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The global community, with coordination from the United Nations, is energized to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a list of 17 important aspirations that summarize the key challenges of our era. The SDGs apply to every nation and represent an international effort to eliminate extreme poverty, ensure access to safe drinking water, strengthen food security, and produce clean and reliable energy, among other pursuits. Space technology is already being used around the world to advance progress toward the SDGs and monitor their related Indicators. This paper explores how six technologies related to space—satellite Earth observation, satellite communication, satellite navigation and positioning, human spaceflight and microgravity research, space technology transfer, and basic scientific research—are being used to realize the vision that the SDGs represent. The paper also discusses the obstacles that limit the application of these technologies for the SDGs and provides an overview of potential paths to overcome these barriers. The paper finally studies the historical and potential roles that four distinct types of entities involved in global sustainable development—governments, non- and inter-governmental organizations, entrepreneurial companies, and universities— have played or may play in the application of space technologies towards the SDGs. • Six space technology areas are shown to support the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. • Examples of space projects that support the SDGs are found in many sectors. • New designs for technology are needed to improve effectiveness of space applications for the SDGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep space exploration activities can effectively promote the development and application of space technology, which holds significant scientific and strategic value. Detectors operating in deep space are of long mission periods and substantial distance from Earth, posing challenges in timely resource replenishment. Moreover, scheduled missions may face external uncertainties, hindering their smooth execution. Therefore, resource constraint processing strategies that possess dynamic adjustment capabilities play a crucial role in ensuring the successful execution of deep space detectors. Existing methods mainly focus on studying fixed mission sequences, and the efficiency of planning methods is not high. Specifically, the single uncertainty is only considered, and there is a lack of detection and processing mechanisms, rendering the requirements of deep space detectors inadequate. In this paper, we propose a reverse chain search algorithm, aiming to efficiently plan missions subject to resource constraints and let the mission sequence to possess a certain degree of dynamic repair capability. The results have demonstrated that the resource allocated to each mission is within the resource value range. Compared with the classic algorithm, the proposed algorithm has fewer iterations and whose maximum flow value is accurate. Meanwhile, the potential resource constraints problem during execution can be alerted with the detection and warning system. The missions that were warned are repaired by a dynamic resource repair system, and the proposed algorithm is of higher efficiency and a certain ability to resist external uncertainties. Overall, this paper lays a solid foundation for the processing of resource constraints for deep space detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2019 WACEM and academic college of emergency experts india position paper on developing the academic department of space medicine in India - The time has come! The Prime Minister of India in August 2019 announced that India will send astronauts into the space by 2022 in its indigenous spacecraft "Gaganyaan" and also that India will have its own Space Station by 2030.[[1]],[[2]] Ever since Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) built its first satellite Aryabhatta in 1975, ISRO has come a long way and has successfully sent Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan to the Lunar and Mars orbits, respectively. Success of India's human mission in the space depends heavily on a legitimate SM research powered by an Academic Department of SM. [Extracted from the article]

In the context of the rapid advancements in space technology and the increasing complexity of space missions, there is a growing need for efficient and effective approaches to tackle the multifaceted challenges faced by space systems. Traditional methods often fall short in providing comprehensive support throughout the entire life cycle of space systems. To address these challenges, this paper presents a novel parallel space system architecture based on ACP (artificial systems, computational experiments, and parallel execution) and explores its applications in the design, development, and operation of space systems. The proposed architecture integrates artificial systems with actual space systems and employs computational experiments to generate extensive sample data. This approach enhances the accuracy of the artificial systems' model and optimizes the performance of the real systems, facilitating parallel advancements between the two. The design, development, and operation processes of Q-Sat, implemented using the ACP framework, serve as a case study to illustrate the advantages of parallel space systems. Following adjustments made to the discrepancies between parallel systems under the ACP-based space system framework, the accuracy of missing orbit compensation improved by 86.5%, and the 24-hour forecast positional error was reduced by approximately 65 m. Furthermore, this paper discusses future trends, emphasizing the increasing efficiency and reliability of digitized, integrated, and adaptive space systems. The findings contribute to the understanding of parallel space systems and provide valuable insights for further advancements in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research on possible scenarios of implementing AI in nanosatellite constellations. • Challenges, applications and possible strategies in Low Earth Orbits, Transfer Region and Lunar Orbits is discussed. • Several examples and major necessities have been included. • Figures portray severe issues to applications and strategic ways to adopt the AI in nanosat constraints is shown in detail. • The future prospects and ways to step-wise organize and implement AI is discussed. The small satellites have been changing the paradigm of space technology and implementation techniques ever since the NewSpace era has begun a stiff competition and dynamic atmosphere for innovation and recreation. Nanosatellites (ranging from 1 to 10 Kg) have been of significant importance since they have been launched and experimented in the past few decades. The constellations of these satellites will be a test of technology and management in due course of time. The complexity of operations and skilled functioning of the satellites in LEO and beyond is becoming crucial for the space industry and scientific communities. This paper will demonstrate the challenges, applications, and strategies to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) optimally to make these constellations efficient and productive under the given scenarios and constraints. A thorough investigation through literature study has been initially done to observe and monitor the recent developments and envision the futuristic implementation of cognitive computing in CisLunar space. Hence, a detailed description of strategizing this artificial intelligence implementation in three classified regions as Low Earth Orbits (LEO), Transfer Region (TR), and Lunar Orbits (LO) to emphasize their crucial role in operating nanosatellites is significantly presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Konstantin Tsiolkovsky famously stated that while the Earth serves as the birthplace of humanity, it is not a place where mankind can indefinitely remain. Perhaps during that period, the prospect of exploring the mysteries of outer space appeared to be an unattainable aspiration. However, in the present day, there are no longer any limitations, not even the sky, since human ingenuity has facilitated access to outer space for humanity. This access is not just for the purposes of research and exploration but also for economic endeavours. Until now, the commercial utilisation of outer space has advanced at a very sluggish rate. However, firms including SpaceX, Orion Span, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin have achieved significant advancements in the growth of the space industry. The revenue generated by various space-related endeavours has experienced a significant 73% increase over the last ten years. The global space economy, estimated to be valued at USD one trillion in the coming years, is primarily driven by commercial activities. This presents a formidable challenge to the existing national and international taxation systems. Similar to the open seas, space is also considered res communis omnium, meaning it belongs to the entire community, and presents comparable taxing challenges with potentially uncertain