Monte Carlo calculation of the exposure of Chinese female astronauts to earth’s trapped radiation on board the Chinese Space Station

With the development of China’s crewed space mission,the space radiation risk for astronauts is increasingly prominent.This paper describes a simulation of the radiation doses experienced by a Chinese female voxel phantom on board the Chinese Space Station(CSS)performed using the Monte Carlo N-Particle(MCNP)software.The absorbed dose,equivalent dose,and effective dose experienced by the voxel phantom and its critical organs are discussed for different levels of shielding of the Tianhe core module.The risk of space-radiation exposure is then assessed by comparing these doses with the current risk limits in China(the skin dose limit for short-term low-earth-orbit missions)and the NASA figures(National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Report No.98)for female astronauts.The results obtained can be used to guide and optimize the radiation protection provided for manned space missions.

Energy conversion materials for the space solar power station

Since it was first proposed,the space solar power station(SSPS)has attracted great attention all over the world;it is a huge space system and provides energy for Earth.Although several schemes and abundant studies on the SSPS have been proposed and conducted,it is still not realized.The reason why SSPS is still an idea is not only because it is a giant and complex project,but also due to the requirement for various excellent space materials.Among the diverse required materials,we believe energy materials are the most important.Herein,we review the space energy conversion materials for the SSPS.

ROBUST H_∞ DESIGN OF THE ATTITUDE CONTROL/MOMENTUM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A SPACE STATION

Through input-output decom position of structured param eter uncertainties of the con- trolled plant, the robustcontrolproblem ofspace station attitude system w ith param eteruncertainties is converted to a conventionaldisturbance rejection H∞ controller design problem , then a full-state feedback H∞ robustcontrollerisform ulated, w hich can be solved using the Glover-Doyle algorithm . The proposed m ethod w asapplied to the attitude control/m om entum m anagem ent (ACMM) system ofa space station, and tw o kinds of param eter uncertainties w hich appear m ost frequently in space- craftengineering w ere considered. Sim ulation results show ed efficiency ofthe given m ethod.

Physics package based on intracavity laser cooling ^(87)Rb atoms for space cold atom microwave clock

This article proposes a new physics package to enhance the frequency stability of the space cold atom clock with the advantages of a microgravity environment. Clock working processes, including atom cooling, atomic state preparation,microwave interrogation, and transition probability detection, are integrated into the cylindrical microwave cavity to achieve a high-performance and compact physics package for the space cold atom clock. We present the detailed design and ground-test results of the cold atom clock physics package in this article, which demonstrates a frequency stability of 1.2×10^(-12) τ^(-1/2) with a Ramsey linewidth of 12.5 Hz, and a better performance is predicted with a 1 Hz or a narrower Ramsey linewidth in microgravity environment. The miniaturized cold atom clock based on intracavity cooling has great potential for achieving space high-precision time-frequency reference in the future.

Science Research and Utilization Planning of China’s Space Station in Operation Period 2022–2032

The core module of China’s Space Station(CSS)is scheduled to be launched around the end of 2020,and the experimental module I and II will be launched in the next two years.After on-orbit constructions,CSS will be transferred into an operation period over 10 years(2022–2032 and beyond)to continuously implement space science missions.At present,based on the project selection and research work in the ground development period of CSS,China is systematically making a utilization mission planning for the operation period,which focuses on the fields of aerospace medicine and human research,space life science and biotechnology,microgravity fluid physics,combustion science,materials science,fundamental physics,space astronomy and astrophysics,Earth science,space physics and space environment,space application technology,etc.In combination with the latest development trend of space science and technology,China will continue to update planning for science research and technology development,carry out project cultivation,payload R&D,and upgrade onboard and ground experiment supporting systems to achieve greater comprehensive benefits in science,technology,economy,and society。

Recent Progress in Space Science and Applications of China’s Space Station in 2020-2022

