An integrated structure for ranging, targeting, and separation of space debris

Abstract

An integrated structure for space debris ranging, tracking, aiming, and removal is disclosed, enabling laser-based space debris cleanup. Specifically, it mainly includes a wide-field-of-view telescope, a ranging laser, a high-resolution off-axis reflective camera, a fast-reflecting mirror, a Coulomb optical path, a high-energy removal laser, a two-dimensional turntable, an integrated back-end component box for optical transmission and transmission channels, and a control center. This invention utilizes a single system to continuously complete acquisition, laser ranging, root aiming, and high-energy laser removal, providing a structural implementation method for on-orbit debris removal applications on spacecraft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of space debris capture and removal technology, specifically relating to an integrated structure for space debris ranging, tracking, aiming, and removal. Background Technology

[0002] With space debris increasing year by year and the near-Earth space environment gradually deteriorating, space-based active space debris removal technology is an effective means for the sustainable use of near-Earth space.

[0003] Existing space-based debris removal systems require multiple modules to work together, resulting in low space resource utilization, low structural integration, and excessive mass and size. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an integrated structure for ranging, aiming, and deflecting space debris.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An integrated structure for space debris ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflection includes a space debris acquisition module, a laser ranging module, a tracking and aiming module, and a deflection module;

[0007] Space debris capture module: Captures space debris using a wide-field telescope;

[0008] Laser ranging module: emits lasers towards space debris to measure the distance between the integrated structure and the space debris;

[0009] Tracking module: Based on the distance information measured by the laser ranging module, it tracks and targets space debris;

[0010] Deflection module: Based on tracking information, it fires a high-energy laser to cut and vaporize space debris;

[0011] The space debris capture module, laser rangefinder module, tracking and aiming module, and deflection module are designed coaxially, and the laser rangefinder module, tracking and aiming module, and deflection module share the same transceiver channel;

[0012] The space debris capture module, laser ranging module, tracking and aiming module, and deflection module are all controlled by the control center.

[0013] Preferably, the space debris acquisition module includes a wide-field telescope and a wide-field telescope rear detector; the space debris tracking module includes a fast-reflecting mirror, a two-dimensional turntable, a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope, a Couder optical path, and a rear-end optical component box; the space debris laser ranging module uses a ranging laser as its transmitter; and the space debris repelling module uses a high-energy laser as its transmitter.

[0014] The high-energy laser and the rear optical component box are bolted to the base plate, and the beam expander of the high-energy laser is screwed to the rear optical component box; the high-energy laser and the rear optical component box are connected to the control center via a cable; the control center is screwed to the rear of the rear optical component box.

[0015] The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope is fixed in the middle of the two-dimensional turntable, which is connected to the control center via a cable. Under the control of the control center, the two-dimensional turntable drives the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope to rotate in the pitch or yaw direction. The external connecting bracket of the Kude optical path is screwed onto the two-dimensional turntable. The fast reflector is installed on the side of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope tube.

[0016] The wide field-of-view telescope is screwed onto the tube of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope, and the incident optical axis of the wide field-of-view telescope is parallel to the incident optical axis of the high-resolution reflecting telescope. The wide field-of-view telescope and the rear detector of the wide field-of-view telescope are connected through a PC interface, and the detector is connected to the control center through a cable.

[0017] The ranging laser is screwed and fixed above the telescope tube of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope, with the laser optical axis parallel to the incident optical axis of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope; the ranging laser is connected to the control center via a cable.

[0018] Preferably, the two-dimensional turntable includes a U-shaped bracket, a pitch direction rotating encoder, a lateral rotation rotating encoder, a non-optical bearing flange, and an optical bearing flange; the lateral rotation rotating encoder is screwed onto the upper part of the rear optical component box; the U-shaped bracket is supported above the lateral rotation rotating encoder via the optical bearing flange, constraining the five degrees of freedom except for the lateral rotation direction; the inner flange interface on the other side of the optical bearing flange is screwed to the inner rotation mechanism of the lateral rotation rotating encoder, realizing one-dimensional rotation of the U-shaped bracket in the lateral direction along with the lateral rotation rotating encoder; the outer shell of the pitch direction rotating encoder is screwed onto the outer left edge of the U-shaped bracket, and the pitch direction rotating encoder and the lateral rotation rotating encoder are connected to the control center via cables.