solutions. The three fundamental elements of every taxation regulation, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or the United Nations Model Double Taxation Convention, are the taxpayer's place of residence, the origin of their income, and the methods by which they generate their money. The current tax system does not have the necessary concepts and provisions to adapt to the rapid advancements in commercial space technology. This paper examines the legal issues surrounding commercial activities conducted in space, including the nature and handling of the income generated in various legal systems. It also addresses concerns such as tax avoidance and excessive taxation, emphasising the necessity for a globally coordinated approach to effectively tax commercial activities in space. • Human ingenuity has facilitated access to outer space for humanity, for the purposes of research and exploration and also for economic endeavours. • Space-related endeavours has experienced a significant 73% increase over the last ten years. • Commercial activities conducted in space require concerted action at international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human resources development aided the developing space program of the Philippines. • Most of the selected personnel for training came from the academia. • Trainees taken from the industry followed later to support the push for space. • Most of trained personnel opted to stay in the country to support the space program. The Philippines has experienced a shift of interest in space technology development and utilization over the past decade, culminating with the establishment of its national space agency in 2019. In cooperation with different universities in Japan, the Philippines successfully developed and launched two microsatellites, DIWATA-1 and DIWATA-2, and six nanosatellites, MAYA-1 to MAYA-6. By sending personnel to Japan and other space-faring countries, the country was able to rapidly ramp up its satellite development and utilization capabilities. In this paper, we examine and evaluate the complex human resources development efforts conducted by the country to support the creation of a local space ecosystem and ensure its long-term sustainability. Through a careful review, we identify how many people benefited from training programs, studies abroad or other forms of capacity building, and how these skilled individuals were retained in the budding Filipino space sector. Precisely, we looked at the backgrounds of the different people trained by the country, what type of training they received (funding, location, and duration), and how they are supporting the local space ecosystem at the time of writing this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), officially named as Danuri, is the Republic of Korea's first spacecraft to orbit the Moon. The goal of KPLO is to secure core deep space technology for future space exploration in Korea and contribute to lunar science by gathering data from the lunar orbit for one year. This paper presents the results of KPLO's Lunar Orbit Acquisition (LOA) phase in detail, with a particular focus on the operational results of Flight Dynamics (FD). During the LOA phase, the KPLO FD team experienced many expected and unexpected issues. These issues were mitigated by making real-time updates to the LOA phase Design Reference Mission (DRM). The paper also presents the results of the Orbit Determination (OD) and performance of each Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) maneuver conducted during the actual flight operation. The importance of considering operational constraints when designing the DRM is emphasized by presenting lessons learned based on actual flight experiences. Unlike the original KPLO LOA phase DRM, KPLO successfully achieved the final mission orbit using only three LOI burns, instead of the planned five LOI burns and an Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM). Despite the extensive revisions made to the DRM, all mission requirements were still fulfilled during the final lunar orbit insertion, taking into account the significant operational constraints. • Real flight operation results of the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter's lunar orbit acquisition phase are presented. • Orbit determination and lunar orbit insertion maneuver performance are analyzed based on actual flight data. • Unexpected issues during the actual flight operation were mitigated through real-time updates on the design reference mission. • Considering real-world operational constraints while designing the design reference mission is very critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We introduce a graph theory model and utilize dispatchable STN to address the mission planning problem for deep space detectors. • The proposed algorithm efficiently decreases the network scale and streamline the computational workload. • Our proposed algorithm effectively tackles the challenge of dynamic mission scheduling to effectively handle emergencies. Deep space exploration activities can effectively promote the development and application of space technology, which holds significant scientific and strategic value. The multi-mission and long-period detector is executed in deep space, and numerous temporal constraints are generated by mission planning. Moreover, scheduled missions may face external uncertainties, hindering their smooth execution. Therefore, temporal constraint processing strategies that possess dynamic adjustment capabilities play a crucial role in ensuring the successful execution of deep space detectors. Existing methods primarily concentrate on investigating fixed mission series, with limited efficiency in planning. Specifically, these methods do not rigorously enforce temporal constraints and lack the capability to handle the disruptions caused by emergencies, which hinder the smooth execution of planned missions. In this paper, we propose a dynamic temporal constraints algorithm, aiming to efficiently plan missions subject to temporal constraints and let it possess a certain degree of dynamic adjust capability. The simulation results demonstrate the effective simplification of redundant temporal constraints in mission networks by the proposed algorithm. In comparison to the classical algorithm, the computation time exhibits a clear advantage. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm possesses the capability to perform local, small-scale dynamic adjustments in response to emergencies that may disrupt the normal execution of missions. Consequently, this research establishes a robust basis for addressing temporal constraints in deep space detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to advance civil aircraft manufacturing to higher levels, there is an urgent need to identify technological innovation opportunities to help new technology development. This paper first analyses the current state of the research field and determines the topic. It preprocesses papers and patents within the research topic to obtain a base database. Then, the database is analyzed using the LDA (Latent Dirichlet Analysis) cluster analysis method. The TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) algorithm processes the data to obtain critical technical words. The abstracts of patents and papers are processed to construct a binary-based vector of technical keywords. The papers and patents are visualized in a two-dimensional space technology map by generative topographic mapping (GTM) to create a technology map to identify technology blank dots. The combination of technologies characterized by each technology blank dot is obtained by GTM inverse mapping. Finally, technology opportunities with a high probability of development are identified to achieve innovation opportunity identification. It also provides countermeasures for the research institution, enterprise, sector, and industry. After research and analysis, the future in the mechanical connection technology of civil aircraft is necessary to strengthen basic technology development and improve the study of intelligence, integration, and flexibility. Technology such as sensors and lasers can improve the precision and efficiency of mechanical connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no doubt that space matters in today's time. We have become highly reliant on space science and technology; life without it cannot be imagined. No one can deny the significance of space safety. Thus, for the smooth functioning of life, there is a need for safety and security in outer space. So, it would not be wrong to say that we are at the mercy of these new space technologies. Currently, space debris has been facing universal embryonic challenge to the sustainable activities of outer space, and if not coped at the earliest, the world would face titanic catastrophe. From the preceding decades, there have been some crashing episodes that heightened the space debris build-up, and the speed at which myriad space activities have caused the production of debris. Such huge congregation of debris can pose dangers to the working space satellites. It could also fetch numerous challenges at the same time. In addition, the tremendous development in space