China scheduled to complete the assembly of the T-shaped Tiangong Space Station in 2022,and will enter a new stage of utilization.There are more than 20 experiment racks inside the modules,and more than 50 external onboard payloads mounting spaces,which will support large-scale science and technology experiments during the operation.The development of internal experiment racks and external research accommodations approved during the construction has been completed,of which 4 racks in Tianhe core module,including High Microgravity Level research Rack(HMLR)and Container-less Materials Processing Rack(CMPR),have finished on-orbit tests;while other racks in Wentian and Mengtian experiment modules are under comprehensive ground tests.The Chinese Space Survey Telescope(CSST)has advanced much in the last two years with 24 pre-launch research projects funded and 4 joint science center built in preparation for CSST’s future scientific observations and operations.The systematic research planning for China’s Space Station(CSS)during 2022-2032 is updated with the researches classified into four important areas:space life sciences and human research,microgravity physical sciences,space astronomy and Earth science,and new space technologies and applications.According to the planning,more than 1000 experiments are expected to perform in CSS during the operating period.Overall,the CSS utilization missions are proceeding as planned,which will contribute to the major scientific or application output and have a positive impact on the quality of life on Earth.

Space station short-term mission planning using ontology modelling and time iteration

This paper studies the problem of the space station short-term mission planning, which aims to allocate the executing time of missions effectively, schedule the corresponding resources reasonably and arrange the time of the astronauts properly. A domain model is developed by using the ontology theory to describe the concepts, constraints and relations of the planning domain formally, abstractly and normatively. A method based on time iteration is adopted to solve the short-term planning problem. Meanwhile, the resolving strategies are proposed to resolve different kinds of conflicts induced by the constraints of power, heat, resource, astronaut and relationship. The proposed approach is evaluated in a test case with fifteen missions, thirteen resources and three astronauts. The results show that the developed domain ontology model is reasonable, and the time iteration method using the proposed resolving strategies can successfully obtain the plan satisfying all considered constraints.

Surface Charging Controlling of the Chinese Space Station with Hollow Cathode Plasma Contactor

A highly charged manned spacecraft threatens the life of an astronaut and extravehicular activity, which can be effectively reduced by controlling the spacecraft surface charging. In this article, the controlling of surface charging on Chinese Space Station （CSS） is investigated, and a method to reduce the negative potential to the CSS is the emission electron with a hollow cathode plasma eontactor. The analysis is obtained that the high voltage （HV） solar array of the CSS collecting electron current can reach 4.5 A, which can be eliminated by emitting an adequate electron current on the CSS. The theoretical analysis and experimental results are addressed, when the minimum xenon flow rate of the hollow cathode is 4.0 sccm, the emission electron current can neutralize the collected electron current, which ensures that the potential of the CSS can be controlled in a range of less than 21 V, satisfied with safety voltage. The results can provide a significant reference value to define a flow rate to the potential controlling programme for CSS.

Computed Tidal Relativistic Red-Shifts of Frequency Standards on Earth and in Space Stations

Frequencies of frequency standards are shifted by the local static gravity red shifts and also modulated by the tidal relativistic red shifts. We compute the tidal relativistic red shifts using a time-domain method and present the numerical results for the National Institute of Metrology （NIM） in Beijing, Laboratoire National de Metrologie et Essais-Systeme de References Temps-Espaee （LNE-SYRTE） in Paris and Physikalisch-Teehnische Bundesanstalt （PTB） in Braunschweig. The differences of the tidal relativistic red shift approach as large as 1.1 × 10^-16 when frequency standards at NIM are compared with those at SYRTE and PTB. Moreover, the tidal relativistic red shifts of frequency standards in space stations are also computed.

Space Environment Measurements and Applications on the Tianhe Core Module of China Space Station

Tianhe Core Module of China Space Station(CSS)equips a set of instruments consisting of a Particle Fluxes and Solar Activity Detector(PFSAD)and two Atmospheric Density Multi-directional Detectors(ADMDs).The PFSAD is to measure X-rays from the Sun and energetic particles in the low-latitude and low altitude regions,including electrons,protons,and helium ions.The ADMDs are to measure thermospheric atmospheric density.The instruments provide real-time data of the orbital space environment,including solar flares,energetic particle variation and thermospheric density enhancement.All the data contribute to the CSS space weather service for mission control and astronaut’s safety.The paper gives preliminary analyses of the space environment measurements from the PFSAD and the ADMDs.By further analysis,the 1024-channel fine spectra of the solar X-ray can be used to study the mechanism of solar flares and their impacts on the Earth’s atmosphere.Data accumulation will be helpful for analyzing mid-term and long-term variations of the South Atlantic Anomaly and atmosphere density.Furthermore,the data are useful to calibrate previous empirical models and establish new models to study the space environment.

