Mitigation of lunar regolith particles is one of the challenges for the success of future lunar exploration, and an electrodynamic dust shield (EDS) presents a promising solution. Although a wide range of investigations have been conducted on the cleaning of lunar regolith and its simulants using EDS, the effects of particle size on cleaning performance have not been experimentally investigated in

Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) are an invaluable resource for the exploration of our Solar System. Providing both heat and electricity, spacecraft using RPS can operate where it is impractical to use solar arrays and/or battery systems because of either limited solar illumination or mission durations which make a standalone battery impractical. Dynamic Radioisotope Power System (DRPS) have been designed

With the rapid increase of space activities and the accumulation of space debris, the existing space situational awareness systems (SSAS) is facing increasingly severe challenges. This paper analyzes traditional approaches and describes their limitations in dealing with complex space environments. To address these challenges, we explore the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in

Water resources on the Moon are a critical component of international strategies for exploration of the solar system and space-based economic development. Liquid water is essential for human life support and propellant generation. Extreme Lunar conditions of near-vacuum and low temperature preclude the natural presence of liquid water; and they provide the thermodynamic context for water occurrence

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an ideal candidate propellant for electric propulsion due to its availability and storability. However, it has limitations such as a small ionizing collision cross-section and low ionization efficiency. Consequently, using xenon gas, which is more easily ionizable, mixed with CO2 as a multi-propellant for ion thrusters presents a viable solution. This study presents experimental

Using data collected from the Meili-I analog crewed mission hosted on a remote Scottish island during August 2023, we analyze GNSS traverse tracks to assess walking velocity in relation to terrain slope. A series of data sampling tests to derive models using a generalized form of Tobler's Hiking Function indicates these models are only applicable to a similar resolution at which they were derived.

This paper addresses the challenges of designing aerodynamic rotors for Mars helicopters, particularly in the highly variable Martian atmosphere. Traditional deterministic rotor designs targeted at a single atmospheric condition often result in significant performance deviations under varying conditions. This research initiates with an in-depth analysis of Martian atmospheric characteristics, followed

Flight safety during the motion of a descent spacecraft in the Earth's atmosphere primarily depends on the reliability of the heat-protective layer on its surface. Such layers typically consist of ablative carbon-based composite materials. This study of the ablation phenomenon is carried out from the point of view of the mechanical spallation of carbon microparticles from the graphite surface at a

This article explores the notable legal concerns that may arise from the growing utilisation of artificial intelligence and machine learning in outer space. Whether it is conducting space exploration, clearing orbital debris, or extracting resources from specific areas in space, these activities are becoming more popular. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a regulatory framework to ensure consistency

The increasing number of objects in Low Earth Orbit makes active collision avoidance imperative for satellites operating in this region. For satellites non equipped with propulsion systems, the collision risk can be mitigated by exploiting the active modulation of aerodynamic forces through the ballistic coefficient. This article proposes a novel and high-fidelity optimal control approach for collision

The New Space industry not only demands expanded spaceport capacity but also careful consideration of the environmental impact of ground infrastructure development. Focusing on the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil (CEA - Centro Espacial de Alcântara), a data-driven site selection framework is presented, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and environmental compliance. When applied to the CEA case, this

The bioregenerative life support system (BLSS) is a critical technology that enables long-term human survival on the Moon and other extraterrestrial bodies. In this study, we conducted a 370-day, high-closure integrated mission (“Lunar Palace 365”) on Earth in an upgraded ground-based BLSS facility named “Lunar Palace 1”. This experiment aimed to develop technologies to maintain and adjust system stability

Active Debris Removal (ADR) will be important to ensure the long-term sustainability of the space environment and to preserve benefits derived from space for those here on Earth. Effective ADR relies on optimal mission planning to select Space Objects (SOs) with the highest risk. The Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) concept is discussed as a method to increase the quantity of ADR over market equilibrium

The space sector is undergoing rapid expansion due to the transformations it is experiencing, evolving from government-funded traditional space initiatives to commercially driven NewSpace activities. The surge of government and private investments in the space domain has positioned it as one of the world's fastest-growing sectors, making it crucial to assess the impact of already operational launch

In this experimental investigation the shock structure and shear layer growth in the near field of non-circular supersonic jets impinging orthogonally on a flat surface were studied under two different nozzle expansion ratios (NPRs). The supersonic jets were of triangular and hexagonal cross-sectional shapes with equal area at the nozzle exit. The expansion ratio of all the nozzles used in the experiments

