The exploration and study of water ice in the lunar polar regions are of great significance for understanding the origin and evolution of water and volatiles on the Moon, as well as for realizing in situ resource utilization for space exploration. In recent years, the detection of water ice in these regions has become a strategic priority in the competition among major countries, including the United States, China, and Russia, in the fields of lunar and deep space exploration. One of the primary scientific tasks for the Chang'E-7 (CE-7) lunar exploration mission is to detect and investigate water ice at the lunar south pole. In this work, the progress in the exploration and study of water ice in the lunar polar regions is summarized. The unresolved key scientific questions related to polar water ice are presented. Furthermore, the basic information and especially the scientific objectives about water ice detection of CE-7 mission are introduced. The remote sensing and in situ detection methods of water ice at the south pole are discussed based on the scientific payloads onboard the orbiter, rover, and mini-flying probe in the CE-7 mission.

The exploration and utilization of lunar water and ice resources have become the core proposition supporting sustainable human extraterrestrial presence. This article analyzes the occurrence characteristics and remote sensing evidence of lunar soil water ice, sorts out the current status of technological development and utilization of lunar soil water ice, and highlights the difficulties and challenges of exploration and utilization technology. Based on the design criteria for the exploitation of lunar soil water and ice resources, this paper elaborates on four fundamental engineering issues related to the utilization of water and ice resources, and provides corresponding conceptual plans and key technologies. The research results of this article can provide reference for the development and utilization of water ice resources in China.

Lunar polar water ice resources are critical for future lunar exploration, serving as essential life-support materials and propellant feedstock. In-situ water ice extraction technologies have become a strategic focus among leading space nations. To address the demand for efficient mining of water ice resources in permanently shadowed regions at lunar poles, this study proposes a multi-needle thermal extraction system design. This paper elaborates on the system architecture and functional characteristics, while numerical simulations investigate the effects of needle parameters and spatial distribution on water ice sublimation rates, validating the proposed approach. These research findings will provide significant technical support for in-situ resource utilization and lunar base construction.

The extraction and utilization of water resources in the permanent shadowed regions of the lunar polar regions is one of the key tasks for future lunar base construction. This study analyzed the formation mechanism and environment of frozen soils on the Moon, compared the preparation methods and tested the characterization of lunar soil simulants with temperatures below −180 ℃, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of different collection and water extraction methods for frozen soils in the permanent shadow regions, proposed a water resource extraction system and key technologies suitable for future in-orbit verification, so as to provide technical references for future extraterrestrial water resource extraction tasks.

Substantial evidence indicates that the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) at the lunar poles may harbor considerable water-ice resources mixed with lunar regolith. Understanding the mechanical and thermal properties of icy regolith is a prerequisite for elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms and exploitation strategies of lunar water-ice, and these key properties are closely related to the occurrence forms of water-ice within the porous regolith medium. Specifically, does water-ice exist as dispersed small particles (frost) within the regolith pores, or has it undergone ripening and coarsening, forming large crystals comparable in size to regolith grains? Currently, there is neither direct observational evidence nor theoretical research addressing this question. This knowledge gap also hinders the rational preparation of icy lunar regolith simulants. In this study, we derive a theoretical model of Ostwald ripening under rarefied conditions, demonstrating that clusters of small water-ice particles (frost) within lunar regolith pores will undergo material migration and locally aggregate into large crystals over geological timescales. We quantitatively investigate the ripening rates of water-ice particle clusters under different temperature conditions. The theoretical results indicate that water-ice on the surface of ultra-low temperature PSRs region (<100 K) can retain its initial deposition morphology for extended periods, whereas in warmer non-PSRs or subsurface regions (>120 K), water-ice particle clusters will undergo significant coarsening, forming large crystals comparable in size to regolith grains. Based on these findings, we can prepare lunar regolith simulants with water-ice particle sizes matching those of target icy regolith by adjusting temperature and ripening time. This study not only advances the theoretical understanding of lunar water-ice evolution mechanisms but also provides a critical theoretical foundation for research on the physical properties of icy regolith and the preparation of simulants, offering significant application value for the exploitation and utilization of lunar water-ice resources.