Multi-Layer and Multi-Objective Optimization Design of Supporting Structure of Large-Scale Spherical Solar Concentrator for the Space Solar Power Station

Space solar power station is a novel renewable energy equipment in space to provide the earth with abundant and continuous power.The Orb-shaped Membrane Energy Gathering Array,one of the alternative construction schemes in China,is promising for collecting space sunlight with a large-scale spherical concentrator.Both the structural and optical performances such as root mean square deformation,natural frequency,system mass,and sunlight blocking rate have significant influences on the system property of the concentrator.Considering the comprehensive performance of structure and optic,this paper proposes a novel mesh grid based on normal polyhedron projection and spherical arc bisection for the supporting structure to deal with the challenge of the large-scale structural modular design.For both achieving low system mass and high surface precision,a multilayer and multi-objective optimization model is proposed by classifying the supporting structure into different categories and optimizing their internal and external diameters.The Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm is adopted to find optimal sectional dimensions of the different kinds of supporting structure.The infinite model is also established and structural analysis is carried out,which are expected to provide a certain reference for the subsequent detailed structural design.The numerical results indicate that the spherical concentrator designed by the novel mesh grid would obtain as high as 94.37%sunlight collection efficiency.The supporting structure constructed with the multiple layers would reduce the system quality by 6.92%,sunlight blocking rate by 28.54%,maximum deformation by 41.50%,and root mean square by 9.48%to the traditional single layer,respectively.

Artistic Space Design of Subway Station Based on Regional Characteristics

On the basis of existing problems in the spatial design of subway station, this paper explored the principles that regional culture involves in the artistic space design of subway station; based on the analysis of three main design sections and site cases-spatial interface, public art and color, the paper also discussed the artistic application and design embodiment of regional culture characteristics reflected in every element of subway station space design, so as to provide a consolidated design example for subway station space design featuring regional characteristics in the future.

Planning for China's Manned Space Station Announced

The fourth CAST Space Technology Forum was held on November 29, 2012 with the theme of Progress of China's Manned Space Station Project. Scientists, experts and government officials gathered to discuss the scheme, technical issues of the project, which consists of thirteen systems. CASC is in charge of the construction of seven systems through its subsidiaries. CALT is assigned to the building of LM-2F, LM-5 and LM-7 launch vehicles and CAST is assigned to the R&D of a space laboratory,

空间站CO_(2)去除系统节气技术研究

针对空间站CO_(2)去除系统周期性真空解吸会损失大量气体的问题,对系统的节气技术进行研究。从分子筛材料的吸附及解吸特性出发,研究影响系统气体损失量的关键因素。结合系统运行流程和运行周期,综合考虑节气泵工作特性、寿命要求和系统的CO_(2)去除性能,提出了满足指标要求的系统节气方案。采用对损失气体进行实测采样的方法对系统的气体损失量进行了试验验证。试验数据及空间站在轨运行数据表明:设计的节气方案可以控制系统的气体损失量小于45 g/d,提出方案满足设计指标要求。

空间站大规模复杂控制软件基于数据池的软件框架设计

针对复杂航天任务中控制软件不断增长的规模和复杂度带来的问题,对国外先进航天航空机构软件架构设计经验和最佳实践进行了调研,基于此对空间站大规模复杂航天器控制软件的通用框架设计进行研究,提出了一种基于数据池的软件框架设计方法,解决了空间站大规模复杂控制软件多舱段多机多总线资源管理和可扩展性的难题,实现了软件复杂的底层通信与上层应用处理之间的数据隔离和解耦,有效提高了软件复用率和可扩展能力。

空间站机械臂人机系统设计与验证

在充分调研国际空间站机械臂人机系统设计的基础上,结合中国空间站机械臂人机协同作业需求,建立了空间站机械臂“管理-设计-验证”全周期人机设计体系,通过人机项目规划、人机功能分配等管理要素,针对性地开展了空间机械臂人机系统详细设计,最后,从仿真分析、地面验证、在轨验证三大方面对人机系统进行了全要素全流程的验证,结果表明空间站机械臂人机系统设计合理,可应用于后续航天员出舱活动,保障航天员出舱活动安全、高效。研究结果将为空间机械臂人机系统设计与验证提供体系借鉴和工程指导。

Parametric formation control of multiple nanosatellites for cooperative observation of China Space Station

