连续小推力航天器的深空探测轨道优化方法综述

连续小推力作用下航天器的深空探测轨道的优化设计是一个存在大量局部最优解的全局优化问题. 轨道设计流程总体上分为全局优化和局部优化. 全局优化为粗略设计, 通常在对航天器受连续推力作用下的轨道作近似处理的前提下大致确定探测序列和时间节点. 局部优化方法可分为直接法、间接法和混合法. 直接法是将连续的问题离散成一个参数优化问题. 间接法是求解由变分法和极大值原理推导的满足一阶最优必要条件的两点或多点边值问题. 混合法利用间接法推导的方程, 再离散后优化求解. 本文综述当前轨道优化设计领域最新和最常用的方法, 分析各种方法的优缺点.     

第三届深空轨道设计竞赛冠军团队方法与结果

介绍了2011年第3届全国深空轨道设计竞赛冠军团队中科院空间应用工程与技术中心（筹）的设计方法与结果.设计方法包括总体设计思路、小推力转移轨道优化方法、小推力轨道简化模型、行星引力辅助序列设计、小行星搜索方法等.给出了具体设计步骤以及初步和最终的设计结果.最后,总结了从此次设计过程中获得的若干经验与启示.     

基于虚拟中心引力场方法的航天器转移轨道设计

空间机动技术是实现空间操作任务的基础,具有重要的研究价值. 研究了连续推力作用下航天器转移轨道设计问题,提出了一种基于虚拟中心引力场的轨道设计方法. 该方法有两大特点:(1) 能够将机动轨道设计问题转化为虚拟中心引力场参数的优化问题,简化了设计过程;(2) 对轨道形状或推力方向、大小不做任何假定,能够应用于一般情况下的机动轨道设计. 将该方法应用于航天器二维和三维的转移轨道设计,并和形状方法进行了对比分析. 仿真结果分析表明,采用该方法简化了轨道设计过程,为航天器快速轨道设计提供了新思路.      

基于微分进化算法的深空轨道全局优化设计

针对多目标多任务的深空探测轨道设计问题,提出一种新的将探测目标、探测方式、探测顺序以及发射窗口同时作为优化变量, 并采用微分进化算法进行全局优化的设计方法. 使用该方法在只考虑太阳中心引力作用的二体模型下,基于圆锥曲线拼接法建立第三届全国深空轨道设计竞赛问题的优化模型并进行求解. 最后利用该方法求解ESA的ACT研究团队的深空探测任务算例并对结果进行对比分析. 结果表明, 提出的全局优化设计方法对解决多目标、多任务深空探测轨道优化设计问题是可行和有效的.      

2010年国际深空探测轨道优化竞赛的清华大学解法

介绍作者对国际深空探测轨道优化竞赛问题的解法, 包括全局优化方法和小推力局 部优化方法. 全局优化主要采用分枝定界法, 需要求解一系列Lambert问题. 局部优化采用 基于同伦方法的间接优化方法, 对协态变量初值进行了归一化, 在数值积分时构建了开关函 数检测方法以保证积分精度. 最后结合连续五次参加国际竞赛的经验和体会, 给出深空探测 轨道设计方面的研究展望.     

第七届全国空间轨道设计竞赛乙题解法

第七届全国空间轨道设计竞赛乙组题目是关于多星编队与重构的轨道设计问题.本文介绍了中国科学院光电研究院的设计方法和设计结果.设计方法包括整体设计思路、转移轨道寻优、编队方案搜索策略、连续推力轨道优化方法等,并在文中给出了具体设计步骤.搜索最优编队方案和连续推力轨道优化是提高性能指标的关键.最后,总结了此次竞赛中的体会与启示.     

一般形式的共振轨道研究

为了利用较小的推力使航天器的轨道产生较大的变化,可以利用共振原理来研究航天器的运动,称这样一类非开普勒轨道为共振轨道.将圆频率作为变量,通过合理地选择轨道描述参数、时间尺度和推力描述方式建立了一般形式的共振轨道模型,并基于仿真分析研究了共振轨道圆频率对共振轨道的影响.通过对地球-火星共振转移轨道的算例进行仿真分析,初步研究了共振轨道在星际探测轨道设计中应用的效果.研究结果表明:圆频率改变将对推力峰值产生影响;共振轨道在星际探测中的应用是可行的,并且在能量消耗方面优于Lambert轨道.     