To achieve dual-band imaging in the visible spectrum and near-infrared spectral ranges for a spaceborne multispectral camera, while adhering to the satellite payload requirements for volume, weight, and structural envelope, a compact coaxial catadioptric optical system with a shared optical path for multi-band imaging is designed. The system boasts a focal length of 1500 mm and a field of view of 1.37° × 1.37°. The average Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) across the full field of view exceeds 0.27 (at 55 lp/mm), ensuring clear imaging within the spectral range of 400~900 nm. Meanwhile, given the complex ambient light conditions in the space environment where the camera operates, stray light analysis is performed based on the spatial layout characteristics of the system. Key stray light paths are identified, and the primary and secondary mirror baffles, as well as the material properties of the optomechanical structure, are optimized. These enhancements further improve the stray light suppression capability of the optical system, ensuring that the Point Source Transmittance (PST) outside the avoidance angle of 45° is better than the 10⁻⁶ level. To meet the volume and weight requirements of spaceborne payloads, the system's stray light suppression is optimized to achieve the best possible performance without compromising the imaging quality of the space camera.

In the modern era, human space exploration is rapidly advancing, leading to a significant increase in satellites, manned missions, space stations, and scientific endeavors. A key challenge in ensuring the safety and sustainability of these missions is space weather, which directly impacts spacecraft operations and long-term reliability. Solar phenomena such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares release highly energetic, magnetized particles that pose serious risks to communication, navigation, and structural integrity. For spacecrafts operating beyond near-Earth space, solar activity plays a crucial role in mission performance and survivability. Among the most direct consequences of space weather are geomagnetic storms, which can disrupt spacecraft systems and ground-based technologies. To improve geomagnetic storm forecasting, this study proposes a temporal-feature Temporal Convolutional Network （tf-TCN）, an enhanced temporal convolutional network that incorporates solar variability in the frequency domain. The model integrates key solar activity cycles, such as the solar rotation and solar activity cycles, as additional features to enhance its ability to capture geomagnetic storm occurrences. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method consistently outperforms traditional approaches across various prediction time windows. This work provides technical support for improving spacecraft operational safety and reliability while laying a solid foundation for the development of space weather early warning systems.

Named Entity Recognition (NER), a fundamental task in natural language processing, aims to automatically extract entities with specific meanings from texts. In the domain of space science, NER technology provides foundational support for critical tasks such as parsing massive space exploration data, analyzing aerospace mission reports, and mining astrophysical literature. This paper specifically focuses on the technical adaptation and optimization requirements of NER in scenarios including satellite payload parameter extraction, deep space exploration target identification, and space environment monitoring report analysis. We review the developmental status of NER technology, analyzing its evolution from early rule-based and machine learning methods to current deep learning-driven models. Special emphasis is placed on the unique applications of deep learning models in space science text processing, covering key technologies such as compound entity recognition in detector logs and multimodal spatial data fusion. Additionally, this paper highlights the major challenges faced by NER in space science, including handling multilingual mission reports, disambiguating space-specific terminology, and meeting real-time processing requirements for onboard devices. Finally, we propose a development roadmap for NER technology in space science research, offering technical support for future critical needs such as space station scientific experiment data management and planetary exploration target identification.

Significant water ice deposits are present in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar poles, and the extraction of these water ice resources holds great scientific and practical value. This paper proposes a water ice extraction method using a thermal drill based on eddy current induction heating. The method involves drilling a high thermal conductivity drill bit into deep lunar regolith, heating the regolith externally via an induction coil, and transferring heat to the subsurface to evaporate water ice for extraction. To verify the feasibility of this approach, simulations were conducted on key parameters affecting the thermal drilling performance. Additionally, an experimental platform for induction heating of the thermal probe was established, and vacuum-environment heating tests with an empty drill bit were performed. The results demonstrate that this method can effectively transfer heat into the lunar regolith interior. This research provides technical groundwork for China's future extraction of water ice resources from lunar regolith.

