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.     

EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR THE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF SPACE PLASMAS

The Cluster mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) will allow, for the first time three-dimensional measurements in key regions of the Earth's magnetosphere to be carried out. The European Numerical Simulation Network (ENSN) aims at providing a theoretical support to the mission. We describe the achievements of the ENSN during its first period of activity 1991–1994, during which the network was funded by the European Union. In particular, the ENSN has set up (i) thematic Working Groups on the prime scientific goals of the mission, (ii) a code development Working Group to develop numerical simulation codes specifically adapted to studying magnetospheric boundaries and the corresponding scale mixing, and (iii) software models of Cluster instruments to test in a numerical simulation what the set of four instruments will measure.     

Scientific Planning and Commanding of the Rosetta Payload

ESA’s Rosetta mission was launched in March 2004 and is on its way to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, where it is scheduled to arrive in summer 2014. It comprises a payload of 12 scientific instruments and a Lander. All instruments are provided by Principal Investigators, which are responsible for their operations. As for most ESA science missions, the ground segment of the mission consists of a Mission Operations Centre (MOC) and a Science Operations Centre (SOC). While the MOC is responsible for all spacecraft-related aspects and the final uplink of all command timelines to the spacecraft, the scientific operations of the instruments and the collection of the data and ingestion into the Planetary Science Archive are coordinated by the SOC. This paper focuses on the tasks of the SOC and in particular on the methodology and constraints to convert the scientific goals of the Rosetta mission to operational timelines.     

飞机空中加油任务剖面优化设计

介绍了某型飞机执行作战任务途中何时进行空中加油，并按照最大航程截击对飞机各个飞行任务段的飞行性能进行了计算，得出了最佳巡航速度，确定了最优的加油时机和加油量。计算过程中采用了遗传算法，考虑了爬升过程和巡航过程中飞机变质量的难点问题，提高了计算结果的可信度。     

多航天器协同探测效能影响参数不确定性分析

为解决传统基于蒙特卡洛仿真的探测效能不确定性分析评价方法中时间效率低,参数关系映射单一的问题,提出一种基于神经网络的不确定性分析方法,利用人工神经网络在拟合回归分析上的非线性特性,设计了能够替代复杂系统的神经网络结构,能够通过少量仿真计算结果作为训练样本实现模型的收敛并能有效反映被替代系统的原有特性。选择以一个多航天器的天文观测任务作为典型用例,建立了仿真分析模型,并与蒙特卡洛仿真方法结果进行了对比,验证了此方法的准确性和计算效率。     

运输机空投货物建模与任务性能影响因素研究

针对当前运输机空投货物模型可拓展性不强的问题,提出了分离体的建模方法。在无需分析货物与飞机整体质心变化的情况下,分别以货物和飞机为对象进行受力分析,推导了货物与飞机之间的相互作用力,建立了更加贴近实际的运输机单件货物空投和连续空投的动力学模型。最后,通过数值仿真,分析了飞行速度和牵引伞牵引比对空投任务性能的影响。结果表明,飞行速度和牵引比越大,飞机在货物干扰作用下的状态变化量越小。     

多阶段任务系统通用可靠性仿真模型

归纳了当前多阶段任务系统(PMS,Phased Mission Systems)可靠性建模的基本假设,指出了解析模型描述和求解能力的不足以及仿真模型存在的难以转换的缺点.应用着色Petri网(CPN,Colored Petri Net) Tools建立PMS的多层通用仿真模型:顶层控制模型将PMS各阶段的故障树参数化,作为CPN通用仿真模型的输入;单阶段处理模型根据顶层控制模型的输入判别该阶段顶事件是否发生;底事件处理模型通过比较随机数和故障发生概率的大小产生故障.通用仿真模型可以保持模型结构的稳定,同时又简化了仿真模型的生成.案例对比了CPN仿真模型与二元决策图(BDD,Binary Decision Diagrams)算法的可靠性计算结果,证明了模型的正确性;具有动态变化参数的PMS仿真则说明了模型的适用性.      

火星着陆探测任务关键环节技术途径分析

火星进入、下降与着陆技术(entry,descent and landing,EDL)是火星着陆探测最为关键的环节。火星与地球再入返回过程相比,由于火星大气成分、物理性质与地球大气存在较大差别,且具有较大不确定性,使火星EDL过程历经时间短、状态变化快,对减速性能要求高,时序紧张。从工程实现角度分阶段开展了任务分析,识别了火星EDL环节面临的问题和挑战,提出了关键环节技术途径选择。     

月面冯·卡门撞击坑的着陆选址和科学探测目标浅析

冯·卡门（Von Kármán）撞击坑位于月球背面南极—艾肯（South Pole-Aitken,SPA）盆地中部,是中国“嫦娥4号”计划的优先级较高的探测目标。对该撞击坑的着陆和探测,有助于揭示月球形成和演化的一些关键问题,在月球科学研究中具有重大的意义。论文概要总结了冯·卡门撞击坑的研究意义和科学价值;结合LRO卫星LOLA数据、Clementine UV-VIS数据、GRAIL数据、“嫦娥2号”卫星CELMS等数据,简要分析了冯·卡门撞击坑的地形、成分、深部结构和亮?%rater are analyzed with LRO satellite LOLA data,Clementine UV-VIS data,GRAIL data,and Chang''E-2 CELMS data and their scientific meanings are also presented. Finally,combined with our results and the previous prospects about theVon Kármán crater,three candidate landing sites and the possible scientific discoveries are proposed.     

月球中继通信卫星系统发展综述与展望

中继通信是一些月球探测任务中必须解决的关键问题,特别是月球背面和两极地区的着陆和巡视探测任务以及载人登月任务。对国内外月球中继通信卫星的研究和发展情况进行了综述,在对月球中继通信任务需求分析的基础上,从中继通信体制选择、轨道选择等方面对月球中继通信任务的实现途径进行了分析,并对月球中继通信技术的未来发展进行了展望。