Space Station Technology Research Articles

Analysis of Sino-Russian Space Cooperation in the New Period

The current security situation in space is worrying. Western countries, led by the US, are forming alliances and accelerating the militarisation of space, which could trigger an arms race in space and intensify competition and games between space powers, creating hidden threats to space security. Against this backdrop, the cooperation between Russia and China, which are representatives of space powers that have always strongly advocated the peaceful use of outer space and the prevention of weaponization and arms race in space, has made significant gains in the new period by strengthening the space power of them, continuously deepening the bilateral relations and maintaining space security. More importantly, Russia and China have a good history of aerospace associations, and both of them are aerospace powers and have a firm willingness to cooperate in this field, so the two countries have good objective and subjective conditions for space cooperation. As for the specific ways of cooperation, on the one hand, the two countries should make use of their technological advantages in the new period on deep space exploration, space station technology, joint research and development of key technologies. On the other hand, the two countries should further deepen cooperation in maintaining space security,working together to preserve the outer space for humanity.

Assessment of space station on-orbit maintenance task complexity

The safe operation of a space station relies on a large amount of on-orbit maintenance. On-orbit maintenance task complexity (OOMTC) plays an important role in maintenance processes, maintenance program assessments, astronaut training and scheduling, and space station maintainability design. However, only a few studies involve on-orbit maintenance complexity assessments. We proposed an OOMTC assessments model based on graph entropy. The model framework consisted of two aspects: inherent maintenance complexity and external environmental influences. Inherent factors include: maintenance operation logic, maintenance operations, maintenance knowledge support, and maintenance of human-machine interface; external influence factors take into account tools, operating space, visual occlusion, spacesuit restrictions and time pressure. In addition, an experiment based on the space station technology verification module was designed to verify the effectiveness of the model. The data analysis shows that the maintenance task complexity value (R = 0.9244) is a good predictor of maintenance operation time. Moreover, maintenance complexity can be well classified. The proposed maintenance task complexity assessment model can provide guidance for maintenance manuals and planning assessments, astronaut crew training and staffing arrangements, cargo spacecraft launch schedules, and space station maintainability design.

Active vibration suppression in flexible spacecraft with optical measurement

With the development of the space station technology in China, the active vibration suppression of the lager flexible antennas and solar panels that mounted on the space station is demanded. The active vibration suppression is hard to achieve because these appendages are not allowed to mount actuators on it. Further, the practical goal is usually unachievable by the controller based on the unreliability or impracticality observed vibration parameters. In this paper, the active vibration suppression during the spacecraft attitude maneuver by the optical camera monitoring the dynamic behaviors of the flexible appendages is introduced under the restriction of the freedom of the actuators. The modal parameters of the flexible appendage used in the controller are obtained by the optical monitoring approach. A referenced angular velocity is set as the virtual input by the back-stepping control and Lyapunov method, and the control law is designed to track this virtual input. The constraint of the coefficient in the controller is investigated to guarantee the asymptotic convergence of the system considering angular velocity tracking error. The control manage coefficient is defined to describe the distribution coefficient of the vibration suppression in the design of control law. The relationship between the attitude maneuver accuracy and active vibration suppression is introduced. The appropriate control manage coefficient is obtained numerically. To guarantee the reliability or practicality of the designate flexible spacecraft control system, the optical measurements are used to measure the dynamic behaviors of the large flexible structures. The absence of displacement velocity sensors is compensated by the presence of appropriate dynamics in the controller. The results of simulation validate the feasibility of the proposed control strategy.

Applying international space station (ISS) and solar-sail technology to the exploration and diversion of small, dark near earth objects (NEO's)

Space-Station technology, micron-thick 100-m solar sails, and a near-Earth propulsion system allow exploration of small, dark Near-Earth-Objects (NEO's) of cometary origin. Early crewed missions to NEO's could analyze the objects' properties and evaluate resource-mining possibilities. Later missions to Earth-threatening 100-m radius NEO's could deploy NEO-centered, high-area, low-mass reflective structures. The solar gravitational parameter (GM sun) on a NEO is slightly reduced by increased radiation pressure. The central-force-field equations reveal that NEO eccentricity and average solar distance are thereby slightly increased. Given decades of warning and long-lived reflective canopies, such structures can convert Earth-impacts into near-misses. Although not suitable for NEO mining, such structures are superior to nuclear detonations because (as revealed by the 1994 Jupiter-comet interaction) NEO calving may be a consequence of explosions. NEO despinning is not required.

