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Acta astronautica
Pergamon Press
Acta astronautica

Pergamon Press

0094-5765

Acta astronautica/Journal Acta astronauticaSCIAHCIISTP
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    Investigation on acceleration process of field reversed configuration plasmoid in an electrodeless Lorentz force thruster using Magnetohydrodynamics simulation

    Wang, ZhehongWang, WeizongYan, JiaqiWang, Zihan...
    1-14页
    查看更多>>摘要：Rotating Magnetic Field (RMF) driven Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) plasmoid, originating from magnetic confined fusion research, has been developed as a novel propulsion method for high-power electric thrusters, namely the electrodeless Lorentz force (ELF) thruster. To address the dilemma between the high potential in theory and the low performance in the experiment, this paper numerically investigates the acceleration processes of FRC plasmoid in ELF thruster through a two-dimensional Hall Magnetohydrodynamics method. Direct comparisons with experiments have been made to verify the model. The correlation between the plasma behavior and the thruster performance has been obtained, providing insight into the experimental phenomena. The power scaling rule of thruster performance is obtained by investigating the influence of magnetic field strength and thruster geometry on the exhaust velocity and momentum of the FRC plasmoid. The simulation revealed that the low thruster performance in recent experiments is due to the low power input. High performance is expected to be achievable by scaling up the input power to hundreds kW or MW levels. Increasing the bias field to more than 1000 G, RMF frequency to 1 MHz, and RMF strength to hundreds Gausses, enables a per-shot momentum of mNs level of and specific impulse to be more than 5000 s. Additionally, the contribution of gas pressure force and Lorentz body force to the plasmoid acceleration has been analyzed, showing that the magnetic forces are dominant in high power regime, whereas gas forces being dominant in low power regime. The power scaling rule and geometry design principle formed in this work can help improve the ELF thruster performance, highlighting the necessity of testing prototypes under high-power conditions.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Insertion error correction and configuration maintenance optimization for geocentric gravitational wave detectors

    Xie, XuanJiang, FanghuaLi, Junfeng
    15-24页
    查看更多>>摘要：Space-based gravitational wave detectors have attracted considerable attention for their ability to detect low frequency gravitational waves generated by the universe's most various sources. However, the high-precision detection requires extremely strict orbital insertion to maintain the configuration throughout the mission period. This paper presents an optimization method to correct orbital insertion errors using a low-frequency control strategy for long-duration, large-baseline spacecraft constellations. With active control, space-based gravitational wave detectors can mitigate initial orbit uncertainties. By presenting an evaluation algorithm and an estimating equation for fuel consumption and geometric indices, the segmented optimization method offers high computational efficiency. To adapt the control strategy to high-fidelity dynamics, an initial solution selection skill is proposed, and local refinements are employed. The application to the TianQin mission demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed method. The active control not only corrects the orbital insertion error but also reduces the geometric changes of the configuration by nearly 30% compared to an ideal deployment. The configuration maintenance strategy balances fuel efficiency and geometric stability, with a fuel consumption of only 421.57 m/s over the five-year mission period.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    New public-private partnership based on the interactive collaboration in the space sector

    Takata, ShinichiHidaka, Kazuyoshi
    25-36页
    查看更多>>摘要：This paper presents a new open innovation type of public-private partnership (PPP) to create a space industry, in which innovative technology development by the public R&D sector and space business creation by the private sector are simultaneously realized through bi-directional collaboration between the public and private sectors. This PPP type is a solution to the issues pointed out in previous studies, namely, the relative reduction of R&D opportunities for the public sector due to technological assistance to the private sector, and the decline in technological performance due to risk aversion in the private sector. Next, we present an evaluation method for this collaborative partnership based on the evaluation indicators for value co-creation research. Finally, to identify the process factors driving the projects in this PPP type, we surveyed about 30 space PPP projects in the Japanese space sector implemented since 2018. Then, the results of the qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) revealed that the factors are the estimation of mutual capabilities and benefits, the establishment of collaboration goals, and the commitment to mutual activities. The findings suggest that it is possible to define a new space PPP type that complements the space PPP typology of previous studies, and that it is possible to promote this space PPP project through appropriate management of two-way collaboration.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Investigation on the mechanism of simulated microgravity promoting rat cerebral angiogenesis based on proteomics

    Cui, YaoyuanLiu, HuayanLi, ZhuohanLuo, Bin...
    37-46页
    查看更多>>摘要：Changed neurovascular homeostasis under microgravity may be closely related to the dysregulated angiogenesis resulting in neurovascular units and microvascular hyperpermeability. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of 7-day simulated microgravity (7d-SMG) promoting rat cerebral angiogenesis based on proteomics. 7d-SMG effect led to a slight inflammatory infiltration in rat cerebral cortex. The levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and pro-angiogenic factors were significantly increased. A total of 5499 proteins were detected by label-free quantitative proteomic strategy and 704 proteins were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). 440 and 264 of DEPs were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Gene-Ontology analysis suggested that most of DEPs were involved in brain development, actin cytoskeleton and filament organization, cell proliferation, which were closely associated with cerebral angiogenesis. The KEGG results showed that Rap1, Ras and other signaling pathways related to cell proliferation were significantly influenced by 7d-SMG. The expressions of VEGFR2, Crk, Rap1b, B-Raf, and the radio of pho-MEK/MEK, pho-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, Bcl2/Bax were respectively increased by 47.24 %, 25.11 %, 22.02 %, 41.44 %, 22.34 %, 24.87 %, 120.65 %, which indicated that 7d-SMG promoted cell proliferation through VEGFR2-Rap1b-ERK signaling pathway. The present study explored the effect of 7d-SMG regulating rat cerebral angiogenesis, which provided a novel insight to elucidate the potential mechanism of disrupted neurovascular homeostasis induced by MG. The expected results might benefit for maintaining nerve system health of astronauts during space flight.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Preliminary analysis and design of an optical space surveillance and tracking constellation for LEO coverage

