Journal of Space Safety Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Integrated method for autonomous capture of non-cooperative targets in earth orbit based on multimodal information fusion","authors":"Jiahao Chen ,&nbsp;Baojiang Li ,&nbsp;Chenhan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xing Gui ,&nbsp;Bijiang Jie ,&nbsp;Shasha Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.09.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.09.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The proliferation of space debris and defunct spacecraft has dramatically increased on-orbit collision risks. The demand for precise capture and deorbiting of non-cooperative targets is becoming increasingly urgent. However, factors such as target unknownness, the extreme complexity of the space environment, and real-time communication limitations severely constrain the accuracy and success rate of existing capture technologies. To address this, this paper proposes an automated capture process methodology based on multimodal information fusion. This method establishes a closed-loop technological workflow encompassing \"Target Identification - Strategy Formulation - Capture and Grasping\". Specifically, it extracts task intent through lightweight text parsing, enhances decision accuracy by synergizing visual and spatial information, and drives robotic arms for precise control. Simulation experiments confirm that the method exhibits strong robustness against perturbations and maintains reliable performance across diverse benchmark scenarios. Beyond technical improvements, the proposed framework enhances real-time autonomy, reduces the risk of collision-induced fragmentation, and supports long-term orbital sustainability in line with international debris mitigation guidelines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 770-781"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recommendations for flight safety systems through STPA application","authors":"Antonio V.D. Merladet ,&nbsp;Carlos H.N. Lahoz ,&nbsp;Chiara Manfletti ,&nbsp;Diogo S. Castilho ,&nbsp;Rodrigo M. Silveira","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this analysis is to identify systemic factors that may affect the safety and mission performance aspects of Flight Safety Systems, including Flight Termination Systems, through the application of System-Theoretic Process Analysis, a hazard analysis technique based on the System-Theoretic Accident Model and Process approach that is capable of detecting potentially hazardous design and operational weaknesses, including interactions among multiple procedures and system components. This analysis identifies losses, hazards, safety constraints, hierarchical control structures, unsafe control actions, possible loss scenarios, and associated causal factors. It proposes safety recommendations that can be adopted for each identified loss scenario. These recommendations aim to avoid unsafe actions and undesired system behaviors or even to mitigate their consequences. They can be utilized to improve space systems design, launch vehicle systems, ground support equipment productions, launch vehicle operations, and launch approval regulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 641-658"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in active dust mitigation technologies for spacesuits","authors":"Linghao Li ,&nbsp;Xiaolin Qin ,&nbsp;Pengzhen Guo ,&nbsp;Ruxian Tang ,&nbsp;Dingkun Gao ,&nbsp;Yun Chen ,&nbsp;Zin Min Khant ,&nbsp;Haibo Gao ,&nbsp;Rongqiang Liu ,&nbsp;Zongquan Deng ,&nbsp;Lifang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) constitute vital life-support systems for astronaut operations in extraterrestrial environments. Apollo mission data confirm lunar dust as the primary operational hazard during lunar surface extravehicular activities. Contemporary research on active dust mitigation predominantly targets electrostatic systems, mechanical-electrostatic hybrids, and fluid-based methodologies. This review systematically assesses active dust removal technologies for spacesuits, focusing on fluid-based methodologies, mechanical, and electrostatic approaches. While fluid-based methodologies demonstrate superior overall dust removal rates and effectiveness across a broader particle size range, their application in extraterrestrial environments is severely constrained by fluid dispersion in vacuum, resource consumption, and potential contamination. Electrostatic techniques, particularly electrodynamic systems, offer non-contact operation and significant future potential but currently face challenges including high power consumption, reliance on high voltages, and limited efficiency in removing sub-micron particles. Mechanical methods, valued for their reliability and simplicity in handling large particles, were successfully employed in the Apollo program. However, they struggle with fine dust, pose abrasion risks to sensitive surfaces, and exhibit performance variability under different gravitational and pressure conditions. Future research should prioritize overcoming the high-voltage dependency of electrostatic methods through innovative electrode designs and hybrid excitation strategies. Fluid-based methodologies show promise when reconfigured for controlled, enclosed environments like lunar base dust removal chambers, enabling resource recovery and sustainable operation. Mechanical systems require evolution beyond traditional brushing via miniaturization, force-controlled actuators, and integration with electrostatic or vibrational components for enhanced efficiency and reduced wear. Ultimately, the development of hybrid solutions, combining the strengths of these technologies, and advancing materials for self-cleaning surfaces, is crucial for achieving effective, adaptive, and integrated dust mitigation strategies essential for long-term extraterrestrial