Acta Astronautica最新文献

{"title":"Laser utilization in outer space: Institutional bottleneck and prospects","authors":"Jie Long,&nbsp;Wenzhen Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of space technology encompasses not only technological aspects but also legal applications. Establishing international regulations that effectively govern the risks associated with space lasers is crucial to ensure space security and long-term sustainability. Dual-use laser technology has widespread applications within space activities, such as ranging and tracking, security defence, and resource exploitation. The legality of employing lasers in outer space varies depending on intentions, laser thresholds, and behavioural modes, encompassing provisions related to the deployment and use of space weapons and general international laws governing the use of force outlined in UNGA resolutions. However, both legally binding “hard law” measures and non-legally binding “soft law” face challenges when defining, regulating, and restricting the utilization of lasers in outer space. Given the complex circumstances arising from advancements in space laser technology and its applications, relevant international rules should further interpret existing “hard law” while actively reinforcing certainty and enforceability through strengthened implementation of “soft law”. Efforts should be directed towards promoting synergistic interpretation and application of diverse sources within international law frameworks to enhance global effectiveness in governing space security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 758-771"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143368332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A graph-based framework of low-energy transfer design","authors":"Kenta Oshima","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exploring the solution space of low-energy transfer trajectories in the multi-body gravitational environment is a challenging task. The highly nonlinear dynamics and many degrees of freedom of control inputs lead to a vast variety and number of possible solutions. This paper develops a graph-based framework for computing low-energy transfer trajectories in a multi-objective fashion. The graph nodes are represented by the periapsis states and their connectivity is evaluated by the fixed-time-of-arrival method. This paper introduces special apsis conditions, with which pivotal dynamical objects in the low-energy regime such as the zero-velocity surface, the recently identified barrier surface, and symmetric periodic orbits associate, to generate the periapsis states in a practical manner. Initial guess solutions are obtained as shortest paths in the graphs that are optimized to minimize the fuel cost. The framework is shown to be effectively applicable to distinct phase-space regions in a unified manner demonstrating its versatility in the complex dynamical environment. This paper finds new Pareto solutions in the halo-to-halo transfer problem as well as the high-energy excursion technique that enhances the flyby effect in the multi-flyby transfer problem as by-products of the applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 644-661"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143072350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gamification in space law: A strategy to navigate the growing landscape","authors":"Anna Hurova ,&nbsp;Mélanie Becker ,&nbsp;Nicolas Becu","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of utilizing gamification to analyze problem issues surrounding space sustainability. It examines the psychological impact of gamification on behaviour patterns and explores various approaches to game creation based on the level of abstraction. Additionally, the study investigates different types of games and their practical application in resolving space sustainability problem issues. The study introduces a system-thinking game as a tool for understanding fundamental misconceptions related to space sustainability. The law was analyzed from the perspective of the language game and the common features of law and game were pointed out. Furthermore, the study highlights the interpretive role of current space activity as a significant mechanism for law-making, drawing from recent space law and policy documents. These findings underscore the utility of gamification for reconstructing space governance and ensuring space sustainability. Building upon the insights gathered, the concept of the game is constructed based on the PARDI framework. This framework provides the context and inspiration for all interested stakeholders to collaboratively develop a meaningful and serious game. The core gamification concept, elucidated through the lens of space activity in this publication, serves as the foundation for this co-construction. In conclusion, this research demonstrates the potential of gamification as a valuable tool for analyzing and addressing space sustainability challenges. By leveraging the PARDI framework and core gamification principles, stakeholders can actively participate in the development of a game that promotes a comprehensive understanding of space governance. Through this collaborative effort, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and responsible future in space activities, ensuring the long-term viability of human activities beyond Earth's boundaries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 749-757"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research on the effects of shock waves induced by a ramp on combustion oscillation in a scramjet combustor","authors":"Yitong Zhao ,&nbsp;Guangming Du ,&nbsp;Ye Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving effective mixing of fuel and air under supersonic flow conditions remains a significant challenge. Techniques such as utilizing cavities and inducing shock waves can enhance mixing and facilitate ignition within the engine. However, these methods also introduce complexities to the flow structure, potentially resulting in more intricate combustion oscillations that could adversely affect the engine's structural stability and performance. This study investigates the effects of an isolator ramp on the combustion oscillation process of kerosene fuel in a combustor, under flight conditions equivalent to Mach 8, through ground-based experiments. The isolator ramp is installed on the lower wall of the isolator at two distinct distances-65 mm and 95 mm-from the leading edge of the combustor cavity. Air throttling is employed to aid