Atmospheric re-entry includes all the activities ensuring the safety of individuals and ground assets, with potential implications for the controlled landing of humans and payloads on planetary surfaces. A robust system for controlled re-entry is imperative for space missions requiring the retrieval of samples. Initially developed for large vehicles, the re-entry technologies evolved to encompass compact

Currently, the growth of the commercial space, aviation, and other industries worldwide is accompanied by an increase in negative impacts from harmful CO2 emissions on the atmosphere. However, the transition to biofuel may help solve this issue. The paper presents the results of an Ignition Delay Time (IDT) study of a model fuel based on linear-chain hydrocarbons – n-pentane – with the addition of

With the increase of space targets, it is significant to conduct rapid flyby monitoring of satellite clusters and identify Special Targets (STs), which have the distribution uncertainty among clusters. Moreover, there are observation uncertainties during the flybys of space targets. In order to complete the flyby and observation mission more efficiently, the trajectory design of Observation Satellites

The construction of a lunar base requires a huge amount of material, which cannot be entirely transported from Earth. Therefore, technologies are needed to build with locally available resources, such as the lunar regolith. One approach is to directly melt the lunar regolith on the surface and under the vacuum condition of the Moon, using laser radiation. In this article, a lunar regolith simulant

The complex topographies on the asteroid surface are not only the main object to avoid in the landing process, but also the key target of observation to provide navigation information. This paper focuses on the need of autonomously selecting a landing site during asteroid exploration, and reveals the guiding effects of the environment on mission decision-making through a vectorized landing site selection

This paper addresses the computation of Delta-V-optimal, safe, relative orbit reconfigurations for satellite formations in a centralized fashion. The formations under consideration comprise an uncontrolled chief spacecraft flying with an arbitrary number, N, of deputy satellites, where each deputy is equipped with a single electric thruster. Indeed, this represents a technological solution that is

This paper investigates the practical considerations for implementing an underactuated transverse function-based control law using only two reaction wheels. Previous investigations into transverse functions have looked at implementing these control laws for the underactuated problem but have yet to fully consider what may be required to run these control laws long term for a realistic mission and have

The recent upswing in satellite operations of very low Earth orbit has triggered the necessity to evaluate aerodynamic forces and moments, which can significantly affect satellite orbit. The present paper evaluates the aerodynamic forces and pitching moment on a satellite design using the test particle Monte Carlo method, accounting for the contribution of solar panel shape and placement relative to

In recent years, the commercialization of space has undergone an unprecedented rise, characterized by a rapid increase in launch activities and the establishment of large satellite constellations. This exponential growth has led to a significant rise in the number of objects orbiting Earth, posing challenges for space situational awareness, and necessitating the continuous evolution of sensor networks

This paper presents an estimation method for assessing the damage to the rear wall of spacecraft protective structures caused by hypervelocity impacts of space debris. Utilizing the smoothed particle hydrodynamics for numerical simulation, a kernel-function based kinetic energy mapping method is employed to analyze the kinetic energy distribution of the debris cloud generated by the initial impact

This work presents a novel method to compute continuous fuel-optimal guidance updates on board a spacecraft by leveraging a combination of deep learning and a local refinement using differential algebraic techniques. In order to create the large datasets necessary to train the artificial neural network, we also propose a new method using polynomial maps to rapidly and efficiently generate arbitrarily

Electrospray technology has been widely applied in many fields, including materials science, chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace exploration. In particular, with the development of commercial space exploration and the demand for miniaturization of micro-nano satellites, capillary electrospray thrusters using ionic liquids as propellants have received extensive attention. However, the

Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition(SPOD) has been recently used to capture temporal and spatial characteristics of complex flows. Applying SPOD analysis to such flow fields can deepen the understanding of flow mechanism. To further study the external flow at high Reynolds numbers, large eddy simulation(LES) is applied to acquire the flow field data while SPOD is utilized to extract important

AQUARIUS (AQUA ResIstojet propUlsion System), a water resistojet propulsion system installed on a 6U CubeSat EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar–Earth point 6U Spacecraft), successfully conducted multiple orbital transfers including the world’s first water-fueled propulsion system operation in deep space. We present the on-orbit performance analysis of AQUARIUS with a focus on reaction control thrusters responsible

The rapid increase of space activities has led to an urgent problem of space debris. Active debris removal based on flexible nets is promising in the control of space debris. Here the application of electromagnetic launch in the deployment of flexible net is considered. A lumped-parameter electromechanical model of the coil launcher is developed with emphasis on the analysis of the magnetic field involved