[0019] The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope is supported in the middle of the U-shaped bracket by the left non-light-passing bearing flange and the right light-passing bearing flange, which constrains the five degrees of freedom in the direction of pitch rotation. The inner flange interface of the left non-light-passing bearing flange is screwed to the inner rotating mechanism of the pitch direction rotating code disk, so that the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope can rotate one-dimensionally with the pitch direction rotating code disk in the pitch direction. The external connecting bracket of the Kude optical path is screwed to the outer right edge, the inner right edge and the lower inner edge of the U-shaped bracket.

[0020] Preferably, a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope and a back-end component box serve as the receiver for the space debris laser ranging module.

[0021] Preferably, a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope and a rear-end component box serve as the launch channel for the space debris removal module.

[0022] Preferably, the rear optical component box is equipped with a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope receiving optical component, a ranging laser receiving optical component, an integrated receiving and transmitting channel component, a single-wavelength reflector, a sliding rail, a motor, a ball screw, and a reflector bracket screw connecting slider.

[0023] The receiving optical component of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope is screwed to the bottom of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel assembly, while the ranging laser receiving optical component is screwed to the right side of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel assembly. Above the connecting channel of the ranging laser receiving optical component is the integrated receiving and transmitting channel assembly, enabling connection to a high-energy laser. A sliding rail is screwed to the left side of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel assembly, and a single-wavelength reflector is placed above the receiving optical component of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope via a bracket. The reflector bracket screw-connected slider is placed in the middle of the sliding rail, with one side screwed to the single-wavelength reflector bracket and the other side screwed to a ball screw. The ball screw is screwed to a motor. The motor is connected to the control center via a cable, enabling the motor to drive the reflector bracket screw-connected slider to move up and down.

[0024] Preferably, the optical component of the ranging laser receiver consists of a ranging laser detector and its optical components.

[0025] Preferably, the receiver optical assembly of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope consists of a detector and its optical components.

[0026] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0027] The modules of this invention are functionally independent while the main transceiver channels are shared. This reduces the platform space occupancy rate while ensuring coaxiality accuracy. It has a high degree of integration, improves structural integration, and reduces volume.

[0028] The main transmission channel of this invention adopts an integrated approach. The integrated transmission channel can realize the protection function of the ranging laser receiver detector and the visible light receiver detector, and at the same time realize the conversion from the ranging laser combined with high-resolution imaging stage to the high-resolution imaging combined with high-energy laser expulsion stage. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a front view of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention from the rear.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the back of the optical components. Detailed Implementation

[0032] This invention relates to a coaxial integrated structure of a high-resolution tracking and capture camera and a high-energy laser deflection system, which can realize a high degree of integration of multiple functions such as space debris capture, tracking, and deflection.

[0033] This invention provides an integrated structure for space debris ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflection, comprising four modules: a space debris acquisition module, a laser ranging module, a tracking module, and a deflection module. The modules are functionally independent but share the main transceiver channels, ensuring coaxiality accuracy while reducing platform space occupancy and achieving a high degree of integration.

[0034] To ensure optical path coaxiality, improve tracking accuracy, and enhance structural compactness, the main transmission channel of this invention adopts an integrated approach. This integrated transmission channel provides protection for both the ranging laser receiver detector and the visible light receiver detector, while simultaneously enabling the transition from the ranging laser-assisted high-resolution imaging stage to the high-resolution imaging-assisted high-energy laser decoy stage.

