A complete space astronomical exploration system consists of spacecraft, launch vehicle and ground support equipment. Spacecraft is the main part of carrying scientific instruments and carrying out exploration tasks. Spacecraft for space astronomical observation must have the ability to control their own attitude changes and accurate orientation accuracy to complete the task of identifying celestial bodies, determining the spatial distribution of radiation and the location of radiation sources. In order to conduct complex scientific investigations, spacecraft must also have the ability to store and transmit large-scale data quickly. In recent years, many countries in the world have launched a large number of spacecraft. In order to carry out various specific missions, a series of research satellites, planets and interplanetary spacecraft have also been launched to form different observation series.
Astronomical observation satellite series
At present, astronomical satellites are the most widely used space astronomical observers. According to different observation objects and tasks, astronomical satellites can be divided into solar observation satellites and non solar exploration astronomical satellites. Some satellites have both solar observation and non solar detection capabilities. Table 1 lists the astronomical observation satellite series. Table 1 Astronomical observation satellite series
Solar observation satellite
Observing the sun from space mainly uses Earth orbit sun observation satellites, some deep space probes and Apollo telescope devices in Skylab. In addition, many geophysical exploration satellites, such as the orbital geophysical observatory (OGO) series, also have solar observation experiment projects. In the early 1960s, the United States began to launch two solar observation satellite series, SOLRaD and OSO, which continued throughout the solar activity cycle. The solar observation satellites of the Soviet Union are mainly included in the "Forecast" series, except for some satellites in the "Cosmos" series and some satellites in the "International Cosmos" series jointly developed by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries. "Forecast number" and interplanetary monitoring station (IMP) series are used by the Soviet Union and the United States as interplanetary monitoring stations to study the solar terrestrial relationship and investigate the characteristics of the solar wind, the interplanetary magnetic field, the Earth's magnetosphere and the interplanetary matter. In addition, the European Space Agency has successively launched the International Radiation Research (IRIS) satellite to study the sun and radiation, and the "Ted" - 1A (TD-1A) satellite, which is mainly used for non solar exploration and supplemented by solar observation, and launched the "International Solar Earth Relations Explorer" (ISEE) in cooperation with the United States. West Germany and the United States jointly launched the Helios satellite. Helios reached about 0.3 AU away from the sun and entered the heliocentric orbit. It is currently the closest deep space solar observer to the sun. Skylab is a multi-purpose experimental manned space station. The Apollo telescope it carries carries carries out high-resolution television and photographic observations of the sun in visible, ultraviolet and X-ray bands.
Non solar sounding astronomical satellite
Non solar exploration astronomical satellites inspect the sky radiation source with a certain band or several bands respectively, measure its direction, intensity and radiation spectrum characteristics, and observe galactic and extragalactic objects. Non solar exploration satellites in the United States mainly include Orbital Observatory (OAO), Radio Astronomical Explorer (RAE), Small Astronomical Satellite (SAS) and High Energy Astronomical Observatory (HEAO). Other countries and organizations have also launched some non solar astronomical satellites, including the European Space Agency's "Ted" - 1A (TD-1A) satellite, the Cosmic Ray Observation Satellite-B (COS-B), the Netherlands Astronomical Satellite (ANS) jointly launched by the Netherlands and the United States, the UK's "Ariel-5" satellite, the French ultraviolet celestial analysis satellite (AURA), and the French Soviet cooperation "signal" Signe-3 satellite, the Soviet Union's "Cosmos" 215 satellite, etc.
The lunar, planetary and interplanetary probe series spacecraft can become detectors for direct sampling or approaching observation of the moon, planets, other celestial bodies in the solar system and interplanetary space after flying out of the earth. Table 2 lists the survey of lunar, planetary and interplanetary probe series. Table 2 Lunar, planetary and interplanetary probe series * Mariner 10 planetary probe
Lunar probe
Since 1959, when the Soviet Union launched the first lunar rocket to the moon - "Moon" 1, some countries have launched various lunar probes in different ways (approaching flight or hard landing, orbit circling, soft landing, sample retrieval, manned lunar landing flight, etc.), through taking photos, automatic measurement, sampling analysis, and field investigation, The moon and its adjacent space were investigated in detail. The United States has launched four lunar exploration series, namely, "Wander", "Lunar Orbiter Circulator", "Lunar Surveyor" and "Apollo". "Wanderers" 7~9 successfully completed the task. Five lunar orbiters took high-resolution photos of various parts of the lunar surface. Lunar Surveyor 1, 3, 5 and 6 respectively achieved soft landing on the moon. Apollo lunar exploration is the largest lunar exploration program in the United States. The Soviet Union's lunar exploration program is mainly the "Luna" series. "Moon" 1~3 is the primary stage, which aims to fly to the moon and achieve hard landing; "Luna" 4~14 is an intermediate stage, testing the soft landing technology on the moon, flying around the moon to investigate the lunar space, and studying the lunar soil; After "Moon" 15, it is an advanced stage to develop into a lunar automatic science station. Luna 16 realized unmanned automatic excavation of lunar rock samples and returned to the Earth. "Luna" 17 and "Luna" 21 will each carry a monthly vehicle. After soft landing, the monthly vehicle will be operated by the ground station and will automatically travel on the lunar surface for investigation.
Planetary and interplanetary probes
The series of planetary and interplanetary probes launched include American "Pioneer", "Sailor", "Pirate", "Traveler" and Soviet "Venus", "Mars" and "Probe".
They fly to Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn respectively to approach or soft land on the surface of the planet. Through photography and automatic measurement, they study the surface of the planet, the planet atmosphere and the interplanetary matter between the Earth and these planets. In addition, the interplanetary space around the Earth has been measured by the Interplanetary Monitoring Station and the "Forecast" series. For the flight to more distant outer planets, because the flight time is long and the spacecraft is farther and farther away from the sun, it is impossible to use solar energy for power supply, so special spacecraft must be designed. Pioneer 11 planetary probe Helios probe
Manned orbital space station
With the development of space technology, Skylab, an experimental manned orbital space station, has been launched. It can carry out a wide range of scientific experiments and applied research. In addition to biomedicine, earth resource exploration and comprehensive experiments, it also undertakes the task of space astronomical observation. The future orbital space station will use the space shuttle to transport personnel and instruments and equipment to the space station for maintenance. [1]