the ignition process. The findings indicate that the oblique shock wave generated by the isolator ramp plays a crucial role in influencing combustion oscillations. Positioning the ramp 95 mm upstream of the cavity's leading edge, rather than 65 mm, is more effective at mitigating the upstream propagation of combustion backpressure. This approach reduces the risk of engine unstart caused by combustion backpressure and suppresses combustion oscillations. Furthermore, the interaction between the oblique shock wave from the ramp and the bow shock wave from the fuel jet diminishes the penetration depth of the fuel injection. This effect weakens the coupling between fuel injection and heat release, leading to a significant reduction in combustion oscillations associated with thermo-acoustic effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 616-626"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143072352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Infradian cardiovascular rhythms and between subject cardiovascular coupling in Mars500 prolonged confinement study","authors":"Daniel Eduardo Vigo ,&nbsp;Francis Tuerlinckx ,&nbsp;Mariano Scaramal ,&nbsp;Rafael Reimann Baptista ,&nbsp;Evgeny Bersenev ,&nbsp;Omer Van den Bergh ,&nbsp;André E. Aubert","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The aim of this study was to characterize infradian rhythms in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as investigate potential synchronization of these parameters among participants in the Mars500 study. This study involved a 520-day simulated mission to Mars, during which six crew members were confined for the entire duration of the experiment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study involved daily measurements of blood pressure and heart rate, taken in the morning and evening for each participant. Mean differences were analyzed using a mixed model design, considering journey stage and time of day as fixed factors, and participant as a random factor. The Lomb-Scargle periodogram was used to identify rhythmic patterns in the data. Significant rhythms were described by fitting a cosine curve using a cosinor model. The level of synchronization between participants' measurements was assessed by analyzing signal pairs using the Hilbert transform. Phase differences were measured in one-month bins using the gamma parameter. Surrogate data was employed for comparison with the observed data. Gamma differences between bins were evaluated using a mixed model design.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All signals showed significant changes over time, and most participants exhibited at least one significant infradian rhythm in the analyzed variables. The primary peaks varied between participants and variables, ranging from 22 days to 520 days. Interestingly, there was a consistent period of 173 days observed in the evening heart rate across all participants. Regarding synchronization, the gamma values of evening heart rate differed from surrogate data in all stages, except during the middle part of the mission.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The primary finding of this study is the identification of significant infradian rhythms in cardiovascular variables, specifically in evening heart rate, with a shared and synchronized period of 173 days among participants. We propose that affective changes associated with different stages of the mission, along with the cohesive functioning of the crew as a unit, may contribute to these variations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 705-714"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of three microbial sterilization technologies on typical microorganisms in the AIT stage and their material compatibility","authors":"Xi Zeng ,&nbsp;Ziang Xu ,&nbsp;Beizhen Xie ,&nbsp;Hong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on efficient microbial sterilization technologies during the Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) stage of spacecraft, and their compatibility with typical spacecraft materials, is crucial for advancing planetary protection technologies, especially in missions targeting Mars. In this study, a prototype integrating three microbial sterilization methods, including vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide (VHP), low-pressure cold plasma (LPCP), and the combination (VHP-LPCP), which show promise for planetary protection applications, was constructed and its reduction efficacy against typical microorganisms during the ‘assembly, integration and test (AIT)’ stage of spacecraft, specifically spore-forming bacteria, was evaluated, which is a crucial step in preventing the biological contamination of Mars with Earth-origin microbes. Additionally, the impact of these three sterilization methods on the performance of materials and electronic components which are commonly used in the aerospace industry was examined. Experimental results demonstrated that using a VHP dosage of 851.1 mg/L·s, applying LPCP at 150 W for 9.76 min, or employing a combined method with 419.4 mg/L·s VHP followed by LPCP at 150 W for 4 min, all achieved a reduction of at least four orders of magnitude in spore counts of three types of spore-forming bacteria on tested surfaces. Compatibility tests with typical spacecraft alloys, polymers, and electronic components indicated that while the sterilization treatments may alter the surface composition of some materials, they did not significantly impact the main functional characteristics of the materials and components, demonstrating promising material compatibility. This study supports the development of robust microbial sterilization technologies for planetary protection, aiding China's deep space exploration efforts, and also provides some guidance for planetary protection in future Mars exploration activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 839-847"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parallel successive convex trajectory optimization for satellite swarms using Picard iteration-based convexification","authors":"Lixiang Wang,&nbsp;Dong Ye,&nbsp;Xianren Kong,&nbsp;Ming Liu,&nbsp;Yan Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, a parallel distributed successive convex trajectory optimization method is developed for large-scale swarms of microsatellites with limited capabilities. First, the original nonlinear satellite dynamics are convexified using Picard iteration. Second, a discretization technique based on Chebyshev polynomials is employed to convert the optimal control