Photothermal melting and forming technology is a novel in-situ construction and manufacturing method. It utilizes focused beams to heat and melt lunar regolith along predefined paths, followed by solidification to achieve structural formation. This technology eliminates the need for binders and secondary energy conversion, enabling efficient utilization of in-situ lunar regolith and solar energy, which holds significant implications for the construction and long-term operation of future lunar research stations. This paper summarized the research progress in lunar in-situ construction and manufacturing technologies, details the characteristics and application prospects of the photothermal melting and forming technology, and analyzed existing challenges such as forming defects and unclear melting mechanisms in vacuum environments. To address these issues, a high-vacuum photothermal melting and forming experimental system was developed. For the first time, 3D printing of lunar regolith simulant was achieved under an ultra-high vacuum (10⁻³ Pa), successfully fabricating a 5 cm × 5 cm × 3 cm part. In-situ observations during the experiments revealed the dynamic evolution of molten pools in vacuum. The research not only verified the feasibility of lunar regolith photothermal forming under high-vacuum conditions but also established critical process parameters for regolith melting-based additive manufacturing. These findings provide essential technical foundations for developing specialized equipment for extraterrestrial additive manufacturing.

Under the constraints of the extreme environment in the lunar polar regions and the low thermal conductivity of lunar soil particles, extracting water resources from icy lunar regolith faces significant technical challenges. This study established a microwave heating experimental system to investigate the technical methods for water resource extraction and collection from icy lunar regolith. Low-temperature Lunar Regolith Simulant (LRS) were prepared, and experimental tests were conducted to obtain the fundamental characteristics of water extraction and collection processes from microwave-heated icy LRS. The effects of microwave heating parameters and sample properties on water extraction efficiency were analyzed. Results indicate that microwaves can penetrate the entire LRS, enabling nearly uniform heating. The energy efficiency of microwave heating typically ranges between 2.5~6.0 W·h/g. Water extraction rate shows a positive correlation with total microwave energy input, and optimal ice-water extraction efficiency can be achieved by adjusting microwave power, heating temperature, and constant-temperature heating duration. Increased sample compaction enhances thermal conduction between water molecules and soil particles, reducing total energy input while improving water extraction rate. The average water collection rate in this system ranges from 0.53~1.59 g/min, increasing with the initial water content. This study provides a new route map for water exploitation in the lunar polar regions.

This study aims to address the technical complexity associated with the low collection efficiency of water vapor during the in situ heat extraction of water ice in the lunar polar region. To this end, the study analyzes the influencing factors based on the heat and mass transfer characteristics of the frost layer porous medium. This is achieved through the kinetic model of the phase transition of the water vapor and the growth model of the condensing frost layer. The study's findings provide a theoretical foundation for the optimization of the condenser. A comparison and analysis must be conducted of the relationship between the particle size of aluminum beads and the water vapor flow rate through water vapor flow simulation. A validation platform has been configured to replicate the extreme environment on the Lunar surface. This platform will be utilized to conduct comparative tests on the water vapor condensation collection efficiency of aluminum bead structures with varying particle sizes. The findings indicate that the flow rate of water vapor within the condenser is directly proportional to the diameter of aluminum beads. A decrease in diameter results in a reduction in flow rate, thereby extending the heat exchange time between water vapor and the condenser. The correlation between the internal surface area of the water vapor condenser and its water vapor collection efficiency is positive. The utilization of aluminum beads with a small particle size can lead to a substantial enhancement in the internal surface area. However, the adoption of such aluminum beads is hindered by the potential for pore blockage, which can be caused by the aforementioned small particle size. The study offers a theoretical and experimental foundation for the design of a water vapor collection unit as part of an in-situ Lunar water ice resource extraction device.