technology, involvement of private sector in space activities, Anti Satellite tests adventure of space powers, weaponization and commercialization (space tourism) has made outer space more vulnerable. Presently, there is a dearth of stringent space laws with regards to the proliferation of space debris. So, these issues can have an impact on the long-term sustainability of space activities. Progressing and advanced space faring nations have found the worth of a proficient International Regime that can play a vital role for ordering, overseeing, and managing the research and advancement of space. The paper will magnet the attention towards the real legal, technical, financial and managerial facts. Some countries are capable of removing space debris but encounter many obstacles while applying such actions. Besides who will bear the expense for the removal of space debris as its prerequisites giant sum of money. This paper is going to put forward an independent international space regime (ISR). In order to meet the financial issues this paper proposed to establish a Global Debris Removal Fund. The old-fashioned space law regime is the core obstruction for the debris removal procedure. Finally, it is desirable that all legal issues be fixed through the innovative procedures and reformed international space law (ISL) system with inclusive coordination and co-operation. Thus, it would be the perfect ISR for the resolutions of remediation and mitigation of space debris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to study the development of space-age aesthetics culture and arts in seven decades since 1950s. The first known use of "space-age" was in 1946, and was defined as "of, relating to, or befitting the age of space exploration." A more popular definition for the "space age" is "The space age is the time period in human history related to the space race, space exploration, and space technology. Most people say this started when Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, and continues to today. This has influenced culture such as in movies, television, music, art, and architecture." Culture, in the anthropology, is the patterns of behaviour and thinking that people living in social groups learn, create, and share. Culture distinguishes one human group from others. It also distinguishes humans from other animals. A people's culture includes their beliefs, rules of behaviour, language, rituals, art, technology, styles of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, and political and economic systems. Therefore, the space-age art is one of the major elements of the space-age culture of human beings. On the other hand, the space exploration has significant inspiration and influence on the aesthetics art. In particular, the following aspects shall be studied in this paper: architecture and exhibition craftworks. • The space-age architecture and exhibition craftworks were investigated. • Five space-age architecture shapes investigated are disc, rocket, tower, spherical and combined. • Three space-age installation craftworks studied are sky waves, embroidery, planet models, etc. • Many space-age architectures are destroyed due to many reasons. • Hopefully the young generations can be inspired to carry forward these precious heritages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some geographically challenging areas (such as deserts, seas, and forests) where direct connectivity to a terrestrial network is difficult, space communication is the only option. In these remote locations, Internet of Space Things (IoST) applications can also be used successfully. In this paper, the proposed payload for IoST applications demonstrates how an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a fire detection system can be used effectively. A space mission based on efficient and low-cost communication can use a constellation of nanosatellites to better meet this need. These two applications, which use a constellation of nanosatellites, can provide relevant university-level data in several countries as an effective policy for the transfer of space technology in an educational initiative project. To enhance educational participation and interest in space technology, this paper shares the lessons learned from the project feasibility study based on an in-depth design of a nanosatellite with several analyses (data budget, link budget, power budget, and lifetime estimation). Lastly, this paper highlights by experiments the development and application of a cost-effective sensor node for fire detection and the use of GPS to enable AIS capabilities in the IoST framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mars rotorcraft is an aerial exploration platform capable of repeated take-offs and landings to extend the range of rover explorations. NASA's Ingenuity helicopter is a full y functioning coaxial helicopter for technology demonstration. Increasing the rotor diameter or the number of blades can enhance the load capacity of the coaxial helicopter but would make it difficult to be folded. A more suitable configuration for Mars exploration is the multi-rotor aircraft, which has a stronger load capacity with the same rotor diameter. Although the aerodynamic performance and operational capabilities of the Mars multi-rotor aircraft have been partially considered, mechatronic system design and autonomous flight control have not been fully addressed. Harbin Institute of Technology and China Academy of Space Technology jointly proposed a deployable Mars quadcopter for air patrol and sampling with a sample mass of 100 g. This paper presents a concept for a Mars quadcopter and its mission operations, including operational procedures and flight modes, to provide a framework for future Mars flight sampling missions. We describe the structure and avionics architecture of the Mars quadcopter. Then, we present the hardware and software design of the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system to illustrate the autonomous flight control method. Finally, we introduce the deployment mechanism of the Mars quadcopter. • A foldable Mars quadcopter improves the efficiency and flexibility of Mars sample return tasks. • Five-module avionics system augments the Mars quadcopter for survival and operation. • A navigation method combining inertial and binocular vision enables autonomous flight on Mars. • The guidance system based on mode commands can independently plan exploration operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the influence of an original airship design on its stability modes. Based on the verified model of the YEZ-2A airship, the Sobol sensitivities are calculated to filter the design parameters. The airship hull length, the slenderness ratio of the airship hull, the exponent of the tail, the fin installation position on the hull, and the fin half-span are found to be of large influences on all stability modes, whereas the stability modes are comparatively insensitive to the exponent of the bow and the fin relative thickness. The empirical formulas for mapping relationships are fitted to the experimental data and are verified by both sensitivities and root locus diagrams. The empirical formulas representing the mapping relationships between the original design parameters and the stability mode parameters of the airship can be used as references to simplify and estimate the stability and performance in the preliminary design of the airship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rationality of formulas 22, 27 and 28 in the paper by Qi Zhang et al. (2019) were discussed due to its derivation process. The reason for this irrationality was analyzed in detail and the relationship between RMR 89 and RMR 14 under the condition of considering only discontinuities of rock mass was extracted. On this basis, a more reasonable formula has been proposed to replace formula 22. And another new relationship between R M R 89 and GSI considering strength of intact rock and groundwater has also been put forward. The case study shows that the two formulas proposed in this discussion are applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