problem into a series of parameterized convex subproblems. Compared to traditional step-by-step discretization methods, the modified Chebyshev–Picard iteration-based discretization decouples the satellite state at each discretization point. This decoupling enables parallel computation of satellite states across all discrete points, accelerating the computational process. Third, the decoupling and filtering strategy of collision avoidance constraints is employed to support the distributed parallel optimization of trajectories for hundreds of microsatellites and to eliminate inactive collision avoidance constraints, further enhancing scalability and computational efficiency. Finally, numerical example results indicate that the proposed algorithm boosts computational efficiency by 99% and 70% compared to GPOPS and the standard successive convexification method, respectively. Moreover, it outperforms in both convergence and solution accuracy. These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed method for real-time trajectory optimization in large-scale satellite swarms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 552-564"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accuracy analysis of orbit determination for high Earth orbit gravitational wave detectors using multi-GNSS sidelobe signals","authors":"Lisheng Tong ,&nbsp;Kai Shao ,&nbsp;Defeng Gu ,&nbsp;Chengjun Yang ,&nbsp;Chunbo Wei ,&nbsp;Zicong An ,&nbsp;Zheyu Xu ,&nbsp;Jubo Zhu ,&nbsp;Jian Wang ,&nbsp;Daoping Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is critical to maintain high-precision orbit determination in high Earth orbit gravitational wave detectors. The TianQin space-borne gravitational wave detector, a typical high Earth orbit satellite constellation, utilises an equilateral triangular satellite formation design. This paper presents the first study of the orbit determination of TianQin by utilising global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sidelobe signals through simulation. The number of visible GNSS satellites, tracking performance, position dilution of precision (PDOP), single point positioning (SPP) accuracy, and precise orbit determination (POD) accuracy of the TianQin satellites are comprehensively analysed to provide a reference for subsequent scientific tasks. The conclusions are as follows: (1) Due to the high orbit of the TianQin satellites, the signal intensity is weak, resulting in reduced visibility, narrower elevation angles of the visible antenna, and more prominent geometric accuracy factors. Therefore, utilising multi-GNSS systems and side lobe signals for orbit determination is necessary. (2) The receiver’s signal reception threshold plays a crucial role. Higher receiver sensitivity enhances the positioning and orbit determination performances of the TianQin satellites. (3) With a signal reception threshold setting of -159 dBm, the SPP accuracy of the TianQin satellites using the four GNSS system configurations is 153.81 m. (4) With a signal reception threshold set to -159 dBm, the four GNSS systems can fulfil TianQin’s orbit determination accuracy requirements of 5 m for radial position and 2 mm/s for along-track velocity within a 7-day arc length. TianQin’s position accuracy is 12.27 m for the 3-dimensional (3D) direction and 4.02 m for the radial direction, and the velocity accuracy is 0.65 mm/s for the 3D direction and 0.15 mm/s for the along-track direction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 534-546"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neural convex optimization for real-time trajectory generation of asteroid landings","authors":"Yangyang Ma,&nbsp;Binfeng Pan,&nbsp;Qingdu Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a neural convex optimization framework to achieve high-efficiency and high-accuracy trajectory generation for asteroid landings. The core innovation lies in integrating a deep neural network (DNN) based gravity model into the recently developed reduced space sequential convex programming (rSCP), thereby leveraging the complementary strengths of both methodologies. Two specific neural rSCP methods are developed using fixed-point iteration and Newton-type iteration, both of which can convexify the DNN-related dynamics effectively, while avoiding the computational burden of DNN-related Jacobians. Specifically, the fixed-point iteration-based method approximates state-dependent terms with reference solutions from previous iterations, inherently eliminating the need for Jacobian computations. The Newton-type iteration-based method leverages inexact Jacobian information derived from inexact Newton iterations to circumvent the requirement for exact Jacobian computations. Numerical experiments on a fuel-optimal asteroid landing scenario validate the effectiveness and computational advantages of the proposed methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 606-615"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a micro-thrust measurement system and ground thrust measurement of the micro Hall thruster for Taiji mission","authors":"Shengtao Liang ,&nbsp;Luxiang Xu ,&nbsp;Shixu Lu ,&nbsp;Liexiao Dong ,&nbsp;Mingshan Wu ,&nbsp;Jianfei Long","doi":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Taiji Laboratory for Gravitational Wave Universe has developed a micro-thrust measurement system specifically for ground thrust measurement of a micro Hall thruster. The thrust measurement system's core component is the thrust stand, which is designed based on a hanging pendulum topology and has undergone four generations of iterative optimization. This thrust measurement system is capable of measuring the thrust in the range of 0–100 μN with a resolution better than 0.1 μN. This study presents ground thrust measurements for a ground-optimized version of the micro Hall thruster on board the Taiji-1 satellite. The Taiji-1 micro Hall thruster is currently the lowest power level Hall thruster in orbit and has a unique physical design that allows it to operate without an external cathode. The thrust measurement results demonstrate that the ground-optimized thruster can provide continuous thrust modulation in the range of 0.94–104.67 μN, with a resolution superior to 0.2 μN. This research provides technical support for ground testing and iterative optimization of micro-thrusters for the Taiji gravitational wave detection mission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":44971,"journal":{"name":"Acta Astronautica","volume":"229 ","pages":"Pages 591-599"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}