The drag coefficient is a crucial parameter for calculating aerodynamic drag during space object re-entry prediction. In most cases, compact shape objects generally have a drag coefficient of 2.2, but there is a significant difference between this empirical value and the actual drag coefficient. This difference limits the accuracy of re-entry prediction to some extent. This paper calculates the aerodynamic drag coefficients of typical shaped objects with high precision, based on rarefied gas dynamics theory. The Schaaf-Chambre gas-surface interaction model is applied when the object is in the free molecular flow region. Upon entering the transition flow region with orbit attenuation, the Wilmoth bridging formula is used to calculate the drag coefficients, using the drag coefficients in the continuum and free-molecular limits. The study shows that the drag coefficients decrease as the orbital altitude decreases. Factors such as latitude, longitude, solar and geomagnetic activities indirectly affect the drag coefficient by influencing parameters such as the density and temperature of the incoming flow. These factors result in differences of less than 6 percent in the drag coefficient. The drag coefficients of several typical objects differ significantly from the empirical value of 2.2, confirming the necessity for this research.

On May 29, 2025, China successfully launched the Tianwen-2 spacecraft to conduct a sample-return mission, targeting the near-Earth asteroid (469219) Kamoʻoalewa. Here, we systematically review early works on Kamoʻoalewa from various research teams, synthesizing reported results on its orbital characteristics, dynamical origin, composition, spectral type, size, rotation period, axis orientation, global regolith particle size distribution, regolith thickness, potential evolutionary history, and key scientific questions. We also predict space weathering features of future returned samples.

Lunar water ice is a critical resource for the construction of future lunar bases. However, constrained by the extreme environment of permanently shadowed regions, traditional drilling methods struggle to achieve low-power, low-drilling-pressure, and fidelity-preserving drilling. In this paper, an ultrasonic sampler suitable for drilling in lunar water ice frozen soil is designed and fabricated. The vibration mode of the ultrasonic horn is designed using finite element simulation software, and the actual output performance of the horn is verified. Simulated lunar regolith permafrost with a 10.0% water content is prepared, and its uniaxial compressive strength is measured to be 41 MPa. The discrete element simulation software PFC is used to simulate the mechanical properties of lunar water ice frozen soil, and the constitutive parameters are established. The drilling performance is evaluated through simulated drilling experiments on lunar regolith permafrost. The results show that under the same feed rate, the average drilling force is reduced by 52.0% when ultrasonic driving is applied, with a deviation of 10.5% from the simulation results.

As deep space exploration missions progress, the extraction and utilization of in-situ lunar water ice resources will be crucial for the establishment of lunar bases and the sustainability of human presence. Microwave heating extraction, as an efficient and rapid extraction technology, has a broad application prospect. In this paper, for the microwave heating extraction process of lunar water ice, an electromagnetics model and a heat transfer model are constructed by decoupling the electromagnetic field from other physical processes. The extraction process under different power inputs is numerically simulated by using the finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics. The results show that: the maximum depth of microwave heating is basically the same as the depth of microwave penetration, and the effective heating range is the area where the modal value of the electric field strength is higher than 1/e times of the surface value; the quality of the extracted water ice is basically positively correlated with the input power of microwave, but the efficiency of the extraction decreases due to the influence of heat conduction in the low-power case; up to 1717.4 g of water ice can be extracted at a power input of 2000 W, which increases the extraction volume by 10 times compared to the conventional heating rod extraction method under the same conditions.

The development of mega constellations has been rapidly accelerated by market application demands in communication and commercial sectors. In recent years, the number of satellite launches has surged, and the synchronous increase in the coordination of tasks within the constellation has required a large number of manpower to manage traditionally. Moreover, the overall space orbit and frequency band resources of the mega constellation are limited. Therefore, the effective utilization and robust security management of mega constellation resources are of paramount importance. Based on robotic process automation technology, a "global station telemetry and control, station-to-station data exchange, multi-station coordinated management" mega constellation robotic process automation cluster control mode is proposed, which establishes a hierarchical and graded management architecture to dynamically allocate and efficiently utilize the resources of mega constellations and ensure the stable operation and data security of the constellation system. This provides a technical solution for addressing the growing demand for constellation operation and management and the challenges of complex space environments.