The planetary landing problem is gaining relevance in the space sector, spanning a wide range of applications from unmanned probes landing on other planetary bodies to reusable first and second stages of launcher vehicles. In the existing methodology there is a lack of flexibility in handling complex non-linear dynamics, in particular in the case of non-convexifiable constraints. It is therefore crucial

In recent years, prominent spacefaring nations have redirected their attention towards the Moon as a potential avenue for economic prospects and as a pivotal waypoint for extended space exploration endeavors. Nonetheless, a notable concern has emerged regarding the dispersion of lunar dust during lunar landings, a phenomenon that has been associated with documented instances of equipment damage during

A magnetic cleaning system comprising a permanent magnetic roll with a non-magnetic sleeve and a particle collection component is a unique dust mitigation technology in lunar explorations. Enhanced cleaning performance can be achieved by optimal balancing of the forces applied to the particles. The effects of particle size on the capture and release performances were investigated through experiments

The study of various celestial bodies is of great interest at the present time. Soil studies are being conducted. Vibrating robots could be possible tools for implementing the missions involving moving on the surface of celestial bodies. At the same time, such missions must be safe and sustainable. Such missions are very expensive. And they require high-quality modeling. The dynamics of a vibrating

Pilots and astronauts are exposed to extreme conditions during flight, which can cause various undesirable effects, such as loss of consciousness or spatial disorientation. Therefore, to ensure the safety of future flights, it is necessary to use simulators on the ground to train the crew to work in difficult conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for motion cueing algorithms in

The key problem for the long-term operation of the satellite in ultra-low Earth orbits (ULEO) and its safety is to provide the propulsion system with a sufficient amount of working fluid. Gas from the atmosphere can be used as the working fluid, for which the satellite is equipped with an air intake. In this paper, the problem of rarefied gas flow in such an air intake in ultra-low Earth orbit (140 km)

Passive collision avoidance mechanism are effective for ensuring the safety of spacecraft formations during the reconfiguration process. This paper investigates the combined in-plane and out-of-plane formation reconfiguration, while incorporating passive collision avoidance constraints. We design a low-collision-risk impulsive maneuver sequence using the relative Eccentricity/Inclination (E/I) vectors

The use of tethered artificial gravity assists in space travel to perform orbital maneuvers has the potential to significantly extend missions through the reduction of fuel consumption. As space exploration in the solar system has become more accessible, interest in near-Earth asteroid (NEA) missions has grown. Studying NEAs can yield new information about the early solar system as well as provide

Planetary atmospheric detection is an important way to recognize the physical and chemical properties of planets that inform about their formation and evolution, and atmospheric in-situ sampling is an ideal way to obtain high-resolution information. In this paper, a scheme for in-situ sampling of planetary atmosphere based on multi-pass aeroassisted maneuvers is given, and the corresponding design

Large spaceborne optical load necessitates an exceptionally serene on-orbit environment to achieve high precision but is subject to micro-vibration and attitude adjustments. At present, the Stewart platform is often adopted and implemented in micro-vibration isolation. However, based on the common model design, the actual decoupling performance of the Stewart platform is still problematic and significantly

Nanofluid fuel has garnered significant attention due to its potential to enhance combustion characteristics, energy density, and ignition properties. The study comprehensively examined the effects of aluminum nanoparticles with diverse sizes (50 nm, 100 nm, 200 nm, 500 nm, 1 μm) and concentrations (2.5 wt%, 5.0 wt%, 7.5 wt%) on the ignition and combustion characteristics of nanofluid fuel droplets

The existing scientific and technical results in the field of methane-air flames stabilization by adding hydrogen under various gravitational conditions were analyzed in relation to ensuring the safe operation of rocket and space power plants. Experimental setup was created for the purpose of studying the combustion stability of such fuel compositions under the various gravity conditions. The extended

MaiaSpace is a European NewSpace company aiming at developing a mini launcher to meet the future of the satellite market. Founded in 2022, the company is preparing for the maiden launch at the end of 2025. MaiaSpace is actively working towards environmental mitigation of its launch service through the implementation of a Life Cycle Assessment methodology from an early stage. Design choices for environmental

Modern space mission concepts are increasingly dependent on the robust and reliable deployment of spacecraft with large appendages, such as antennas, booms or solar panels. Such deployment requires the ability to properly capture and control the coupled system dynamics, which requires accurate in-orbit system identification of the mass and structural properties. This paper utilises dual Unscented Kalman