Space Station technology experiments and uses

With the advent of the Space Station will come significant opportunities to conduct research in the near‐Earth space environment. We anticipate that the Space Station will be an in‐space facility where long duration missions can be conducted. A great deal of experimentation is expected to be performed in such areas as science and applications, technology, and commercial ventures. NASA is working very actively to establish the experimental requirements from each experiment area. This paper addresses the in‐space technology experimental applications and uses of the Space Station as presently envisioned for this next step in space.

Space Station Technology—Challenge and Opportunity

As the start-up of development of a permanent U.S. space station draws near, the technologist is faced with the responsibility of delivering to the designer a product that is “ready” so as to assure effective handover at a minimum level of technical risk or residual development cost. At the same time, the technologist is asked to provide as broad a range of options as possible for the designer’s consideration. All this must be done for a set of requirements and constraints that are as yet vague. These uncertainties make the planning process and management decisions difficult. However, NASA’s approach has been to call on the collective wisdom of the aerospace community through establishment of a Space Station Technology Steering Committee (SSTSC). This in-house NASA committee represents all Centers plus the JPL and covers all significant discipline areas and the experimental spectrum from basic research to system development. Currently ten working groups report to the Committee. A number of issues have been pinpointed by the Committee while identifying the desired level of technology for incorporation in a U. S. space station, both initially and as it grows in size, capability, and utility. These issues revolve around the needs to anticipate requirements, consider minimization of life-cycle costs, engender station growth, maximize efficiency of the technology “hand-over” process, permit on-orbit maintenance and repair, facilitate useful operational and scientific activities, and use space station development as a deliberate mechanism to advance technologies in areas selected to bring major benefit to the United States in general, as well as the space station in particular.

Space Station Productivity from Information Technology

A space station will involve the formation and operation of an assembly of humans and machines with the intent of achieving sustained operation in space for a period of 10–20 years. A major goal of space station technology efforts is to enable both the initial and evolutionary productivity of the space station. Because a space station is expected to be an information-rich system, technologies that improve the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of information will have a high leverage on station productivity. Specific information technology functions and requirements that promote human–machine productivity for a space station are examined.

Space Station Technology Readiness

The paper discusses the meaning of “technology readiness” and how this term fits in the context of the following terms: advanced development, design maturity, risk assessment, qualification, certification, and perceived program need. The architecture of the initial module of the space station must include the provision to enable a systematic and cost-effective growth from the initial module to a space station configuration which includes two or more modules joined together in space. The paper assumes a technology readiness is required in FY 1986 to support an operational initial module of the space station in the early 1990’s. The paper defines ten disciplines/subsystems that make up the performance characteristics of a space station. Each is discussed in turn. A snapshot of the technology available in FY 1983 is used as a reference for future technology planning. A forecast of technology readiness is defined for FY 1986. The planned NASA technology and advanced development program, necessary to move the technology from the identified reference in FY 1983 to the forecast performance in FY 1986, is described including ground rules and assumptions used by NASA in the technology planning, in the use of proto-flight hardware in advanced development tests, and in the alternative techniques to be used for qualification ranging from similarity or certification through black box test or subsystem test. The paper concludes with the view that in order for the evolutionary space station to be economical, productive, and long-lived, provision for subsequent improvements and expansion in technological capability and system performance is required on the initial module. The technology options being investigated by NASA will enable the initial space station module to have provisions for reducing power costs through automated management, closing the environmental control and life support systems loops, automated subsystems, modular data network expansion, and improving human productivity. One generic technology area, automation, is pervasive in that it is an enabling technology for many of the disciplines.