Given the significant threat posed by Near-Earth Object (NEO) impacts to Earth and human society, major global powers are actively engaged in monitoring, early warning, and impact defense efforts for NEOs. A proactive strategy for asteroid impact warning involves continuous surveillance and cataloging of NEOs to identify potentially hazardous objects. While over 90% of NEOs larger than 1 kilometer in diameter have been cataloged, current observational capabilities still remain insufficient for detecting smaller objects. In addition, space-based infrared telescopes have received increasing attention due to their unique advantages. To enhance China's NEO monitoring and early warning infrastructure, it is critical to evaluate the observational performance of various telescope systems for the construction of optimized configurations. This study focuses on space telescopes for NEO discovery and cataloging, utilizing asteroid population distribution models and photometric/infrared thermal models to simulate survey campaigns. The cataloging rate of different space telescopes under varying conditions is calculated over time. Analysis reveals that infrared telescopes surpass optical counterparts in surveillance efficiency under equivalent conditions, with the sun-Earth L₁ Halo orbit exhibiting the highest surveillance efficiency.

As a critical component of lunar surface exploration, high-speed lunar rovers face aggravated dust-lifting issues during operation due to increasing payloads and velocities, posing threats to spacecraft functionality and astronaut safety. This paper investigates the wheel-induced dust phenomenon through experiments and discrete element method simulations, examining variations in dust concentration and velocity characteristics under different particle types, forward speeds, and slip ratios. Results indicate that the average circumferential dust concentration at 10 km/h reaches 730 g/m³, showing a 3.5-fold increase compared to the 1 km/h condition. The study identifies three distinct dust generation mechanisms and proposes mitigation strategies using dust shields and internal baffles to effectively reduce dust dispersion effects.

As a unique type of celestial body, asteroids possess significant scientific research value and resource development potential, while also posing potential extraterrestrial impact threats, which have important implications for human civilization and planetary safety. The distribution characteristics of boulders on the surface of asteroids are crucial for understanding their formation, evolution, and physical properties. However, due to the small size, large quantity, and low quality of images of asteroid surface boulders, traditional methods face challenges in accurate statistical analysis. To address these issues, this study introduces an instance segmentation algorithm based on YOLOv8 to improve the detection and segmentation performance for asteroid surface boulders, especially by enhancing the model's ability to detect small-scale boulders through the addition of a small-object detection head. Furthermore, the Slicing Aided Hyper Inference (SAHI) framework is integrated to perform slice-based inference on high-resolution images, thereby enhancing both inference efficiency and segmentation accuracy on large-scale images. Subsequently, geometric analysis techniques, such as ellipse fitting, are employed to extract spatial location, size, and orientation information of boulders from the segmentation results. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the analysis of boulder distribution on the surface of asteroid Bennu. The results indicate that the surface boulders exhibit certain spatial distribution patterns, demonstrating the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach in practical planetary image processing tasks.

With the advancement of space exploration and the construction of lunar bases, the application of low and medium-temperature thermal utilization technology in space environment has become increasingly important. Based on this background, this study develops and validates a medium and low temperature thermoelectric conversion system based on the organic Rankine cycle. Considering the extreme conditions of space and lunar environments, a simple and reliable Tesla turbine is chosen as the expander for experiments. The system's variable-load performance is tested under different temperatures, pressures, and flow rates. The experimental results indicate that the medium and low temperature thermoelectric conversion system based on the Tesla turbine can effectively convert medium and low temperature thermal energy into electrical energy. Furthermore, the system can realize a stable power output of more than 30 W in the temperature range of 90~130℃ and the pressure range of less than 2 MPa. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the Tesla turbine for medium and low-temperature thermal utilization in space, which is expected to provide a new solution for energy management in future space stations and lunar bases.

Scientific data and extraterrestrial samples are core outcomes of deep space exploration activities and have irreplaceable research value. International cooperation centered on the sharing of scientific data and extraterrestrial samples has become a common practice in international cooperation for deep space exploration missions. With the rapid growth of deep space exploration missions, relevant technology has been continuously enriched, and related rules are gradually formulated. This paper analyzes existing international space laws and relevant rules, studies the policies and practices of sharing scientific data and samples in deep space exploration of major space faring countries around the world, and puts forward some suggestions for China's related work.