missions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 631-640"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resonance influence on orbital dynamics of space debris in LEO","authors":"Jorge Kennety S. Formiga ,&nbsp;Rodolpho V. de Moraes ,&nbsp;Denilson P.S. dos Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the effects of resonance on the orbital elements of space debris whose mean motion is commensurable with Earth’s rotation. By applying a suitable sequence of canonical transformations, the system of differential equations describing the orbital motion is reduced to an integrable kernel. Focusing on a specific resonant angle, numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the variations in the orbital elements of space debris orbiting near the <span><math><mrow><mn>15</mn><mo>:</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span> resonance, specifically in LEO orbit at altitudes ranging from 559 km to 563 km. The study reveals that the motion in the vicinity of the exact resonance region is highly sensitive to minor perturbations and that the resonance effect occurred primarily in near-circular orbits and at high inclinations where the effect of the Earth non-sphericity (<span><math><msub><mi>J</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></math></span>) has low influence This sensitivity suggests that these regions may exhibit chaotic behavior or lead to collision-prone orbits considering different initial conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 694-704"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LIDAR based site assessment for rendezvous, docking and landing applications of autonomous space vehicle","authors":"Krishna Mohan ,&nbsp;Sreeja S ,&nbsp;Ponmalar M","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper develops a LIDAR-based landing site risk map generation and safety estimation technique for autonomous space vehicles to develop a feature extraction method for rendezvous and docking applications and to generate a Digital Elevation Model of ground points using PDAL. The open source C / C++ library and the Point Data Abstraction Library software program, or PDAL, are used to translate, filter and analyze point-cloud data, including a LIDAR point-cloud dataset. There are many software programs available; however, they are neither flexible nor simple to integrate. By offering abstract access, filtering, exploitation, and workflow management features in an open-source package, PDAL bridges the gaps in spatial point-cloud software. These platforms allow us to produce reference models that are helpful for applications related to landing, rendezvous, and docking. The algorithm is developed and validated using an Aerial Laser Scanner dataset.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 705-714"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The need for a strict interpretation of legal instruments to ensure effective international cooperation","authors":"Quentin Guého","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The space sector has always been seen as an ideal way of fostering cooperation between states, and the International Space Station (ISS) has long been proof of this. But the geopolitical situation is deteriorating, and with it the legal context. One of the culprits: misinterpretation of the terms of space treaties. A treaty must be interpreted in the same way by all States, otherwise it will generate tensions and conflicts. In this paper, after an overview of the issues regarding interpretation of international treaties, we will examine five central questions of international space law: the placement of nuclear weapons in outer space, the principle of non-appropriation regarding resources exploitation, militarisation of outer space, the meaning of the word “astronaut” and finally, the boundary between airspace and outer space. We look at these examples, without providing any answers, and argue that the terms should be defined when the treaties are negotiated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 723-729"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145766122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cover","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S2468-8967(25)00142-9","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S2468-8967(25)00142-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Page CO1"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Operationalisation of industry best practices in SSE standardisation for space mission systems","authors":"Gregory Epiphaniou ,&nbsp;Duncan Greaves ,&nbsp;Carsten Maple ,&nbsp;Martin Nelson ,&nbsp;Gregory Falco ,&nbsp;Nikolaos Ersotelos","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.08.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.08.009","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The protection of space units is of utmost importance in performing synchronisation tasks for space missions. In this context, scientific approaches related to Secure Software Engineering (SSE) have been proposed. The primary goal of SSE is to safeguard invaluable vulnerable mission assets throughout their lifecycle and under different operation types. Tools for automating and maintaining specific processes are becoming increasingly accessible for systems needing the highest levels of assurance. These technologies provide a higher level of assurance than formal methods alone and promise cost savings via automation and early diagnosis of problems. Space agencies, such as ESA and NASA, have introduced rigorous software engineering standards—such as ECSS-E-ST-40 and CCSDS 350.7-G-1—to ensure software assurance in complex or safety-critical space projects European Cooperation for Space Standardization (2009), Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (2019). However, this has created a complex landscape in which companies or consortia