Sample Return Missions from Minor Bodies: Achievements, Future Plan and Observational Support

We are entering in a new era of space exploration signed by sample return missions. Since the Apollo and Luna Program, the study of extraterrestrial samples in laboratory is gathering an increased interest of the scientific community so that nowadays exploration program of the Solar System is characterized by swelling sample return missions. Beside lunar samples, the NASA Stardust mission was the first successful space mission that on 15 January 2006 brought to Earth solid extraterrestrial samples collected from comet 81P/Wild 2 coma. Grains were collected during cometary fly-by into aerogel and once on Earth have been extracted for laboratory analyses. In the coming two decades many space missions on going or under study will harvest samples from minor bodies. Measurements required for detailed analysis that cannot be performed from a robotic spacecraft, will be carried out on Earth laboratories with the highest analytical accuracy attainable so far. An intriguing objective for the next sample return missions is to understand the nature of organic compounds. Organic compounds found in Stardust grains even if processed to large extend during aerogel capturing are here reported. Major objectives of Marco Polo mission are reported. Various ground-based observational programs within the framework of general characterizations of families and classes, cometary–asteroid transition objects and NEOs with cometary albedo are discussed and linked to sample return mission.     

Stellar And Galactic Environment survey (SAGE)

This paper describes a proposed high resolution soft X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet spectroscopy mission to carry out a survey of Stellar and Galactic Environments (SAGE). The payload is based on novel diffraction grating technology which has already been proven in a sub-orbital space mission and which is ready to fly on a satellite platform with minimal development. We discuss the goals of a SAGE base-line mission and demonstrate the scientific importance of high resolution spectroscopy in the Extreme Ultraviolet for the study of stars and the local interstellar medium.     

Space astronomy for the mid‐21st century: Robotically maintained space telescopes

The historical development of ground based astronomical telescopes leads us to expect that space‐based astronomical telescopes will need tobe operational for many decades. The exchange of scientific instruments in space will be a prerequisite for the long lasting scientific success of such missions. Operationally, the possibility to repair or replace key spacecraft components in space will be mandatory. We argue that these requirements can be fulfilled with robotic missions and see the development of the required engineering as the main challenge. Ground based operations, scientifically and technically, will require a low operational budget of the running costs. These can be achieved through enhanced autonomy of the spacecraft and mission independent concepts for the support of the software. This concept can be applied to areas where the mirror capabilities do not constrain the lifetime of the mission (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A graph based methodology for mission design

A space mission design methodology is presented, where initial and final orbits are connected through segments of periodic orbits. After a discretization of the solution space, the problem of mission design is transformed into an equivalent combinatorial optimization problem. Specifically, a graph is constructed that represents periodic orbits connected by the execution of impulsive maneuvers. A low computational complexity algorithm for this transformation is introduced. An efficient combinatorial optimization algorithm that solves the shortest path problem is described. Subject to the initial discretization of the solution space, an optimal sequence of coastal arcs is determined for a low total Delta-V mission. Finally, the proposed methodology is applied to the design of a hypothetical Saturn?CTitan system mission.     

Arrays: The heart and soul of SIRTF

This paper describes the status of NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) program. SIRTF will be a cryogenically cooled observatory for infrared astronomy from space and is planned for launch early in the next decade. It will be the first cryogenic space observatory to make extensive use of the powerful infrared detector array technology discussed at this conference. We summarize a newly developed SIRTF mission concept and show how the availability of detector arrays has shaped the scientific rationale for SIRTF, and how the arrays themselves have become part of the definition of the SIRTF mission.     

Exploiting Earth horseshoe orbits for space missions

We discuss the usefulness of unstable Earth horseshoe orbits to access interplanetary space, and in particular when low-velocity escape from Earth is involved. The application to a solar stereoscopic mission is described.     

High resolution imaging of parsec-scale jets: the impact of the VSOP observations

Resolution improvements achieved with the ongoing space VLBI mission VSOP provide an excellent opportunity for studying compact, parsec-scale jets in active galactic nuclei. Visibilities on space baselines contain structural information that cannot be recovered by super-resolving ground-array data at the same frequency. We illustrate this by discussing the results of recent VSOP observations of parsec-scale jets in 0836+710 and 3C273.     

The Exo-Zodiacal Disk Mapper: A Space Interferometer to Detect and Map Zodiacal Dust Disks Around Nearby Stars

We present a concept for a space mission designed to make a mid-IR survey of potential zodiacal dust disks around nearby stars. We show that a two-aperture (0.6 m diameter), 10-m baseline, nulling interferometer located in a 1 × 4 AU, 4-yr solar orbit would allow for the survey of 400 stars in the solar neighborhood and permit a first-order determination of the disk inclination and radial dependences of density and temperature. The high dynamic range of the instrument may also be used to study additional astrophysical phenomena. Beyond its own scientific merit, such a mission would serve as a technological precursor to a larger interferometer of the type being considered for the detection of earth-like planets.     

