High energy-density propulsion—reducing the risk to humans in planetary exploration

The potential benefits to humankind of space exploration are tremendous. Space is not only the final frontier but is also the next marketplace. The orbital space above Earth offers tremendous opportunities for both strategic assets and commercial development. The critical obstacle retarding the use of the space around the Earth is the lack of low cost access to orbit. Further out, the next giant leap for mankind will be the human exploration of Mars. Almost certainly within the next 30 years, a human crew will brave the isolation, the radiation, and the lack of gravity to walk on and explore the Red planet. Both of these missions will change the outlook and perspective of every human being on the planet. However, these missions are expensive and extremely difficult. Chemical propulsion has demonstrated an inability to achieve orbit cheaply and is a very high-risk option to accomplish the Mars mission. An alternative solution is to develop a high performance propulsion system. Nuclear propulsion has the potential to be such a system. The question will be whether humanity is willing to take on the challenge.     

Astrophysics in 2006

The fastest pulsar and the slowest nova; the oldest galaxies and the youngest stars; the weirdest life forms and the commonest dwarfs; the highest energy particles and the lowest energy photons. These were some of the extremes of Astrophysics 2006. We attempt also to bring you updates on things of which there is currently only one (habitable planets, the Sun, and the Universe) and others of which there are always many, like meteors and molecules, black holes and binaries.     

国外航天侦察相机和测绘相机发展概况

航天侦察和测绘是战略武装必不可少的组成部分,航天侦察和测绘相机是对地观测卫星的有效载荷。 该文将简要介绍国外航天侦察和测绘相机发展概况、水平和发展趋势。     

The development of a Russian communication satellite of small class, operating in the geostationary and high-elliptical orbits

In 1994-1995 Lavochkin Association (Russia) together with the other enterprises in accordance with technical requirements of the Russian Space agency, developed a new Russian communication satellite of a small class that will operate in both the geostationary (GSO) and high-elliptical (HEO) orbits. This satellite may be injected into operational orbits using a SOYUZ-2 launch vehicle (LV) and a FREGAT upper stage (US) from Plesetsk and Baykonur space launch sites (SLS).The main reason for creating such a satellite was to decrease the cost of the support and development of the Russian communication geostationary satellites group.Russian satellites Horizont, Express, Ekran and Gals, which operate in GSO, are the basis of the space segment for communications, radio and TV broadcasting. All of these satellites are injected into GSO by the PROTON LV. PROTON is a launch vehicle of a heavy class. The use of a middle class LV instead of a heavy class will allow to reduce considerably the launch cost. The change of a heavy class LV to a LV of middle class determined one economic reason for this project. Besides, the opportunity to launch S/C into GSO from Russian Plesetsk SLS increases the independence of Russia in the domain of space communications, despite the presence of the contract with Kazachstan about the rent of Baykonur SLS. Finally, use of small satellites with a rather small number of transponders is more effective than the use of big satellites. It will allow also to increase a satellite group (by the launch of additional satellites) precisely in accordance to the development of the ground segment.     

深空探测器推进系统

以技术较成效的月球探测器、火星探测器推进系统为重点，介绍了国外深空探测活动的情况。简述了深空探测对推进系统的需求、我国航天器液体推进技术的现状。认为我国的推进技术经一些适应性发展，即可满足深空探测的需求，并且设想了我国近期较为可行的深空探测器推进系统方案。     

国外几种新型微化学推力器

介绍了国外几种以微机电系统 (MEMS)技术为基础的液体和固体微化学推力器。这些新型微化学推力器具有MEMS技术微型化、低成本和批量生产的优点 ,并考虑了体积限制和高度集成等空间限制 ,能产生 10 -6～ 10N·s的推力脉冲 ,可用于微型卫星和纳米卫星的姿态调整、变轨和定向的精确控制。同时阐述了这几种微推力器结构特点和制造工艺 ,并与其他类型的推进器进行了比较     

关于天地往返运输系统动力装置

本文对未来天地往返运输系统宜采用的动力装置方案提出一些看法,着重阐明液氧/烃类/液氢三组元推进剂发动机的优点。     

天地往返运输系统空气喷气组合式发动机方案探讨

本文初步探讨了用作天地往返运输系统推进装置的组合发动机,估算了其性能、尺寸、重量以及使用这些发动机时的运载能力。