[0035] like Figure 1-3 As shown, this invention proposes an integrated structure for space debris capture, laser ranging, tracking, and decoy. The space debris capture module consists of a wide-field-of-view telescope 1 and a wide-field-of-view telescope rear detector 10, where the wide-field-of-view telescope refers to a telescope with a field of view of 10°. The space debris laser ranging module consists of a ranging laser 2 as the transmitter, a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3 and a rear-end component box 8 as the receiver, where the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope refers to an off-axis reflecting telescope with a resolution higher than 1 μrad. The space debris tracking module consists of a fast-reflecting mirror 4, a two-dimensional turntable 7, a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3, a Coulomb optical path 5, and a rear-end component box 8. The two-dimensional turntable 7 consists of a U-shaped bracket 11, a pitch direction rotating code disk 12, a yaw direction rotating code disk 13, a light-transmitting bearing flange 14, and a non-light-transmitting bearing flange 15. The space debris decoy module consists of a high-energy decoy laser 6 as the transmitter, and a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3 and a rear-end component box 8 as the transmission channel. The four functions of acquisition, laser ranging, root aiming, and drive-away are uniformly transmitted, processed, controlled, and coordinated by the control center 9.

[0036] The integrated structure mainly functions as follows: the first stage space debris capture module captures space debris through a wide field-of-view telescope; the second stage ranging laser emits laser to measure the distance of space debris; the third stage tracking module uses the ranging information in conjunction with a high-resolution off-axis camera to magnify and image specific space debris, and works with a two-dimensional turntable to track and aim at the space debris; the fourth stage deflection module emits high-energy laser to cut and vaporize the debris.

[0037] (1) Integrated connection method of main structure

[0038] The high-energy laser 6 and the rear optical component box 8 are bolted to the base plate, and the beam expander of the high-energy laser is screwed to the rear optical component box 8. The high-energy laser 6 and the rear optical component box 8 are connected to the control center 9 via a cable. The control center 9 is screwed to the rear of the rear optical component box 8. The high-energy laser 6 is a high-energy (100mJ-1J) laser. The two-dimensional turntable 7 consists of a U-shaped bracket 11, a pitch direction rotating encoder 12, a side-swing rotating encoder 13, a non-light-transmitting bearing flange 15, and a light-transmitting bearing flange 14; the side-swing rotating encoder is screwed to the top of the rear optical component box housing. The U-shaped bracket 11 is supported above the lateral swing direction rotating code disk 13 by the light-transmitting bearing flange 14, which constrains the five degrees of freedom other than the lateral swing direction. The inner ring flange interface on the other side of the bearing flange is screwed to the inner rotating mechanism of the lateral swing direction rotating code disk 13, so that the lateral swing direction of the U-shaped bracket 11 rotates one-dimensionally with the rotating code disk 13. The outer shell of the pitch direction rotating code disk is screwed to the outer edge of the left side of the U-shaped bracket 11. The pitch direction rotating code disk 12 and the lateral swing direction rotating code disk 13 are connected to the control center through cables.

[0039] The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3 is supported in the middle of the U-shaped bracket 11 by non-light-transmitting bearing flanges 15 and light-transmitting bearing flanges 14 on both sides, constraining the five degrees of freedom except for the pitch rotation direction. The inner flange interface on one side of the non-light-transmitting bearing flange 15 on the left is screwed to the inner rotating mechanism of the pitch-opposite rotating code disk, realizing the one-dimensional rotation of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope in the pitch direction with the rotating code disk 12. The external connecting bracket of the Kude optical path 5 is screwed to the upper and lower right outer edge, the lower right inner edge, and the lower inner edge of the U-shaped bracket 11.

[0040] The wide-field telescope 1 is screwed onto the tube of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3, and the incident optical axis of the wide-field telescope 1 is parallel to the incident optical axis of the high-resolution reflecting telescope. The wide-field telescope 1 and the wide-field telescope rear detector 10 are connected via a PC interface, and the detector is connected to the control center via a cable.

[0041] The ranging laser 2 is fixed above the tube of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope by screws, and the laser optical axis is parallel to the incident optical axis of the high-resolution reflecting telescope; the ranging laser 2 is connected to the control center 9 by a cable.

[0042] (2) Integrated connection method of receiving and transmitting channels

[0043] The structure of this invention initially achieves laser ranging combined with high-resolution imaging through back-end optics, and later achieves high-resolution imaging combined with high-energy laser decoy.