基于偏转距离近似模型的动能撞击小行星防御任务脉冲轨道优化研究

小行星撞击对地球上的生命存在重大潜在威胁,动能撞击是目前最易实现且成熟度最高的防御方案.动能撞击任务的一种轨道优化指标为最大化偏转距离(即小行星被偏转前后近地距的改变量),若用数值积分的方法精确计算偏转距离, 会导致优化效率较低.在动能撞击任务的设计初期, 可以对动力学模型及偏转距离的计算方法进行简化,以提升优化效率. 本文首先将高精度模型简化为二体模型,分析了两种经典偏转距离解析模型的适用条件,同时提出一种基于近地点时刻预估的偏转距离近似模型; 考虑运载约束,将化学推进变轨简化为脉冲推力变轨,建立了直接转移(两脉冲及三脉冲)和行星借力飞行转移(单次及两次借力)的动能撞击轨道优化模型,利用遗传算法求解了优化问题. 以偏转小行星Apophis为例, 相比于解析模型,验证了本文提出的近似模型可以同时提升最优性、降低求解复杂性. 优化结果表明,三脉冲直接转移方案与两脉冲直接转移方案的最优偏转效果基本一致,借力飞行转移方案相比于直接转移方案对偏转距离的提升效果并不明显.在动能撞击任务的前期设计中, 可以基于二体模型进行防御效果的快速评估,虽然对计算偏转距离存在一定误差, 但对防御窗口的优化结果影响不大. 进一步,数值求解偏转距离时, 可通过引入主要引力摄动项(金星、地球、木星)修正二体模型,使其与高精度模型之间的求解误差在1%以下.      

三体轨道动力学研究进展

三体系统轨道动力学问题是航天动力学领域中的经典问题, 具有丰富的理论与工程意义, 并将在人类由近地延伸到深空的航天活动过程中起到至关重要的作用. 本文回顾并总结了三体系统轨道动力学相关研究进展, 并结合未来的深空探测的发展趋势, 展望了三体系统轨道动力学研究中的热点与挑战. 首先阐述了三体问题的研究背景及意义, 简要回顾了三体系统动力学模型的发展历程. 其次, 系统概述了三体系统平衡点附近的局部运动特性, 介绍了平衡点附近周期轨道解析与数值求解方法, 给出了拟周期运动的最新进展. 同时总结了共振轨道、循环轨道、自由返回轨道等三类三体系统全局周期运动的动力学特性与研究进展. 再次, 从不变流形理论和弱稳定边界理论两个方面综述了三体系统中低能量转移与捕获轨道设计的研究进展. 最后, 综述了三体系统轨道动力学在编队飞行、导航星座设计两方面的应用, 并展望了全月面覆盖轨道设计、三体系统下的小推力轨道优化和三体系统的三角平衡点开发利用中值得关注的轨道动力学与控制问题.      

平动点Halo轨道航天器保持的多目标优化

针对日地系统平动点附近Halo轨道航天器保持任务,考虑航天器的能量消耗与轨道保持精度需求,采用多目标优化方法设计了改进时变控制器用于航天器Halo轨道保持任务。首先,基于圆形限制性三体模型推导了航天器的相对动力学方程并基于此设计了线性时变控制器。然后,采用多目标优化方法对时变控制器参数进行优化,得到满足航天器能量消耗与轨道保持精度之间平衡的Pareto最优解。最后,通过对考虑模型与环境干扰情况的数值模拟,结果表明多目标优化方法对平动点Halo轨道航天器保持任务达到低能能耗与高精度目标,具有一定的应用价值。     

Multi-objective transfer to libration-point orbits via the mixed low-thrust and invariant-manifold approach