    D'Anniballe, A.Felicetti, L.Hobbs, S.
    47-63页
    查看更多>>摘要：Accurately tracking space debris and operational satellites is the foundation of the long-term sustainability of space operations. To improve upon some of the inherent limitations of ground radars, a constellation of satellites carrying optical sensors for the surveillance of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) region is analysed. This analysis aims to understand the performance drivers of such a system in terms of constellation geometry and provide a general methodology for the preliminary design of the system. First, a method for decoupling the design of the optical payload and the constellation geometry while retaining statistically significant results is shown. Using the resulting estimate for the maximum observable distance, an approximate method for computing the coverage of the system is proposed. The expected daily and yearly variation of coverage depending on its own dynamics and the position of the Sun is analysed, showing that it has a small impact on the design process. The dependence of the coverage on constellation parameters such as altitude, inclination and distribution of satellites is investigated through parametric analysis, retrieving an estimate for the Pareto front of the system. Building upon the previous results, a random search method is shown to be effective in finding a design point lying on the Pareto front that is robust to both random satellite loss and deployment strategy. Finally, a reduced budget architecture is proposed to achieve acceptable performance while using only a few tens of satellites. The resulting work answers the problems of estimating and optimising the performance of a distributed system for space-based surveillance of the LEO region, a stepping stone for future cost-benefit analyses for the enhancement of space surveillance networks.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Speeding up heterogeneous binary asteroid system propagation through the physics-informed neural network

    Lu, JuchengShang, HaibinZhang, Xuefen
    64-79页
    查看更多>>摘要：This paper proposes the application of a physics-informed neural network (PINN) to the propagation of heterogeneous binary asteroid systems. The accuracy and efficiency of such propagation are important in the study of celestial mechanics and mission analysis, where we devote to achieving a reasonable balance. The gravitational interactions, which are necessary quantities for this integration, are formulated in Taylor expansion representation that incorporates the derivatives of the primary's gravitational potential, the secondary's generalized inertia integrals, and the relative geometry. To represent the gravity field of the primary with heterogeneous mass distribution, a hybrid model combining a quadrature-based polyhedron model and a PINNbased model is developed. The derivatives of the resultant gravitational potential are obtained by superposing those from the polyhedron and PINN-based models, with calculations performed using analytical formulas and automatic differentiation, respectively. For the gravitational potential evaluations, the hybrid model offers faster computation speed and comparable precision compared to the benchmark model. Its application to binary asteroid system propagation demonstrates that the PINN component can effectively capture the effects of non-uniform mass distribution of the body. Furthermore, our mutual dynamics simulations suggest that the heterogeneous mass distribution of the primary may significantly influence the orbital period of the system.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Microgravity's grip: Transforming plant-microbe interactions for space sustainability

    Wu, ZizhouLiu, XiaoleiLiu, HongHu, Dawei...
    80-92页
    查看更多>>摘要：The development of bioregenerative life support systems is essential for sustainable space exploration, reducing Earth-reliant resupply and ensuring human survival in extreme extraterrestrial conditions. A key research focus is the microgravity assessment of Biological Life Support Systems (BLSS), with a focus on gas exchange, critical for habitability. This study introduces a two-loop miniature closed artificial ecosystem (BMCAE) to analyze gas balance within plant-microbe systems under simulated microgravity. The BMCAE, featuring wheat for photosynthesis and microbes for waste management and nutrient cycling, is designed to accommodate spatial constraints while maintaining system stability. A 3D clinostat simulates microgravity to evaluate the BMCAE's capacity to support plant growth and microbial activity. Gas chromatography and next-generation sequencing assess the effects of simulated microgravity on plant and microbial dynamics. Results show that wheat growth responds positively to light intensity but is less robust under simulated microgravity, suggesting a negative impact on growth. Microbial community composition and diversity are significantly altered by simulated microgravity, particularly at lower temperatures, with an enrichment of Firmicutes and Bacillus, indicating microbial adaptation to microgravity. This research provides a theoretical and methodological basis for BMCAE application in space, aiding in the development of miniature ecosystems for BLSS, crucial for sustainable human life support in space.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    A study from aviation to suborbital point-to-point transport and tourism to orbital tourism