Three-dimensional (3D) models of small celestial bodies are crucial for revealing their morphology, dimensions, and surface characteristics, providing essential dataset for both exploration tasks and scientific research. Current high-resolution modeling relies on close-range observation by space probes, with traditional techniques such as stereo photogrammetry and photoclinometry (or shape from shading) being widely used. While stereo photogrammetry reconstructs 3D geometry depending on surface texture quality captured on the stereo images, photoclinometric methods exploit pixel-wise brightness to recover fine topographic details. This paper presents a synergistic pixel-wise reconstruction method that integrates stereo photogrammetry and photoclinometric optimization. The method includes three key steps: Firstly, a relatively low-resolution 3D model is constructed using stereo photogrammetry. Secondly, the global model is partitioned into localized regions for iterative photogrammetric refinement. Finally, optimized local regions are merged into a global model of higher resolution and accuracy. Validation experiments conducted using images of a 3D-printed model of asteroid Bennu within an indoor test site revealed that the proposed method can achieve high geometric accuracy and reconstruct subtle terrain features. This integrated method enables high-fidelity modeling of small celestial bodies, supporting the Tianwen-2 mission and related scientific research.

The spin-axis orientation and shape parameters of near-Earth asteroids are critical reference information for studying their formation and evolutionary history, as well as for conducting in-situ space exploration. With the continuous advancements in time-domain astronomy and deep-space exploration technologies in China, an increasing number of universities and research institutions are actively constructing observational facilities which can support near-Earth asteroid observation and research. In this study, a sun-Earth-asteroid physical and dynamical model was established, considering near-Earth asteroids with different triaxial ellipsoid shapes. Simulated light curve data were utilized to investigate the parameter space necessary for inverting the spin-axis orientation and shape of asteroids. Periodograms were extracted from the light curves using the Lomb-Scargle and phase dispersion minimization methods, and a global fitting procedure for asteroid inversion parameters was developed. The results show that with a photometric accuracy of 0.001, 4~6 light curves covering 10° of solar phase angle are sufficient for inversion. For a photometric accuracy of 0.010, 8~10 light curves covering 20° of solar phase angle are required. At a lower photometric accuracy of 0.100, continuous observations covering multiple full rotation periods are recommended initially, followed by sparse observations to extend the solar phase angle for further confirmation of the inversion results. Additionally, for asteroids with nearly equal short axes, the required solar phase angle range can be moderately relaxed. This study provides a reference for the inversion of near-Earth asteroids using light curve data and offers methodological guidance with China’s existing and upcoming ground-based and space telescopes.

Currently, numerous established and planned astronomical exploration programs, including ground-based, space-based, and lunar-based initiatives, are being developed both domestically and internationally. High-precision flux calibration of astronomical observation systems is crucial for achieving accurate exploration results. Data obtained from classic photo metric bands provide reliable benchmarks for flux calibration. However, due to differing scientific objectives, the observation bands of new exploration programs often differ from those of existing detection systems. Expanding stellar flux measurements using high-precision observation data from several established bands to these new customized bands presents an urgent challenge. This article introduces a high-precision method for the expansion of customized infrared bands, leveraging high-precision observational data from four infrared bands collected by the space-based Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The proposed method is applicable for the high-precision expansion of stellar flux across ultraviolet, optical, and infrared bands, providing valuable reference and support for the development of space-based and lunar-based exploration programs, such as the International Lunar Research Station.