The multi-objective optimization of transfer trajectories from an orbit near Earth to a periodic libration-point orbit in the Sun–Earth system using the mixed low-thrust and invariant-manifold approach is investigated in this paper. A two-objective optimization model is proposed based on the mixed low-thrust and invariant-manifold approach. The circular restricted three-body model (CRTBP) is utilized to represent the motion of a spacecraft in the gravitational field of the Sun and Earth. The transfer trajectory is broken down into several segments; both low-thrust propulsion and stable manifolds are utilized based on the CRTBP in different segments. The fuel cost, which is generated only by the low-thrust trajectory for transferring the spacecraft from an orbit near Earth to a stable manifold, is minimized. The total flight time, which includes the time during which the spacecraft is controlled by the low-thrust trajectory and the time during which the spacecraft is moving on the stable manifold, is also minimized. Using the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm for the resulting multi-objective optimization problem, highly promising Pareto-optimal solutions for the transfer of the spacecraft are found. Via numerical simulations, it is shown that tradeoffs between time of flight and fuel cost can be quickly evaluated using this approach. Furthermore, for the same time of flight, transfer trajectories based on the mixed-transfer method can save a larger amount of fuel than the low-thrust method alone.     

Low-thrust trajectory optimization for multiple target bodies tour mission

Spacecraft science missions to planets or asteroids have historically visited only one or several celestial bodies per mission. The research goal of this paper is to create a trajectory design algorithm that generates trajectory allowing a spacecraft to visit a significant number of asteroids during a single mission. For the problem of global trajectory optimization, even with recent advances in low-thrust trajectory optimization, a full enumeration of this problem is not possible. This work presents an algorithm to traverse the searching space in a practical fashion and generate solutions. The flight sequence is determined in ballistic scenario, and a differential evolution method is used with constructing a three-impulse transfer problem, then the local optimization is implemented with low-thrust propulsion on the basis of the solutions of impulsive trajectories. The proposed method enables trajectory design for multiple asteroids tour by using available low thrust propulsion technology within fuel and time duration constraints.     

Optimal design of near-Earth asteroid sample-return trajectories in the Sun–Earth–Moon system

In the 6th edition of the Chinese Space Trajectory Design Competition held in 2014, a near-Earth asteroid sample-return trajectory design problem was released, in which the motion of the spacecraft is modeled in multi-body dynamics, considering the gravitational forces of the Sun,Earth, and Moon. It is proposed that an electric-propulsion spacecraft initially parking in a circular 200-km-altitude low Earth orbit is expected to rendezvous with an asteroid and carry as much sample as possible back to the Earth in a10-year time frame. The team from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences has reported a solution with an asteroid sample mass of 328 tons, which is ranked first in the competition.In this article, we will present our design and optimization methods, primarily including overall analysis, target selection, escape from and capture by the Earth–Moon system,and optimization of impulsive and low-thrust trajectories that are modeled in multi-body dynamics. The orbital resonance concept and lunar gravity assists are considered key techniques employed for trajectory design. The reported solution, preliminarily revealing the feasibility of returning a hundreds-of-tons asteroid or asteroid sample, envisions future space missions relating to near-Earth asteroid exploration.     

基于混合Lie算子辛算法的不变流形计算

平动点附近周期轨道的不变流形因其在低能轨道转移中起着重要作用而受到广泛关注.在设计低能轨道过程中不变流形要实时进行能量匹配,但利用传统数值积分方法进行积分时能量会耗散.显式辛算法具有比隐式辛算法计算效率高的优势,但其要求Hamilton系统必须分成两个可积的部分,而旋转坐标系下的圆型限制性三体问题是不可分的,因而显式辛算法难以用于求解旋转坐标系下的圆型限制性三体问题.本文通过引入混合Lie算子,成功实现了带三阶导数项的力梯度辛算法对圆型限制性三体问题的求解,并将基于混合Lie算子的带三阶导数项的辛算法与Runge-Kutta78算法和Runge-Kutta45算法进行仿真对比,仿真结果表明基于混合Lie算子的含有三阶导数项的辛算法位置精度高、能量误差小且计算效率高.利用基于混合Lie算子的带三阶导数项的辛算法计算不变流形,可以实现低能轨道转移过程中轨道拼接点的能量精准匹配.     