World heritage sites are monuments and natural landscapes recognised by all humanity as being of outstanding significance and universal value. Spatial technology provides new ideas for the conservation and sustainable development of world heritage sites. Using a bibliometric analysis, this study extracted 401 relevant documents from the Web of Science database from 1990–2022. Meta information, such as abstracts, keywords of the papers were extracted and cleaned using bibliometric package and analysed the applications, partnerships and development trends of existing spatial technologies for world heritage sites. The results of the study show the "4D" characteristics of space technology in world heritage sites: (1) Development: Spatial applications in world heritage sites have gradually developed with an annual growth rate of 10.22% during the period 1990–2022. (2) Discrepancy: More than 70 per cent of countries have not been able to fully apply space technology on the ground at world heritage sites. (3) Desirability: Shared exchanges between research institutions are rare, and more cooperation and exchanges are expected, especially between transnationals. (4) Diversity: The future outlook for technology will be multidisciplinary, multi-method integrated research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research on space technology applications has revealed a growing demand for deployable structures with large apertures. Numerous deployable structures that can form a single closed loop have been developed with a total weight limitation. The main purpose of this paper is to present an equivalent parameterized mechanical modeling method that is appropriate for an annular tensegrity structure, which is a tensioned structure that is intended for antenna applications with an aperture range of 30–100 m. In this model, the solutions of geometrically nonlinear problems for the cables and beams of the hoop are presented. Both the kinetic energy and potential energy are identified, which are represented by the velocity of the node component and strain component, respectively, of the beam members in the hoop unit of the parameterized hoop structure. Then, the behaviors of the eigenvalues and vibration modes for this tensegrity structure based on dynamic analysis are also investigated. Additionally, the effect on dynamic performance is demonstrated when the structural parameters are changed. The sensitivity of the structural parameters to dynamic characteristics is separately analyzed. The priority approaches to improving the overall stiffness of the structure when employing different hoop configurations are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their high design freedom and excellent performance, lattice structures have shown outstanding capabilities and great potential in aeronautics and astronautics fields. In this paper, we propose a method to construct lattice structures by parameterizing biological features. An ant-leg configuration is used as the bionic object to generate a bionic lightweight design with a gradient lattice structure. To achieve the above goal, an innovative optimization method combining topology optimization, size optimization, and a bionic lattice structure is proposed in this paper. Taking the support structure of the Fengyun-3 satellite payload as the research object, this optimization method is applied to optimize the design. Further, the reconstructed optimization model and the original model are simulated to evaluate and compare the structural performance. The simulation results show that when combined with bionic lattice structure and structural optimization, the method can achieve the lightweight design goal while ensuring the stiffness and strength of the structure. The results demonstrate that the application of a bionic lattice design in a lightweight design has feasibility and expectable potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of commercial space technology, low-orbit large-scale satellite constellation has shown great development potential in communication services and military applications due to its advantages of low delay, strong signal, high coverage rate, fast communication rate, and low cost of mass production. It has become an urgent problem in the field of satellite constellations to study the perturbation evolution law of low-orbit large-scale constellation initialization and orbit maintenance, and how to maintain and control the deployment and initialization of low-orbit satellite constellations efficiently, economically, and stably. In this paper, the satellite motion law, constellation configuration evolution characteristics, and constellation initialization control strategy are analyzed considering the perturbation of earth's nonspherical gravity and atmospheric drag under the orbit deviation of satellite orbit elements. Firstly, MonteCarlo simulation was used to simulate the deviation of satellite initial orbit elements, and the evolution law of ascending ascension point and phase angle of different constellations was analyzed and, secondly, establish the initialization phase constellation deployment and the ascending node right ascension deployment of mathematical equations, using Starlink constellation (V1.0-L3, 8) satellite TLE data; initialization of Leo constellation orbit plane is analyzed, by considering the orbit bias satellite simulation data; the same orbital plane satellite initialization phase deployment method is analyzed; finally, this paper provides some suggestions for the future deployment and maintenance control strategy of low-orbit constellation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of space technology, the functions of lunar vehicles are constantly enriched, and the structure is constantly complicated, which puts forward more stringent requirements for its ground micro-low-gravity simulation test technology. This paper puts forward a high-precision and high-dynamic landing buffer test method based on the principle of magnetic quasi-zero stiffness. Firstly, the micro-low-gravity simulation system for the lunar vehicle was designed. The dynamic model of the system and a position control method based on fuzzy PID parameter tuning were established. Then, the dynamic characteristics of the system were analyzed through joint simulation. At last, a prototype of the lunar vehicle's vertical constant force support system was built, and a micro-low-gravity landing buffer test was carried out. The results show that the simulation results were in good agreement with the test results. The sensitivity of the system was better than 0.1%, and the constant force deviation was 0.1% under landing impact conditions. The new method and idea are put forward to improve the micro-low-gravity simulation technology of lunar vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyse the state-of-the-art of graphene-based materials and devices designed for use in space. The goal is to summarise emerging research studies, contextualise promising findings, and discuss underway strategies to address some specific space-related problems. To complete our overview of graphene-based technology and address the relevance of graphene in the wide scenario of the space economy, we also provide an analysis of worldwide patents and the scientific literature for aerospace applications in the period 2010–2021. We analysed global trends, country distributions, top assignees, and funding sponsors, evidencing a general increase for the period considered. These indicators, integrated with market information, provide a clear evaluation of the related technology trends and readiness levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in space technology development and rapidly increasing traffic in outer space are likely to lead to the emergence of a market for services for the removal of large debris objects to disposal orbits. The commercial benefits of Active Debris Removal missions are possible when multiple objects are removed by a single spacecraft-collector that flies between targets in an optimal sequence, trying to achieve a rational ratio between mission duration and fuel costs. Given the size of the large debris population, selecting candidates for removal and optimizing such a mission is a non-trivial task. In this paper, a review of solutions, which are proposed in 65 publications between 2010 and 2023 for the problem of path planning between space debris objects in low orbits, is performed. These solutions could be categorized into three main types. The search for transfer chains in the first type of approaches is based solely on combinatorics, supplemented by various heuristics as required. In the second case, combinatorial-heuristic algorithms fully or partially utilize the secular effects of the Earth's polar compression. Solutions of the third type are based only on the use of precession of the Right Ascension of the Ascending Node of the orbit. For each analyzed work, the following information is given: objects of study, maneuvering scheme for a flight between two successive objects, method of choosing the transfer sequence, and main results. At the end of this paper, a subjective general evaluation of the analyzed works is proposed. In order to deepen the reader's understanding of the problem of large space debris removal, this review also provides background information from related fields. The reasons for the growth of observable fragments in near-Earth space and the need to remove large objects to disposal orbits are shown. The history of experiments aimed at the development of ADR technology is given. The article contains a large number of explanatory illustrations. • The review includes more than 200 research articles on the space debris origin, danger and necessity of ADR. • The study covers 65 papers on ADR path planning published between 2010 and 2023. • The thematic publications are divided into three types depending on the approach to the problem. • The description of each paper contains schemes of maneuvers of an active spacecraft and a method of finding its path. • Analysis of ADR mission parameters shows the advantages of solutions using the RAAN drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role that models and replicas typically play in aerospace museums, which is to use them as references for the original or final