    Chang, Yi-Wei (Eva)Fong, Chen-JoeWei, Wen-PinPan, Chao-Yi...
    93-102页
    查看更多>>摘要：The purpose of this paper is to investigate the sustainability of space point-to-point transport and tourism based on its current development status and referring to the development history of aviation tourism. This study focuses on the following major points: (1) futuristic (suborbital and orbital) travel vs. traditional (aviation) travel, (2) infrastructure in suborbital and orbital tourisms vs. aviation tourism, (3) market demand vs. supply availability, (4) technology maturity vs. risk assessment, (5) development cost vs. ticket price (affordability), and (6) impact on the environment. In suborbital space tourism, the Virgin Galactic has completed seven commercial spaceflights (Galactic 1 to 7) from June 29, 2023 to June 8, 2024. Also, the Blue Origin has completed seven commercial spaceflights (NS-16, NS-18 to -22, NS-25 to -26 and NS-28) from July 20, 2021 to November 22, 2024. On the other hand, in the orbital space tourism, seven space passengers travelled eight times to the International Space Station (ISS) from 2001 to 2009 through the arrangements of Space Adventures along with Russian Roscosmos and Energia Corporation. On June 7, 2019, NASA announced a plan to open the ISS to space tourism. From September 16, 2021 to May 21, 2023, four commercial spaceflight missions have been made: allcivilian crew Inspiration4 mission, Ax-1, Ax-2 and Ax-3. Referring to the aviation tourism development history, the current space tourism status is mostly like its status at late 1950s. The creation of jet aircraft and the airline deregulation in 1978 can be considered as the two major watersheds from "adventure" to "prosperity" to "complete popularization" of the commercial airline industry, the passenger experience and the aviation tourism. At the civil aviation "adventure" stage in early 1940s, flying was very expensive and discomforts. Only business and wealthy travellers, a tiny fraction of the traveling public, could afford to fly. The current stage of space tourism is "adventure", might mean it needs 20 more years to enter the "prosperity" stage and then the "popularization" stage. But there are many infrastructures still need be established such as: the space tourism industry chain, the legal and regulatory issues, the criteria for passenger screening and training, the insurance issue, the space port, the space traffic management and control, etc., etc. However, suppose we were standing at 1950s to outlook and prospect the civil aviation industry, the sustainability of space tourism is expectable based on the current development status.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Hypergolic solid propellant using NaBH 4 /KNO 3 with paraffin for HTP-based hybrid rockets

    Chang, C. -s.Wei, S. -s.Tan, Zu PuayenChang, Y. -x....
    103-112页
    查看更多>>摘要：To improve the ignition system of a hybrid rocket engine, this paper reports the experimental study of the performance of the hypergolic solid fuel grain (HSF) consisting of a mixture of NaBH4/KNO3 with paraffin for a hybrid rocket engine using 90 % HTP as the oxidizer. Drop tests were conducted to examine the ignition delay time (IDT) of HSF compositions with varying ratios of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) mixing with paraffin. The results showed that IDT decreased with increasing amount of NaBH4, and decreased further with KNO3 addition. For comparison purpose, two formulations were selected for the tests: HSF01 (80 wt% paraffin, 20 wt% NaBH4) and HSF02 (65 wt% paraffin, 20 wt% NaBH4, 15 wt% KNO3). A series of image visualizations using high-resolution and high-speed cameras, and event cameras revealed similar ignition mechanisms for both tests, in which flamelets were formed upon the contact of HTP droplet, leading to explosive combustion. However, KNO3 in HSF02 consumed the smoke-like mixture produced during the explosion, in which behavior was absent in HSF01. In addition, atmospheric combustion tests (ACT) were conducted in a PMMA tube (10 mm in diameter and 100 mm in length) and the results showed that only HSF02 was successfully ignited, with flamelets forming similar to 4 ms after HTP injection and full combustion was established at similar to 0.7 s. The test results indicated that the KNO3 as an oxidant additive added to the hypergolic solid fuel grain (HSF) plays an important role in the HSF ignition mechanism. It decreases not only the IDT of the fuel grain, but also increases the flammability of the HSF.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier

    Spray angle prediction model for a multi-slit type throttleable gas-liquid pintle injector

    Heo, SubeomJeong, JuhwanKim, Dae HwanYoon, Youngbin...
    113-126页
    查看更多>>摘要：As a representative type of variable-area injectors, pintle injectors have been applied to various throttleable rocket engines. Spray angle is one important parameter among various spray characteristics of pintle injectors. Several prediction models for the spray angle of pintle injectors of various configurations have been investigated; however, the spray angle model for multi-slit type throttleable pintle injectors with adjustable radial flow injection area has not been sufficiently addressed. Therefore, in this study, a spray angle prediction model for a multi-slit type throttleable gas-liquid pintle injector that considers radial flow deflection and axial flow decay is proposed. With the axial flow velocities validated via numerical analysis, the radial flow angle and spray angle models are validated through cold flow experiments with a wide range of momentum ratios and throttling levels in the range of 20-100 %. The newly proposed spray angle model agreed well with the experimental results, indicating that the geometric parameters should be applied separately according to the radial flow opening, which depends on the throttling level when predicting the spray angle.
      原文链接:
    • NETL
    • NSTL
    • Elsevier