Low-thrust Lambert transfer based on two-stage constant-vector thrust control method

The low-thrust Lambert transfer refers to that the spacecraft achieves the orbital transfer whose boundary conditions are represented by two sets of orbital elements at initial and final time by the low-thrust propulsion system. The modulus and direction of the low-thrust solutions in previous methods change with time, which leads to high control requirements for the engine. In this paper, to reduce the requirements of the engine, a practical two-stage constant-vector thrust control method is proposed, in which the magnitude and direction of the thrust are deemed as segmental constant value in TNH frame, where three components of the thrust are f_t, f_n, and f_h. First, the mathematical model of the two-stage constant-vector thrust is formulated, and a rapid algorithm is presented to obtain the solution based on the linearized sensitivity matrix, which describes the relationship between the constant-vector thrust and the change of the orbital elements approximately. Furthermore, two low-thrust Lambert strategies based on the two-stage constant-vector thrust are presented for cases of short-time transfer and long-time transfer. A sequence of numerical simulations demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed approaches. The proposed control strategies are solved rapidly, and they are also suitable for different types of orbits with J₂ perturbation, which are practical options for engineering applications.

     

Optimal low-thrust orbital transfers in a central gravity field

The results of studying some problems of optimization of low-thrust transfers between arbitrary elliptic orbits in a Newtonian gravity field are expounded. An approximate solution obtained by the averaging method is presented. Analytical solutions of the averaged equations are given for a wide class of maneuvers. The problem of constructing numerical solutions to the exact equations of motion of a spacecraft between high orbits is discussed __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 41, No. 11, pp. 3–37, November 2005.     

A survey on orbital dynamics and navigation of asteroid missions

Asteroid exploration is currently one of the most concerned topics among international space agencies. Or- bital dynamics and navigation are obviously crucial for asteroid exploration. This paper aims to give a brief review on the dynamics, control and navigation of asteroid reconnaissance orbits, including the heliocentric transfer orbit and near as- teroid orbit. The developments in optimization techniques of the transfer segment are discussed in detail. We surveyed global researches in this field and made comments on several important progresses. The final section proposed a prospec- tive of future studies with emphasis on the key techniques of these issues in the asteroid exploration missions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">J</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> invariant relative orbits via differential correction algorithm

This paper describes a practical method for finding the invariant orbits in J ₂ relative dynamics. Working with the Hamiltonian model of the relative motion including the J ₂ perturbation, the effective differential correction algorithm for finding periodic orbits in three-body problem is extended to formation flying of Earth’s orbiters. Rather than using orbital elements, the analysis is done directly in physical space, which makes a direct connection with physical requirements. The asymptotic behavior of the invariant orbit is indicated by its stable and unstable manifolds. The period of the relative orbits is proved numerically to be slightly different from the ascending node period of the leader satellite, and a preliminary explanation for this phenomenon is presented. Then the compatibility between J ₂ invariant orbit and desired relative geometry is considered, and the design procedure for the initial values of the compatible configuration is proposed. The influences of measure errors on the invariant orbit are also investigated by the Monte–Carlo simulation. The project supported by the Innovation Foundation of Beihang University for Ph.D. Graduates, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60535010).     

Lunar landing trajectory design based on invariant manifold

The low-energy lunar landing trajectory design using the invariant manifolds of restricted three-body problem is studied.Considering angle between the ecliptic plane and lunar orbit plate the four-body problem of sun-earth-moon-spacecraft is divided into two three-body problems,the sun-earth-spacecraft in the ecliptic plane and the earth- moon-spacecraft in the lunar orbit plane.Using the orbit maneuver at the place where the two planes and the invariant manifolds intersect,a general method to design low energy lunar landing trajectory is given.It is found that this method can save the energy about 20% compared to the traditional Hohmann transfer trajectory,The mechanism that the method can save energy is investigated in the point of view of energy and the expression of the amount of energy saved is given.In addition,some rules of selecting parameters with respect to orbit design are provided.The method of energy analysis in the paper can be extended to energy analysis in deep space orbit design.