product. Using the BepiColombo Structural Thermal Model currently on display at the Science Museum as well as other models in the Exploring Space gallery as examples, this paper argues that looking at models as objects in their own right offers more diverse and inspiring narratives for visitors. It presents opportunities to showcase the complex development process for space technology, uncovers surprising stories, and helps to debunk the traditional narrative of progress and advancement that science and technology museums often adopt. BepiColombo is a joint mission to Mercury developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep space exploration technology is an important development direction for scientific exploration. The penetrator method has been proposed as an inexpensive method of studying planetary bodies. The basic principle of this method is that the detection equipment carried by the high-speed penetrator hits a planetary body at a high speed and is buried up to several meters below the surface to carry out detection work. During the frictional collision process with the planets crust, the instantaneous acceleration peaks of the scientific payload (electronic instrumentation) are large. Shock protection of these payloads is necessary to improve their survival and mission success. In this paper, with the goal of improving the survival rate of scientific loads inside a penetrator, a penetrator with a multilayer energy-absorbing structure is developed, in which cushioning protection measures, such as an aluminum foam-filled corrugated tube(AFFT) structure, polyurethane rubber, and epoxy resin potting, are applied to the penetrator. Since the analysis of this process is a highly nonlinear problem, a numerical modeling method is the main approach in this paper. The LS-DYNA software platform was used to simulate the penetrators penetration process on a moon soil medium. The results obtained using empirical formulas and theoretical derivations were compared with the results of numerical analysis to ensure the accuracy of the penetration simulation model. The finite element model of the penetrator was then verified and modified by conducting shock response spectral experiments and shock simulations. The results showed that the spacer scheme had a positive effect on the impact isolation and energy absorption. In addition, this scheme provides an important reference for the design of the penetrator prototype to guarantee the success of subsequent ground rocket sled experiments. • The buffering and energy absorption characteristics of the proposed AFFT structure are analyzed applied to the penetrator. • Through numerical simulation of the penetration process, the initial velocity satisfying the penetration depth was obtained. • The impact response spectrum test and simulation analysis of the penetrator prototype have verified the numerical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the crucial method for the results found at Beijing Institute of Technology and China Academy of Space Technology in the 11th Global Trajectory Optimization Competition (GTOC-11). To build 12 solar-power stations placed in the "Dyson Ring" orbit around the Sun, GTOC-11 focuses on the flyby trajectory design, low-thrust trajectory optimization, and target assignment problem. The mission with time and state constraints causes many difficulties in the design and optimization, which is performed in the following four steps. The first step is to design the orbital elements of the "Dyson Ring" by the grid search method. An approximate model is utilized to evaluate the minimum transfer time for each candidate at first, and the accurate solutions are obtained by the indirect method. The second step involves the Mother Ship trajectories design. A large quantity of earth-to-asteroid and asteroid-to-asteroid subsequences are generated by parallel beam search. The complete trajectories of Mother Ship are designed by connecting the subsequences using beam search. The third step involves the station assignment problem, which is required to design the asteroid transfer device activation epoch and the target station assignment. Based on the results above, the last step involves the rendezvous trajectories optimization to obtain the accurate thrust direction profile. Finally, the submitted and post-competition results are reported. • The simplified and accurate model are proposed to obtain the optimal transfer time. • The parallel beam search is developed to reduce the computational burden. • The station assignment problem is solved by coordinate descent method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The paper covers historical events related to the launch of the Luna-10 automated interplanetary station in 1966, which for the first time in the world became an artificial satellite of the Moon and performed a number of scientific studies and made discoveries in global astronautics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological support to the crew is crucial for space mission accomplishment and cosmonauts' professional longevity. In advance of remote space exploration missions we need to sum up and organize the accumulated experience of psychological support at the current stage of astronautic development. The paper gives a retrospect of the psychological support to space crews of piloted space systems/vehicles and highlights its basic goals and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rapid development of industry and agriculture in China, the pollution emission problems caused by farmland heavy metal pollution intensified. Heavy metal pollution in farmland is easy to cause crop reduction, soil environment, harm to human health and other adverse effects. This paper introduced the main sources of heavy metal pollution in farmland and its harm to crops and human bodies, and analyzed the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in farmland in the north and south of China. Based on the analysis and summary of the passivation restoration technology of the typical heavy metals Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, As and Hg in farmland and the passivation restoration technology of the composite pollution of a variety of heavy metals in farmland, combined with the research status, the combination of restoration technology, space technology and evaluation method is proposed. In order to provide reference for the blunt repair of heavy metal pollution in farmland soil, it can be more effectively repaired, tested and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The paper covers historical events related to the launch of the Luna-10 automated interplanetary station in 1966, which for the first time in the world became an artificial satellite of the Moon and performed a number of scientific studies and made discoveries in global astronautics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a parallel computing analysis model HPM and analyzes the parallel architecture of CPU–GPU based on this model. On this basis, we study the parallel optimization of the ray-tracing algorithm on the CPU–GPU parallel architecture and give full play to the parallelism between nodes, the parallelism of the multi-core CPU inside the node, and the parallelism of the GPU, which improve the calculation speed of the ray-tracing algorithm. This paper uses the space division technology to divide the ground data, constructs the KD-tree organization structure, and improves the construction method of KD-tree to reduce the time complexity of the algorithm. The ground data is evenly distributed to each computing node, and the computing nodes use a combination of CPU–GPU for parallel optimization. This method dramatically improves the drawing speed while ensuring the image quality and provides an effective means for quickly generating photorealistic images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private commercial space tourism carrying passengers to outer space is no longer a distant or far-fetched fantasy, rather it is at verge of becoming an affordable reality with exponential development in space technology including development of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), increasing involvement of private companies like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Blue Origin etc. into research and funding of space tourism explorations and applications. It is also receiving huge attention from the public. These developments reflect the infinite possibilities and inevitability of space tourism in near future. However, space tourism may also pose many critical legal issues which must be addressed to ensure the consistent and sustainable development of space tourism, and to secure the rights of all stakeholders involved including operators, passengers, launching State etc. The research paper would highlight the crucial legal issues associated with the space tourism. The paper would critically analyze the efficiency of the present international space treaties in dealing with these issues. At the end, the paper would also attempt to provide few suggestions and solutions to these legal conundrums relating to space tourism. • Commercial space tourism • Legal framework governing space tourism • Sustainable development of