-shape configuration is proposed and studied by hypervelocity impact test with the velocity of 4.80 km/s and numerical simulation with the velocities ranging from 3.0 km/s to 7.0 km/s. As a comparison, the distribution of debris impacting on the rear plate is also investigated for the parallel triple-wall configuration with the same areal density. It is found that this degree is increased in the N-shape configuration due to the oblique plate, and therefore the risk of debris perforating the rear plate is reduced compared to the case of parallel triple-wall configuration.     

Optical orbital debris spotter

The number of man-made debris objects orbiting the Earth, or orbital debris, is alarmingly increasing, resulting in the increased probability of degradation, damage, or destruction of operating spacecraft. In part, small objects (<10 cm) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are of concern because they are abundant and difficult to track or even to detect on a routine basis. Due to the increasing debris population it is reasonable to assume that improved capabilities for on-orbit damage attribution, in addition to increased capabilities to detect and track small objects are needed. Here we present a sensor concept to detect small debris with sizes between approximately 1.0 and 0.01 cm in the vicinity of a host spacecraft for near real time damage attribution and characterization of dense debris fields and potentially to provide additional data to existing debris models.     

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.     

Biobjective planning of GEO debris removal mission with multiple servicing spacecrafts

The mission planning of GEO debris removal with multiple servicing spacecrafts (SScs) is studied in this paper. Specifically, the SScs are considered to be initially on the GEO belt, and they should rendezvous with debris of different orbital slots and different inclinations, remove them to the graveyard orbit and finally return to their initial locations. Three key problems should be resolved here: task assignment, mission sequence planning and transfer trajectory optimization for each SSc. The minimum-cost, two-impulse phasing maneuver is used for each rendezvous. The objective is to find a set of optimal planning schemes with minimum fuel cost and travel duration. Considering this mission as a hybrid optimal control problem, a mathematical model is proposed. A modified multi-objective particle swarm optimization is employed to address the model. Numerous examples are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and solution method. In this paper, single-SSc and multiple-SSc scenarios with the same amount of fuel are compared. Numerous experiments indicate that for a definite GEO debris removal mission, that which alternative (single-SSc or multiple-SSc) is better (cost less fuel and consume less travel time) is determined by many factors. Although in some cases, multiple-SSc scenarios may perform worse than single-SSc scenarios, the extra costs are considered worth the gain in mission safety and robustness.