Scheduling the EChO survey with known exoplanets

The Exoplanet Characterization Observatory (EChO) is a concept of a dedicated space telescope optimized for low-resolution transit and occultation spectroscopy to study the exoplanet diversity through the composition of their atmospheres. The scope of this paper is to answer the following question: Can we schedule a nominal EChO mission, with targets known today (in mid 2013), given the science requirements, realistic performances and operational constraints? We examine this issue from the point of view of duration of the mission and the scheduling restrictions with a sample of exoplanet systems known nowadays. We choose different scheduling algorithms taking into account the science and operational constraints and we verified that it is fairly straightforward to schedule a mission scenario over the lifetime of EChO compliant with the science requirements. We identified agility as a critical constraint that reduces significantly the efficiency of the survey. We conclude that even with known targets today the EChO science objectives can be reached in the 4.5 years duration of the mission. We also show that it is possible to use gaps between exoplanet observations, to fit the required calibration observations, data downlinks and station keeping operations or even to observe more exoplanet targets to be discovered in the coming years.     

New progress on the Fresnel imager for UV space astronomy

We propose a next generation space instrument: the Fresnel imager, a large aperture and lightweight focusing device for UV astrophysics. This paper presents the laboratory setup used to validate the Fresnel imager at UV at wavelengths around 260 nm, and the results obtained. The validation of this optical concept in the visible domain has been previously published, with the first results on sky objects. In this paper we present new optical tests in the UV, of diffractive focusing and chromatic correction at wavelengths around 260 nm. The results show images free from chromatic aberration, thanks to a chromatic corrector scheme similar to the one used in the visible. To complete these tests and reach real astrophysical UV sources, we propose a short space mission featuring a Fresnel imager prototype placed on the international space station: during the mission this small aperture instrument would be aimed at UV sources such as bright stars and solar system objects, to assess at relatively low cost the limits in contrast and resolution of diffractive focusing in space conditions, on real UV astrophysical objects. At wavelengths from 100 to 300 nm, covering Lyman-α, we expect some scientific return from this mission, but the main goal is to increase the TRL, improving the chances of success for a later proposal featuring a full fledged Fresnel imager 10 meters in aperture or more, that would explore new domains of UV astrophysics at very high angular resolution and very high contrast.     

Multi-spacecraft investigation of space turbulence: Lessons from Cluster and input to the Cross-Scale mission

Investigating space plasma turbulence from single-point measurements is known to be characterized by unavoidable ambiguities in disentangling temporal and spatial variations. Solving this problem has been one of the major goals of the Cluster mission. For that purpose multipoint measurements techniques, such as the k-filtering, have been developed. Such techniques combine several time series recorded simultaneously at different points in space to estimate the corresponding energy density in the wavenumber space. Here we apply the technique to both simulated and Cluster magnetometer data in the solar wind (SW) and investigate the errors and limitations that arise due to the separation of the spacecraft and the quality of the tetrahedral configuration. Specifically, we provide an estimation of the minimum and maximum scales that can be accurately measured given a specific distance between the satellites and show the importance of the geometry of the tetrahedron and the relationship of that geometry to spatial aliasing. We also present recent results on characterizing small scale SW turbulence and provide scientific arguments supporting the need of new magnetometers having better sensitivity than the existing ones. Throughout the paper we emphasize technical challenges and their solutions that can be considered for a better preparation of the Cross-Scale mission.     

Advancing tests of relativistic gravity via laser ranging to Phobos

Phobos Laser Ranging (PLR) is a concept for a space mission designed to advance tests of relativistic gravity in the solar system. PLR’s primary objective is to measure the curvature of space around the Sun, represented by the Eddington parameter γ, with an accuracy of two parts in 10⁷, thereby improving today’s best result by two orders of magnitude. Other mission goals include measurements of the time-rate-of-change of the gravitational constant, G and of the gravitational inverse square law at 1.5-AU distances—with up to two orders-of-magnitude improvement for each. The science parameters will be estimated using laser ranging measurements of the distance between an Earth station and an active laser transponder on Phobos capable of reaching mm-level range resolution. A transponder on Phobos sending 0.25-mJ, 10-ps pulses at 1 kHz, and receiving asynchronous 1-kHz pulses from earth via a 12-cm aperture will permit links that even at maximum range will exceed a photon per second. A total measurement precision of 50 ps demands a few hundred photons to average to 1-mm (3.3 ps) range precision. Existing satellite laser ranging (SLR) facilities—with appropriate augmentation—may be able to participate in PLR. Since Phobos’ orbital period is about 8 h, each observatory is guaranteed visibility of the Phobos instrument every Earth day. Given the current technology readiness level, PLR could be started in 2011 for launch in 2016 for 3 yr of science operations. We discuss the PLR’s science objectives, instrument, and mission design. We also present the details of science simulations performed to support the mission’s primary objectives.     