Traditional lunar landers face challenges due to strict flatness requirements at landing sites and the need to avoid complex terrains, which significantly limits their exploration capabilities and success rates. Additionally, their focus on stable landings often compromises their maneuverability, reducing adaptability to various lunar terrains. To address these issues, this study introduces a walkable

Growing interest in extraterrestrial colonization has increasingly centered on Mars, bolstered by extensive environmental data from Mars exploration missions. However, the planet's harsh conditions—including extreme temperatures, dust storms, varied terrain, high radiation, and scarce water resources—pose significant challenges to selecting suitable sites for human habitation. This study evaluated

This study focuses on the calculation of the equilibrium position of the bare electrodynamic tether (BEDT) and the implementation of stable control during the de-orbiting process. A novel method for calculating the equilibrium position of the BEDT system is proposed, utilizing integral variable substitution. This approach provides an analytical expression for the equilibrium position, thereby addressing

Hypervelocity breakup events contribute to the rapidly growing population of space debris orbiting Earth. To ensure a safe environment for future space missions, it is crucial to accurately characterize resulting fragments, which constitute a major portion of the orbital population but are often too small for conventional tracking methods. Currently, the Space Surveillance Network tracks satellites

On January 20, 2024, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) landed on the Moon. Vision-Based Navigation (VBN) was used to estimate the position of the spacecraft accurately and autonomously during the descent phase, and it was successfully used in each of the seven regions. Obstacle detection was also performed 50 m above the lunar surface, successfully identifying safe points within the field

The current studies for Tethered Space Net Robot (TSNR) typically treat the tension force induced by the net as a disturbance and employ passive suppression for compensation. However, these approaches not only result in excess fuel consumption but also overlook the intrinsic nature of the net dynamics. When one Maneuverable Unit (MU) maneuvers, it generates a tension force on the net that is transmitted

The Horizon 2020 (H2020) Future Emerging Technologies (FET) OPEN Project E.T.PACK is dedicated to advancing Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) technology by developing a specialized Deorbit Device prototype for end-of-life satellite deorbiting. In collaboration with the E.T.PACK consortium, the University of Padova conducted test campaigns aimed at evaluating the Deployment Mechanism design. This paper offers

This study investigated the discharge voltage characteristics of an argon-fed lanthanum hexaboride heaterless hollow cathode to assess the influence of flow rate, discharge current, background pressure, and applied magnetic field strength. Decreasing the flow rate from 15 to 3 sccm led to a considerable increase in discharge voltage and peak-to-peak oscillation, particularly for flow rates below 5

This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis and discussion of two typical predictive methods for combustion instability in long flame combustion chambers: the coupled method and the decoupled method. Using large eddy simulation (LES), the coupled method directly predicts stability in typical long flame combustion chambers. In the decoupled method, stability in the combustion chamber is predicted

The translational effects of gas streams, which form after the triple-shock configurations at Mach reflection of blast waves with normal main shock (so-called stationary Mach configurations), were analyzed. Unlike in the case of an elevated explosions of fuel as rocket starts in initially stagnant air, which is considered here as a private case, it was supposed that this shock-wave structure moves

The work is devoted to the study of gasification of porous material under the conditions of a gas generator of a propulsion system. A low-temperature gas generator for producing combustible gases can be included in a solid fuel engine. The effect of urotropine particle size on the characteristics of its gasification under the conditions of a low-temperature gas generator was experimentally studied

Adherence to debris mitigation guidelines is critical for future robust space traffic management (STM). Debris mitigation guidelines are reviewed and their effectiveness at managing the space object population are contrasted against the means to comply with the guidelines. Specific concerns related to the deployment of large constellations are detailed to provide potential trade-offs for consideration

This article describes a novel procedure and algorithm used for the in-flight calibration of the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) onboard the Mars 2020 mission. The purpose is to recalibrate the responsivity of TIRS’ IR detectors as they degrade following surface operations and exposure to harsh environmental conditions. Using data from in-flight calibration campaigns conducted through sol 800 of this

Reinforcement learning is used to design minimum-time trajectories of solar sails subject to the typical sources of uncertainty associated with such a propulsion system, i.e., inaccurate knowledge of the sail’s optical properties and the presence of wrinkles on the sail membrane. A proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm is used to train the agent and derive the control policy that associates

Future human expeditions into deep space will encounter unique design challenges posed by the increasing distance from Earth, one of which is the inability to maintain near-continuous communication with ground support teams. As a result, the habitat and crew will require a higher level of operational self-sufficiency informed by onboard self-awareness and decision-making capabilities to accomplish