Ground-based planetary radar can obtain the physical characterizations including precision orbit, rotation, topography of the asteroids by transmitting electromagnetic signals actively and receiving the echo signals from asteroids, it is crucial for near-Earth asteroids defense and planetary science. The research of ground based planetary radar is currently focused on Deep Space Array Planetary Radar (DSAPR). An overview of the development of DSAPR technology is presented in this paper, and the current status and trends of array radar technology is reviewed, including the Goldstone uplink array radar, Ka Band Array Radar for Near-Earth Objects Accurate Characterization, Deep space Advanced Radar Capability, China Compound Eye and downlink array technology. The state of the antenna array at Kashi Deep Space Station is introduced, and the technical advantages of the deep space array planetary radar based on the multi-antenna of the Kashi Deep Space Station are analyzed. Finally, the detection capability of the 4×35 m and 20×35 m DSAPR formed by the expansion of the Kashi Deep Space Station antenna array is analyzed.

Currently, the exploration of small celestial bodies has evolved from initial flyby observations and rendezvous studies to more complex stages involving soft landings on the surface, as well as sample collection and return missions. Against this backdrop, the deployment of robotic mobility on the surface of small bodies can significantly expand the depth and breadth of exploration missions. However, the low gravitational environment and unstructured terrain of small celestial bodies pose significant challenges for robotic mobility control. Based on the self-developed Hexapod Rover, a six-legged robotic mobility platform, we propose a foot trajectory planning method suitable for low gravitational environment. Utilizing information on gait planning and foot height obtained from the onboard sensors of the Hexapod Rover (such as inertial measurement unit, motor encoders, etc), the contact status of the foot with the ground is detected through Kalman filtering, thereby estimating the current terrain slope. The prediction results are then transmitted to the low-reaction foot trajectory planning module. Under the premise of satisfying the friction constraints between the foot and the ground in low gravity, the desired foot placement points are planned, and the foot trajectories are optimized in real time using a seventh-order Bézier curve. This approach minimizes the reaction forces to suppress the impact effects during the robot's mobility. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified through a simulation case study, providing new insights for hexapod robots to overcome the low gravity on the surface of small celestial bodies and conduct mobility exploration missions.

The enantiomers of chiral drugs have different physiological activities, and the external environment may lead to the racemization of a single enantiomer, which may result in the weakening or even loss of its biological activity. Although NASA and other organizations have studied the effect of space radiation on drug stability, the studies on the stability of chiral drugs are still limited. Flavonoids, as active chiral components of traditional Chinese medicine that are homologous to food and medicine, have potential space applications for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Therefore, in this study, chiral compounds of flavonoids were carried by manned spacecrafts and returned satellites, and chiral liquid chromatography analysis was utilized to investigate their chiral stability in the space environment. The experimental results showed that some of the flavonoid chiral compounds were stable in the space environment for up to one year of storage due to the substituent group types and stereochemical structure differences, while hesperidin and flagellin underwent different degrees of chemical degradation or chiral changes. The study in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the stability and structural protection of chiral drugs, as well as data support for the study of astronauts’ food and drug health in space.

This paper focuses on China’s first asteroid exploration mission. In accordance with the single-unit functional requirements of the payload management unit for the Tianwen-2 probe, it introduces the unit’s composition design, operating modes, and single-unit functions. This device ensures the power supply and distribution safety of the subsystem through designs such as power fault isolation. It enhances the system’s fault tolerance capability by means of on-orbit updatable and customizable status monitoring, fault recovery processing, and other measures. Relying on autonomous detection, it achieves precise mission switching and autonomous mission planning. Moreover, through data management designs like joint detection and scientific data preprocessing, it improves the efficiency of scientific detection. Ultimately, it enhances the reliability of the payload system, realizes integration, autonomy, and high efficiency, and lays a technical foundation for the design of payload systems in China’s subsequent deep-space exploration missions.

The Tianwen-2 mission will investigate the internal structure of the near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO₃ with a monostatic radar system. In preparation for the processing of monostatic radar data, this study proposes a three-dimensional (3D) Full-Waveform Inversion (FWI) method for reconstructing the internal structure of asteroids using monostatic radar data. We first validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method using a 3D two-layered onion-shell asteroid model. Subsequently, we systematically examine the influence of three key parameters of radar acquisition geometry (including the number of orbits, the number of radar measurement points, and the spacing of adjacent orbits) on the FWI performances. Our analysis demonstrates that reliable reconstruction can be achieved when the acquisition geometry comprises 3 orbits with an inter-orbit spacing of 25~35 m and at least 20 measurement points per orbit. This study not only provides a high-accuracy inversion methodology for the processing of monostatic radar data, but also offers scientific guidance for designing radar acquisition geometry in the ongoing Tianwen-2 mission.