must follow different standards depending on which space agency they have been contracted. In addition, many international bodies have published secure software engineering standards in information technology and software lifecycle processes. Such global SSE initiatives, although mature, have not been formally tested in the lifecycle security of space applications. Numerous studies indicate that the space industry faces a significant threat to existing systems and software engineering due to the growing prevalence of offshore components and third-party commercial products not specifically made to suit supply chain needs. These commercial off-the-shelf items jeopardise the integrity of the aerospace industry’s technical systems and potentially endanger the lives of its operators and end-users Tranchard (2018). Given that software spans throughout the whole product lifecycle in any space program, existing initiatives must try to unify SSE practices in engineering, quality, and management whilst providing the testbed for validating the practical integration of SSE. However, technical and research challenges are identified as part of these SSE standardisation activities, such as the heterogeneity of the landscape in terms of SSE coverage, mapping of generic software security requirements to bespoke space applications, and accessibility and deployment of associated tools. This paper approaches the problem by identifying SSE best practices and standards from comparable industries. It compares and comments on their applicability to the space sector, justifying any unique requirements that can feed directly into the user requirements in existing efforts, and details any gaps identified. We envision that the outputs from this work will contribute to shaping formal recommendations and updates to relevant space standards by identifying and adapting suitable SSE processes that support automated testing and align with ","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 730-748"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling of thermomechanical properties of PTFE-based nanocomposite for space application: Thermal expansion","authors":"Sayavur I. Bakhtiyarov ,&nbsp;Lia D. Gventsadze ,&nbsp;Elguja R. Kutelia ,&nbsp;David I. Gventsadze ,&nbsp;Ayten S. Bakhtiyarova ,&nbsp;Stephen M. White","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.10.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.10.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A thermal expansion model is developed to predict a thermal expansion coefficient for polymers matrix with iron doped CNTs filler. The model assumes a homogenous polymer matrix filled with the Fe doped CNTs, each CNT is doped by Fe atoms and the fillers are oriented parallel to the thermal expansion direction. The proposed model also doesn’t consider interfacial effects between the polymer matrix and nanofillers. The values of the thermal expansion coefficients for pristine PTFE and PTFE based nanocomposite with Fe doped CNTs filler of various concentrations were predicted using the proposed model and compared with the available thermomechanical information available in literature for the components of the composite. The results of simulations for pristine PTFE and PTFE with 2.5, 7.5 and 10 vol.% Fe doped CNTs fillers showed that, due to the low thermal expansions of the filler’s components (CNT and Fe) as compared to the polymer matrix (PTFE), thermal expansion coefficients of the PTFE based nanocomposites are up to 20 % lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of pristine PTFE. A linear empirical equation is provided to predict a thermal expansion coefficient as a function of the filler concentration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 715-722"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of SATCON recommendations on the safety and sustainability of large constellations","authors":"Megan E. Perks ,&nbsp;Hugh G. Lewis ,&nbsp;Nina Vaidya","doi":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jsse.2025.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The collision risk posed to satellites is a key factor when assessing the long-term sustainability of activities in space. Additionally, advocates for the preservation of dark and quiet skies have raised concerns about the impacts of large satellite constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on astronomical observations due to satellite streaks and an increase in diffuse night sky brightness from the space debris population. In response, multiple astronomy-driven working groups have been established to develop recommendations designed to reduce interference with astronomy-related uses of space. For example, the Satellite Constellations (SATCON) workshops produced recommendations which are incorporated into guidelines published by the International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU CPS). The DAMAGE computational model was used to study the effects of reducing large constellation altitudes to below 600 km on satellite conjunctions as has been recommended to reduce the impact on optical astronomy. The impact of this altitude reduction on both satellite collision risk and optical astronomy was evaluated. This study found that whilst operating satellites at lower altitudes reduces the contamination of astronomical images, the impact on collision risk for constellation satellites increases due to the reduced orbital volume within which the constellation operates. When formulating space sustainability guidelines, it will be important to consider this and other trade-offs arising from the perspectives of different users of the space environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37283,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Space Safety Engineering","volume":"12 4","pages":"Pages 782-791"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}