This study proposes a parametric formation control method for the cooperative observation of the China Space Station(CSS)using multiple nanosatellites.First,a simplified geometrical model of the CSS is constructed using fundamental solids,such as the capsule body and cuboid.Second,the spacecraft formation configuration for the observation mission is characterized by a three-dimensional(3D)Lissajous curve using related design parameters under the full-coverage observation requirements of specific parts,such as the CSS connecting section and collision avoidance constraints.Third,a double-layer control law is designed for each nanosatellite,in which the upper layer is a distributed observer for recognizing the target formation configuration parameters,and the lower layer is a trajectory-tracking controller to make the nanosatellite converge to its temporary target position calculated from the upper layer’s outputs.The closed-loop control stability is proven under the condition that the communication network topology of the nanosatellite cluster contains a directed spanning tree.Finally,the control method is verified by numerical simulation,where the CSS connecting section is selected as the observation target,and ten small nanosatellites are assumed to perform the cooperative observation mission.The simulation results demonstrate that the double-layer control law is robust to single-point communication failures and suitable for the accompanying missions of large space objects with multiple nanosatellites.

美国低成本货物及载人空间运输能力发展策略研究

伴随着航天技术的发展和商业化模式的演进以及内外部环境带来的压力,美国政府近年来一直致力于推进低成本货物及载人空间运输能力的发展,取得了一定的实际成果。为研究美国相关能力的发展策略,梳理了其在载人航天领域利用新型公私合作伙伴关系开展空间运输能力开发的情况,并分析了其合作模式特点和相关成本。分析表明:美国低成本货物及载人空间运输能力发展得益于多方面因素的共同作用,其中,商业化模式和新技术应用的推广是降低运输成本、提高运输效率的重要途径;政策扶持、市场建设和技术积累则是重要保障。基于以上研究结果,提出了一些启示和建议,为国内低成本货物及载人空间运输能力的发展和应用提供参考。

基于变遗忘因子的空间太阳能电站时变频率辨识

考虑空间太阳能电站(SSPS)在轨运行时帆板旋转所导致的系统变构型特征,提出一种变遗忘因子广义子空间跟踪器(VFF-GYAST)递推辨识方法,在轨辨识该时变动力学系统的模态频率参数,以提高GYAST方法对于这类时变系统的跟踪能力。基于模态综合技术和子结构方法,建立多旋转关节构型SSPS(MJ-SSPS)的时变姿态-振动耦合动力学方程;根据投影子空间理论,通过计算系统均方差来确定递推过程中的时变遗忘因子,以提高GYAST方法的跟踪性能并辨识得到系统的时变伪模态频率参数。数值仿真结果表明:所提方法能够有效地识别该大型柔性系统的时变频率参数。与传统的递推子空间方法相比,所提方法具有较高的抗噪声干扰能力,在低量测信噪比时所提方法对于频率辨识结果的相对误差的平均值小于5%,且对时变系统的跟踪性能优于基于固定遗忘因子的原始方法。

基于铁路需求侧温度响应的供热系统节能运行策略研究

目的为了解决铁路站区供热系统供热量与各功能建筑需求热量不平衡而导致的能源严重浪费问题,方法提出铁路站区供热系统热源侧与建筑物联动调节的时空差异化运行策略,以响应站区内各建筑室内温度变化需求。首先,分析常规热源侧和建筑物侧运行调节策略,在此基础上研究时空差异化运行策略;其次,以大同某铁路站区供热系统为例,利用Simulink建立供热系统仿真模型;最后,在验证模型有较高准确性的基础上,对比分析3种不同运行策略下系统室内温度动态响应和能耗。结果与热源气候补偿质调节和建筑量调节运行策略相比,热源侧与建筑物联动调节的时空差异化运行策略不仅实现了不同建筑分时分温供热的需求,还有效减小了正常供热时间段和低温供热时间段室内温度波动幅度,提高了室内热舒适性。同时与系统无运行调节相比,热源质调节运行策略节能率为20.7%,建筑物量调节运行策略节能率仅为17.5%,时空差异化运行策略节能率达38.5%。结论本文提出的热源侧与建筑物联动调节的时空差异化运行策略能够满足铁路站区内不同功能建筑的室内变温需求,减小室内温度波动幅度,具有良好的节能效果。