[0044] The back-end optical components consist of the receiving optical component 17 of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3, the ranging laser receiver, and the high-energy laser transmitter. The receiving optical component 17 of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3 consists of a detector and its related optical components, and the ranging laser receiver 16 consists of a detector and its related optical components. The integrated receiving and transmitting channel uses an integrated receiving and transmitting channel component 18, a single-wavelength reflector and bracket 19, a sliding rail 20, a motor 21, a ball screw 22, and a reflector bracket screw connecting slider 23 to protect the ranging laser receiver detector and the visible light receiver detector, realizing the transition from the ranging laser combined with high-resolution imaging stage to the high-resolution imaging combined with high-energy laser deflection stage.

[0045] The receiving optical component 17 and the ranging laser receiving optical component 16 of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3 are screwed to the lower and right sides of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel assembly 18, respectively. The receiving and transmitting channel assembly 18 is connected above the ranging laser receiving optical component 16, providing a channel for connection with the high-energy laser 6. A sliding rail 20 is screwed to the left side of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel assembly 18. A single-wavelength reflector and bracket 19 are placed above the receiving optical component 17 of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3. The reflector bracket screw-connected slider 23 is placed in the middle of the sliding rail 20, with one side screwed to the single-wavelength reflector and bracket 19 and the other side screwed to the ball screw 22. The ball screw 22 is screwed to the motor 21. The motor is connected to the control center 9 via a cable, enabling the motor to drive the reflector bracket screw-connected slider 23 to move up and down.

[0046] When the high-energy laser is off, the slider 23 connecting the reflector bracket to the track moves to the bottom. The ranging laser undergoes total internal reflection at a specific wavelength through the reflector and enters the ranging laser receiver 16. Other light enters the receiving optical component 17 of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope 3 below, enabling the space debris to be ranged, focused, magnified, and tracked. When the slider 23 connecting the reflector bracket to the track moves to the top, the high-energy laser undergoes total internal reflection at a specific wavelength through the reflector and enters the front optics. While maintaining continuous clear imaging by the high-resolution camera, the target space debris is driven away. At the same time, the high-resolution camera receiver 17 and the ranging laser receiver 16 are protected by total internal reflection at a specific wavelength.

[0047] This invention employs a single system to continuously complete acquisition, laser ranging, root aiming, and high-energy laser deflection, providing a structural implementation method for on-orbit debris removal applications for spacecraft.

