Chinese Space Science and Technology ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 35-45.doi: 10.16708/j.cnki.1000-758X.2022.0081

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Study on braking mechanism of planetary probe based on plasma magnetic shell

DONG Yicheng,WANG Weizong,ZHANG Jinrui,QI Yue,YAN Jiaqi   

  1. 1 School of Astronautics,Beihang University,Beijing 102206,China
    2 China Academy of Space Technology,Beijing 100094,China
  • Published:2022-12-25 Online:2022-11-09

Abstract: Plasma magnetic shell braking technology is a new braking method for planetary probes.It has the advantages of adjustable braking resistance,high reliability and light structure mass.In this paper,a numerical simulation on the generation mode and working mechanism of plasma magnetic shell brake was carried out.Firstly,taking the braking of a Martian spacecraft as the background,the plasma magnetic shell was simplified to a cylindrical configuration,and the macroscopic model of the plasma magnetic shell was established.From the model,the relationship of braking resistance,effective capture area and spacecraft velocity changing with the orbital height was obtained.Then,the interaction between ions,electrons and secondary neutral particles in the plasma magnetic shell was studied,the microscopic model of the plasma magnetic shell was established,the rule of the plasma particle number density and temperature changing with time was obtained.The braking resistance calculated by the microscopic model is consistent with that of the macroscopic model,which verifies the validity of the two models.

Key words: plasma magnetic shell, atmospheric braking, Martian spacecraft, numerical simulation, operational mechanism