outer space • Space tourism and international law [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses geopolitical cultures of outer space by examining the selected life and works of Arthur C. Clarke (1918–2008), one of the leading space technology advocates of the twentieth century, in the specific context of his adopted home of Ceylon/Sri Lanka. Within the framework of studies that have connected critical geopolitics and science, further discussions concerning the interface between imperialism, technology and tropicality help demonstrate the relevance of Clarke's geographical imagination to understanding geopolitical cultures of outer space. Three aspects of Clarke's life and works are examined: First, his underwater exploration activities in Ceylon from the late 1950s to the early 1970s; second, his 1979 Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel The Fountains of Paradise; and finally, his promotion of Sri Lanka as a future hub of outer space technologies in the early 1980s. The paper suggests that geopolitical readings of outer space can be understood through investigating diverse aspects of place, landscape and identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has realized that it is difficult to establish enough standards to meet the market demand in some innovative fields by relying on government standards alone. The social organization standards developed by non-governmental organizations and social organizations are developing rapidly. This paper analyzes the current development and existing problems of social organization standards in the field of Chinese civil astronautics, takes the data of the national social organization standards information platform as the research object, and conducts mining and key analysis by extracting important data such as standard type, standard publication and implementation time, and standard disclosure, put forward suggestions to strengthen the building of social organization standardization capabilities, improve public recognition, and promote the development of technology in the field of civil astronautics in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is presented a review of the AGAM, showing the classifications and proposed configurations of AGAMs and PAGAMs. • It is studied the effect of low Lift-to-Drag ratios in high altitude AGAM and PAGAM. • It is explored the use of continuum propulsion to null the Drag, improving the gains of energy when compared to GAM. The Gravity Assisted Maneuver has been applied in lots of space missions, to change the spacecraft heliocentric velocity vector and the geometry of the orbit, after the close approach to a celestial body, saving propellant consumption. It is possible to take advantage of additional forces to improve the maneuver, like the forces generated by the spacecraft-atmosphere interaction and/or propulsion systems; reducing the time of flight and the need for multiple passages around secondary bodies. However, these applications require improvements in critical subsystems, which are necessary to accomplish the mission. In this paper, a few combinations of the Gravity-Assist were classified, including maneuvers with thrust and aerodynamic forces; presenting the advantages and limitations of these variations. There are analyzed the effects of implementing low Lift-to-Drag ratios at high altitudes for Aero-gravity Assist maneuvers, with and without propulsion. The maneuvers were simulated for Venus and Mars, due to their relevance in interplanetary missions, the interest in exploration, and the knowledge about their atmospheres. The Aero-gravity Assist maneuver with low Lift-to-Drag ratios at high altitudes shows an increase of more than 10° in the turn angle for Venus and 2.5° for Mars. The maneuvers increase the energy gains by more than 15% when compared to the Gravity-Assist. From the Technology Readiness Levels, it was observed that the current level of development of the space technology makes feasible the application of Aero-gravity Assisted Maneuvers at high altitudes in short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A class of novel deployable units was proposed. • A method of programmatically constructing ring topology was proposed. • DOF of the ring truss deployable mechanism and units were carried out by screw theory. • The kinematic and dynamic models of the deployable mechanism unit were analyzed. • Prototypes of two splicing schemes were manufactured to verify the mobility. With the rapid development of space technology, deployable mechanisms have attracted much attention because of their potential applications. In this paper, novel deployable mechanism units with self-limiting position function are proposed. Then, the ring truss deployable mechanisms are constructed according to two schemes of shared-nodes and shared-edges. The ring truss deployable mechanism constructed using the shared-edges scheme has higher stability, to further expand the application potential of this scheme, a procedural method is proposed to obtain the ring topology with larger aperture. Next the degree of freedom(DOF) of deployable units are analyzed using screw theory, and according to the synchronization between the units, it is proved that the constructed ring truss deployable mechanisms have only one DOF. The dynamic model of the deployable mechanism unit with the passive actuation is established and verified by simulation. Compared with others, the deployable mechanism units proposed in this paper have the advantages of strong scalability and high stability, and they have good application prospect in constructing large deployable mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the possibility of improving the technology of diffusion welding, which can be used both for joining dissimilar materials for the manufacture of complex devices in the aerospace industry on the ground, and for repair and design in outer space. A laser treatment by nanosecond laser pulses of the ultraviolet range was carried out for surface modification of industry alloys (CrNi55CuВZn, steel AISI 316, Cu–Cr bronze) used in space technology due to high values of thermal and electrical conductivity. It was shown that the preliminary laser treatment leads to an improvement in the properties of the weld: an increase in tensile strength by more than 10%, and tensile strain by more than 20% for certain joints of materials. Also, laser pre-processing can improve the productivity of the welding process, in particular, reduce the temperature and shorten the welding time. • Preliminary laser treatment of alloy samples for diffusion welding was studied. • A method of direct micro- and nanostructuring was used for surface modification. • Laser treatment improves mechanical properties of welded joints used in space and aviation technologies. • Tensile strength increases by more than 10% for joints with treated samples. • Laser pre-processing can reduce the welding temperature and shorten the welding time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When we talk about Space, our interlocutors think about planets, stars, asteroids, astronauts and, sometimes satellites. But, only a small percentage is aware of what satellite technology can do and the relevance of satellite applications in our everyday life. From satellite communication, to navigation and to earth imagery, satellites data and technology are contributing in improving our daily life, or businesses or helping the management of our cities. Often, the end users come across an obstacle in communicating their needs to the service providers. On the other side, the service providers themselves are not fully aware how to communicate with the end-users. In some cases, this lack of communication makes difficult to meet the demand of space applications from the user side with the supply from the service providers. Eurisy, an association of space agencies established thirty years ago, works to put the end users at the core of the space value chain. In this last decades, Eurisy has been attentive and responsive to the changes of the space sector trying to picture how end users are becoming familiar with space technology. In particular, how the democratisation of space is turning space, especially satellite technology, into an enabler to guarantee the development of a sustainable living, accessible to everyone. Eurisy recently started a review of the case studies collected over the last ten years thanks to direct testimonials, event and conferences, publications and surveys. The user-centred approach adopted is innovative in the space sector and over the years proved to be effective in connecting users and service providers in different contexts. The paper aims at: 1- Identifying challenges and barriers that characterise the relations between service and/or information providers and end users. 2- Analysing the changes occurred in the relations between end users and service providers from 2007 to date in Europe. 