空间天体测量新进展

主要评述依巴谷卫星的成功与不足，评价近年来一系列新的空间天体测量技术，着重评 默计划和波因次计划的新进展。     

SOHO ground segment, science operations, and data products

We describe the ground segment, pre-launch operations concepts, and data products supporting the SOHO mission. Our goal is threefold: first, we provide a historical view of the design and development of the systems described here, as a background perspective to those who will use the system and those who may build such systems for future missions. Second, because we hope that many researchers from the solar and space physics communities will visit these facilities during the mission, we provide an overview for the benefit of the end-user. We anticipate that visitors to GSFC may plan observations for one or more of SOHO's complement of instruments, and such researchers may use the facilities to analyze data gathered by the SOHO instruments. Third, we present the working plan for investigators with groundbased or other spacebased instruments to collaborate with SOHO.     

Interferometric space missions for the search for terrestrial exoplanets: Requirements on the rejection ratio

The requirements on space missions designed to study Terrestrial exoplanets are discussed. We then investigate whether the design of such a mission, specifically the Darwin nulling interferometer, can be carried out in a simplified scenario. The key element here is accepting somewhat higher levels of stellar leakage. We establish detailed requirements resulting from the scientific rationale for the mission, and calculate detailed parameters for the stellar suppression required to achieve those requirements. We do this utilizing the Darwin input catalogue. The dominating noise source for most targets in this sample is essentially constant for all targets, while the leakage diminishes with the square of the distance. This means that the stellar leakage has an effect on the integration time only for the nearby stars, while for the more distant targets its influence decreases significantly. We assess the impact of different array configurations and nulling profiles and identify the stars for which the detection efficiency can be maximized.     

WSO-UV progress and expectations

The World Space Observatory Ultraviolet (WSO-UV) is the space mission that will grant access to the ultraviolet (UV) range in the post Hubble epoch. WSO-UV is equipped with instrumentation for imaging and spectroscopy and it is fully devoted to UV astronomy. In this article, we outline the WSO-UV mission model and present the current status of the project.     

ASO-S卫星工程科学应用系统的数据库设计

先进天基太阳天文台(Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory, ASO-S)卫星是我国首颗太阳观测卫星, 主要观测太阳耀斑和日冕物质抛射以及产生它们的磁场结构. ASO-S卫星的科学应用系统是科学卫星工程的6大系统之一, 它连接科学用户和卫星数据, 为将卫星的科学数据转化为科学成果提供保障. 科学应用系统的数据库是连接软件与海量数据的枢纽, 为科学数据生产和用户服务及运行提供数据层的支撑. 介绍了科学应用系统的数据库架构设计、数据库的选择以及数据库性能优化和表样例. 这里的数据库包括观测计划、工程参数、运维日志、科学数据、定标数据和特征事件识别等数据库. 这些数据库的建设将为ASO-S卫星工程科学应用系统的顺利运行提供数据支撑, 也可以为未来其他科学卫星类似数据库的搭建提供参考和借鉴.     

On target for Venus – set oriented computation of energy efficient low thrust trajectories

Recently new techniques for the design of energy efficient trajectories for space missions have been proposed that are based on the circular restricted three body problem as the underlying mathematical model. These techniques exploit the structure and geometry of certain invariant sets and associated invariant manifolds in phase space to systematically construct energy efficient flight paths. In this paper, we extend this model in order to account for a continuously applied control force on the spacecraft as realized by certain low thrust propulsion systems. We show how the techniques for the trajectory design can be suitably augmented and compute approximations to trajectories for a mission to Venus.     

Radiation conditions of a mission to Jupiter and Europa

Radiation conditions in Jupiter’s environment and the plasma environment in interplanetary space during a Jupiter-Europa mission are estimated. The numerical modeling results can be used when planning the mission.     

“Bumerang” Must Return to Earth

Solar System Research - The “Bumerang” space mission to the satellites of Mars is discussed. The purpose of the mission is to study the satellites and return of soil samples from Phobos...