Claims

1. An integrated structure for ranging, targeting, and deflecting space debris, characterized in that: Includes a space debris capture module, a laser rangefinder module, a tracking and aiming module, and a deflection module; Space debris capture module: Captures space debris using a wide-field telescope; Laser ranging module: emits lasers towards space debris to measure the distance between the integrated structure and the space debris; Tracking module: Based on the distance information measured by the laser ranging module, it tracks and targets space debris; Deflection module: Based on tracking information, it fires a high-energy laser to cut and vaporize space debris; The space debris capture module, laser rangefinder module, tracking and aiming module, and deflection module are designed coaxially, and the laser rangefinder module, tracking and aiming module, and deflection module share the same transceiver channel; The space debris acquisition module, laser ranging module, tracking and aiming module, and deflection module are all controlled by the control center (9); the space debris tracking and aiming module includes a fast-reflecting mirror (4), a two-dimensional turntable (7), a high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3), a Kud optical path (5), and a rear optical component box (8); The two-dimensional turntable (7) includes a U-shaped bracket (11), a pitch direction rotating code disk (12), a side-swing direction rotating code disk (13), a non-optical bearing flange (15), and an optical bearing flange (14); the side-swing direction rotating code disk (13) is screwed onto the upper part of the rear optical component box (8); the U-shaped bracket (11) is supported above the side-swing direction rotating code disk (13) through the optical bearing flange (14), which constrains the five degrees of freedom except the side-swing rotation direction; the inner ring flange interface on the other side of the optical bearing flange (14) is screwed onto the inner rotation mechanism of the side-swing direction rotating code disk (13), so that the side-swing direction of the U-shaped bracket (11) rotates one-dimensionally with the side-swing direction rotating code disk (13); the outer shell of the pitch direction rotating code disk is screwed onto the outer edge of the left side of the U-shaped bracket (11), and the pitch direction rotating code disk (12) and the side-swing direction rotating code disk (13) are connected to the control center through cables; The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) is supported in the middle of the U-shaped bracket (11) by the left non-light-transmitting bearing flange (15) and the right light-transmitting bearing flange (14), which constrains the five degrees of freedom in the direction of pitch rotation. The inner flange interface of the left non-light-transmitting bearing flange (15) is screwed to the inner rotating mechanism of the pitch direction rotating code disk (12), so that the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope can rotate one-dimensionally with the pitch direction rotating code disk (12) in the pitch direction. The external connecting bracket of the Kude optical path (5) is screwed to the right outer edge, the right inner edge below and the lower inner edge of the U-shaped bracket (11). The rear optical component box (8) contains the receiving optical component (17) of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3), the ranging laser receiving optical component (16), the receiving and transmitting channel integrated channel component (18), the single-wavelength reflector (19), the sliding rail (20), the motor (21), the ball screw (22), and the reflector bracket screw connecting slider (23). The receiving optical component (17) of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) is screwed to the bottom of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel component (18), and the ranging laser receiving optical component (16) is screwed to the right side of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel component (18); the ranging laser receiving optical component (16) is connected to the integrated receiving and transmitting channel component (18) above the channel, realizing the connection function with the high-energy laser (6); the sliding rail (20) is screwed to the left side of the integrated receiving and transmitting channel component (18), and the single-wavelength reflector (19) is placed above the receiving optical component (17) of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) through the bracket; the reflector bracket screw connecting slider (23) is placed in the middle of the sliding rail (20), one side is screwed to the single-wavelength reflector bracket, and the other side is screwed to the ball screw (22); the ball screw (22) is screwed to the motor (21); the motor is connected to the control center (9) through the cable, realizing the motor driving the reflector bracket screw connecting slider (23) to move up and down.

2. The integrated structure for ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflecting space debris according to claim 1, characterized in that: The space debris capture module includes a wide field-of-view telescope (1) and a wide field-of-view telescope rear detector (10); the transmitter of the space debris laser ranging module is implemented using a ranging laser (2); the transmitter of the space debris removal module is implemented using a high-energy laser (6). The high-energy laser (6) and the rear optical component box (8) are bolted to the base plate, and the beam expander of the high-energy laser is screwed to the rear optical component box (8); the high-energy laser (6) and the rear optical component box (8) are connected to the control center (9) via a cable; the control center (9) is screwed to the rear of the rear optical component box (8); The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) is fixed in the middle of the two-dimensional turntable (7). The two-dimensional turntable (7) is connected to the control center via a cable. Under the control of the control center, the two-dimensional turntable (7) drives the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope to rotate in the pitch or yaw direction. The external connecting bracket of the Kude optical path (5) is screwed onto the two-dimensional turntable (7). The fast reflector (4) is installed on the side of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope tube. The wide field telescope (1) is screwed on top of the tube of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3), and the incident optical axis of the wide field telescope (1) is parallel to the incident optical axis of the high-resolution reflecting telescope; the wide field telescope (1) and the wide field telescope rear detector (10) are connected through a PC interface, and the detector is connected to the control center through a cable. The ranging laser (2) is screwed and fixed above the lens tube of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope, and the laser optical axis is parallel to the incident optical axis of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope; the ranging laser (2) is connected to the control center (9) via a cable.

3. The integrated structure for ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflecting space debris according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) and the back-end component box (8) serve as the receiver of the space debris laser ranging module.

4. The integrated structure for ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflecting space debris according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) and the back-end component box (8) serve as the launch channel for the space debris removal module.

5. The integrated structure for ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflecting space debris according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical component (16) of the ranging laser receiver consists of a ranging laser detector and its optical components.

6. The integrated structure for ranging, tracking, aiming, and deflecting space debris according to claim 1, characterized in that: The receiver optical assembly (17) of the high-resolution off-axis reflecting telescope (3) consists of a detector and its optical components.

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