3- Presenting the reasons that motivates the use of satellite data and technologies and which of these is the most used. 4- Presenting Eurisy's approach as an applicable model outside the European borders and the benefits deriving from connecting space and society. Furthermore, the paper will briefly present the ongoing activities as examples of the work put in place by the organisation and how the user-centred approach is applied. • The so-called democratisation of space has consequences on the downstream sector. • End users are mostly local and regional public authorities. • Central Europe seems to be the most fertile area where to find use cases. • The main technology adopted is Satellite Navigation. SatComs are not common. • Eurisy works putting the end-users central in the space value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) methods and technologies, designed to support the self-report of experience in the moment of daily life, have long been considered poised to revolutionize human-centred research, the practice of design and mental healthcare. The history of EMA is inextricably linked to technology, and mobile devices embody many of the characteristics required to support these methods. However, significant barriers to the design and adoption of these systems remain, including challenges of user engagement, reporting burden, data validity and honest disclosure. While prior research has examined the feasibility of a variety of EMA systems, few reviews have attended to their design. Through inter-disciplinary narrative literature review (n = 342), this paper presents a characterization of the EMA technology design space, drawing upon a diverse set of literatures, contexts, applications and demographic groups. This paper describes the options and strategies available to the EMA systems designer, with an eye towards supporting the design and deployment of EMA technologies for research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vibration between the spacers of bundle conductors may cause the conductors to collide with each other, thereby damaging the conductors and the spacers, even resulting in adhesion. The main function of the spacers is to limit the relative movement between the bundle conductors, but it still exists. In order to find out the potential dangers caused by the movement and prevent adhesion among four or multibundle conductors, a measurement method of space distance among bundle conductors is presented in this paper. First, the images of bundle conductors are obtained by installing cameras on the optimum position of tower, which are segmented by the maximum interclass variance method after preprocess, and the axis of conductors can be obtained by the skeleton extraction. Second, the image coordinates of each point on the axis are transformed into the world coordinates by camera calibration, and these points are fit by least-squares method to get the conductor function. Then, the actual transmission conductor model can be reconstructed according to the fitting function, conductor diameter, and spacers. Finally, calculating the distance between two bundle conductors, the minimum distance can be obtained. We analyze the performance of the technology by a series of experiments; the results demonstrate that the proposed method can measure the space distance with an average relative error of 2%–4%. The running status of the bundle conductors can be monitored based on the presented method in this paper, by which the safe operation of transmission lines can be guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space can be used as a tool for business decision and policy makers. The maritime sector is rapidly evolving as far as business and industrial activities are concerned. Space can assist in transforming this sector through satellite navigation and positioning, telecommunications and integrated applications as well as earth observation. Additionally, space can be used as a tool in developing, implementing maritime affairs. This paper focuses on the role of space in maritime policy. Space technologies have been serving the maritime community for over fourty years. Satellite technology is becoming increasingly important for a wide range of maritime activities through enhanced navigation accuracy, marine environmental monitoring and maritime surveillance. For this reason, agreements between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), have been signed in 2007 and 2010, strengthening the framework for cooperation between the two agencies for the use of space-based systems in support of maritime activities. The first part of the paper summarizes European maritime related policy areas where space assets can contribute to achieve their objectives. The second part of the paper addresses how ESA's initiatives and programs could contribute and support the maritime sector in Europe. The main purpose of this paper is to come up with conclusions on whether and how the use of space assets, technology and applications, can contribute in achieving the maritime policy objectives for the benefit of Europe. • Holistic assesment of the role of space in maritime sector. • Understanding of European maritime related policy areas where space assets can contribute to achieve their objectives. • Identification of particular uses of space assets, technology and applications contributing to maritime policy. • Identification of ESA's initiatives and programs contributing and supporting the maritime sector. • Assessment of the role of space in achieving the maritime policy objectives for the benefit of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of solar energy can never be over-emphasized. Photovoltaic conversion is the most convenient method for harnessing solar energy. The demand for solar electricity has been increasing in this power hungry world. This has challenged the existing technology for solar power and motivated researchers to find innovative solutions. High cost and high technology have always been highlighted in the context of solar photovoltaics. Due to high cost, during the initial period, solar cells could be employed only in high end applications such as space technology. For widespread use of solar cells, it is imperative to bring the cost of harnessing solar energy down to an affordable level. Efforts taken for over more than 50 years on this topic are reviewed in this paper. These include the search for low cost materials and technology, using amorphous, nanocrystalline materials or thin films, and efforts to increase the conversion efficiency. The concept of spectrum modification is the most ingenious scheme for increasing the efficiency, which ultimately can help bring down the cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black hole imaging challenges the third-generation space VLBI, the Very Long Baseline Interferometry, to operate on a 500 GHz band. The coherent integration time needed here is 450 s though the available space oscillators cannot offer more than 10 s. Self-calibration methods might solve this issue in an interferometer formed by three antenna/satellite systems, but the need for the third satellite increases the mission costs. A frequency transfer is of special interest to alleviate both performance and cost issues. A concept of two-way optical frequency transfer is examined to investigate its suitability to enable space-to-space interferometry, in particular, to image the "shadows" of black holes from space. The concept, promising on paper, has been demonstrated by tests. The laboratory test set-up is presented and the verification of the temporal stability using standard analysis tool as TimePod has been passed. The resulting Allan Deviation is dominated by the 1/ τ phase noise trend since the frequency transfer timescale of interest is shorter than 0.2 s. This trend continues into longer integration times, as proven by the longest tests spanning over a few hours. The Allan Deviation between derived 103.2 GHz oscillators is 1. 1 × 1 0 − 1 4 / τ within 10 ms < τ < 1 0 0 0 s that degrades twice towards the longest delay of 0.2 s. The worst case satisfies the requirement with a margin of 11 times. The obtained coherence in the range of 0.997 − 0.9998 is beneficial for space VLBI at 557 GHz. The result is of special interest to future science missions for black hole imaging from space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the evolution of the first manned international space mission – a rendezvous and docking between a US and a Soviet spacecraft in 1975 known as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). The aim is to reconsider the rationales behind the ASTP from both a conceptual and an empirical perspective in order to get a better understanding of the evolution of international cooperation in the highly competitive and strategic field of space technology. Based on archival sources from Moscow, it sheds some light on those factors that led to a change in the previous reluctance of Soviets to cooperate with the US in the manned spaceflight. From the theoretical point of view, it argues that the ASTP was as much a tool of competition as one of cooperation and resulted from an interplay between cooperative and competitive logics. To explain the turn towards cooperative practices, the article looks at the complex constellation of competitive relations that existed within the national and international context of space exploration and changed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The decisive role in those changes was played by factors that can be subsumed under the notion of the so-called "third." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerospace milestones in human history, including returning to the moon and manned Martian missions, have been implemented in recent years. Space exploration has become one of the global common goals, and to ensure the survival and development of human beings in the extraterrestrial extreme environment has been becoming the basic ability and technology of manned space exploration. For the purpose of fulfilling the goal of extraterrestrial survival, researchers in Nanjing University and the China Academy of Space Technology proposed extraterrestrial artificial photosynthesis (EAP) technology. By simulating the natural photosynthesis of green plants on the Earth, EAP converts CO2/H2O into fuel and O2 in an in-situ , accelerated and controllable manner by using waste CO2 in the confined space of spacecraft, or abundant CO2 resources in extraterrestrial celestial environments, e.g. Mars. Thus, the material loading of manned spacecraft can be greatly reduced to support affordable and sustainable deep space exploration. In this paper, EAP technology is compared with existing methods of converting CO2/H2O into fuel and O2 in the aerospace field, especially the Sabatier method and Bosch reduction method. The research progress of possible EAP materials for in-situ utilization of extraterrestrial resources are also discussed in depth. Finally, this review lists the challenges that the EAP process may encounter, which need to be focused on for future implementation and application. We expect to deepen the understanding of artificial photosynthetic materials and technologies, and aim to strongly support the development of manned spaceflight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) last week permanently ended a ban on papers submitted to its journals and conferences by authors living in countries under a U.S. embargo. After protests from Iranian scientists, AIAA suspended the policy that was instituted in May to avoid assisting a nation such as North Korea in its efforts to develop nuclear weapons and the capability to deliver them, in June.

Abstract Attention has been devoted to distributed position and orientation system (DPOS) which can provide high precision spatial and temporal information for all remote sensing loads for airborne multi-task synthetical earth observation system in recent years. Since there are restrictions of space, weight and cost of the DPOS, it is unrealistic to install an IMU of DPOS at the location of each load, and the optimized layout of DPOS has become an urgent problem should be solved. However, there is no report on the optimized layout method for airborne DPOS yet. In this paper, the optimized layout of DPOS is classified as the optimization problem, and two classical optimization algorithms, the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), and two novel optimization algorithms, the particle swarm optimization with mutation (PSOM) and hybrid of PSO and GA (HPSOGA), are used and compared for the first time to determine the optimal layout of DPOS. The mathematical simulation shows that the novel method named HPSOGA is superior to the other three methods. In order to accelerate the convergence rate of this layout method, further mathematical simulation and semi-physical simulation based on flight experiment is carried out and the results show that the calculation amount of this method can be reduced by adjusting the individual number calculated by PSO. The work of this paper can provide new ideas and make a good start for the optimized layout study of DPOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Italy, as well as many other countries, has increasing interest in Commercial Space Transportation and in particular, in suborbital flights. A suborbital space transportation system is an opportunity to involve the Italian industry in the development of new technologies, exploit opportunities of microgravity experimentation and pilots/astronauts training, as well as catalyse the national industry. The central position of Italy in the Mediterranean basin, the generically favourable climate condition, the touristic vocation resulting in hospitality at the highest level, pretty much allow year round suborbital operations and unique customer experience. Consequently, Italy appears to be a suitable location to host a Spaceport, even though the density of population has to be factored in as a key aspect, together with a proper environmental assessment. This paper outlines the current Italian approach that, instead of focusing on the development of new Spaceport from scratch, evaluates the capabilities of existing airports and their possible upgrades to achieve the Spaceport license, when a proper regulatory frame is established. Advances in the technical activities that are being conducted to assess various Italian sites of interest are described, including trade off methodologies and ranking criteria. Different aspects are considered, from the availability of civil and military airports, to the identification of the best location between coastline or inland sites but, first of all, in compliance to the safety requirements. Some specific Spaceport infrastructure and operational aspects are described, along with their integration with the already existing ones. These include hangars, propellant storage facilities, ground support equipment, high and low airspace surrounding the airport area, ascent and descent corridors, as well as tracking telemetry station to support specific mission profiles in integrated fashion with the existing airport infrastructure and air traffic. The paper will also describe the approach to the definition of a harmonized cooperative regulatory framework, according to the Aviation Authority, that represents the basis to assess suborbital operations and allows the relevant missions execution. In this activity, basing upon an established Memorandum of Cooperation between FAA, ENAC and the Italian Space Agency, the existing FAA/AST regulatory work frame is considered as reference benchmark and further tailored to the Italian case. Some considerations will also be developed relevant to initial challenges to be faced, by interested stakeholders, in starting commercial spaceflight initiatives as a new ground and emerging business opportunity. Highlights • Spaceport and Ground Segment assessment for future suborbital transportation system. • Market opportunities and benefits for the Italian economy. • Spaceport requirements identification for the Italian case. • Spaceport operations business strategy considerations for the Italian case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new algorithm to determine the attitude of micro-/nano-satellites using an Earth sensor. For recent micro-/nano-satellites, the requirements for attitude determination accuracy are becoming more stringent, despite its limited volume. Since Earth sensors have the advantage of smaller size, some studies have presented using them as attitude sensors; however, they could not achieve fully automatic processing in real-time. Therefore, we have developed an algorithm that effectively combines geometrical consideration and image recognition technology, thus realizing high autonomy, robustness, and real-time processing. The validity of this algorithm is confirmed through ground experiments. The algorithm operates at a rate of 0.2 Hz and achieves an accuracy of 0.1-1 deg, which is similar to the accuracy of a coarse sun sensor. Furthermore, it is capable of determining the three-axis attitude using only an Earth sensor and a GNSS receiver for position information. This study proves that the bus equipment required for attitude determination systems in micro-/nano-satellites can be reduced, thereby contributing to increased design freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of space technology, the amount of information transmission required by satellites and various spacecraft has increased exponentially. The use of optical communications is a means for future high-speed communications. Adopting superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) as a receive detector can be capable of detecting signals on the photon scale, which has great application prospects in the field of deep-space optical communication for faint signal detection. However, the use of SNSPDs and high-peak-power optical pulse signals also place higher demands on the extinction ratio of modulators. Therefore, in this paper, we designed a high extinction ratio optical modulator, which adopts cascaded Mach-Zehnder modulators structure, and the static extinction ratio can be reached 77.5 dB. In addition, an SNSPD-based 3.4 km free space optical communication experiment is successfully carried out by using the modulator and a diffuse reflector plate. • A high static extinction ratio optical modulator is designed, and the extinction ratio can be reached 77.5 dB. • SNSPD-based real time FSO experiment is successfully carried out using the modulator and a diffuse reflector plate. • The experiment successfully transmitted live video signals through 3.4 km FSO channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]