Deep space probes typically operate at vast distances from Earth, leading to prolonged communication delays and significantly reduced real-time monitoring and control capabilities. In many cases, telemetry data cannot be downlinked or can only be transmitted at extremely low rates. Therefore, deep space probes must possess autonomous fault diagnosis and long-term operational capabilities to reduce dependence on ground-based telemetry analysis. Under limited downlink conditions, it is essential for probes to transmit critical health status information in a timely manner to support ground-based flight control. Considering that the onboard computer system of deep space probes adopts a hybrid centralized-distributed architecture, this paper proposes a hierarchical approach to fault diagnosis and recovery at the module level, device level, and system level. This multi-level strategy enables multi-dimensional fault detection, which reduces the probability of missed or incorrect diagnoses. It also facilitates collaborative fault diagnosis and recovery among multiple subsystems, maximizing the utilization of onboard resources. This work lays a foundational methodology for future research and development in fault diagnosis and recovery for deep space onboard computer systems.

Aiming at the short-term hazard assessment requirement of the satellite breakup event in constellation, a short-term hazard assessment algorithm of fragmented debris cloud based on boundary value problem is proposed. The spread velocity of the debris is obtained by solving the two-point boundary value problem, and the joint probability distribution density function of spread velocity and characteristic size is derived by using of the CSBM model. On this basis, the mathematical representation of collision risk of debris cloud with specific size is obtained. The algorithm is applied to the short-term hazard assessment of constellation satellite breakup scene. The results show that the impact risk of debris cloud is highly concentrated on coplanar satellites and some out-of-plane satellites intersecting with them at high speed. This kind of satellite has high collision risk when periodically crossing debris cloud and reaches the maximum at the first crossing. The collision risk of other satellites gradually accumulates with the spread of debris cloud, but the risk is lower. The proposed algorithm and related conclusions can provide support for short-term hazard assessment of breakup events

Studying the exposure age of asteroids is crucial for understanding their formation and evolution. The implementation of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission demonstrated the feasibility of using kinetic impact to deflect the trajectory of a near-Earth asteroid and also provided a valuable opportunity to investigate the exposure age and evolutionary processes of Didymos. This study investigates the exposure age of the surface of the primary asteroid Didymos and the ejecta of the secondary asteroid Dimorphos, based on visible and near-infrared spectral data obtained by ground-based telescopes before and after the DART impact. It shows that the exposure age of Didymos surface is approximately 457 thousand years, implying that the primary asteroid experienced a significant rotational fission event about 457 thousand years ago. This event had almost no effect on the surface age of the primary asteroid but reset the surface age of the secondary asteroid and the exposure age of the primary asteroid. The ejecta of Dimorphos share the same composition as the surface of Didymos but exhibit a lower degree of space weathering, suggesting that after the formation of the secondary, the surfaces of both the primary and the secondary underwent intense space weathering, while the material from the interior of the secondary was relatively less affected.

A trajectory planning algorithm combining Radau pseudospectral method and convex optimization method is proposed for the problem of small celestial body landing trajectory planning. The pseudospectral method uses non-uniform nodes and Lagrangian difference polynomials to approximate variables, providing a discretization method for continuous time Non-Linear Programming (NLP) problems. By constructing and convexifying the optimal control problem for segmented small celestial body landing trajectory planning, and discretizing the obtained convex optimization problem for small celestial body landing trajectory planning by the Radau pseudospectral method, a pseudo-spectral sequence convex optimization solution method for small celestial body landing trajectory planning with segmented state constraints is proposed. This method can simultaneously obtain the exponential convergence of Radau pseudospectral method and the fast solving speed of convex optimization method, and has high solving accuracy. Through simulation verification, the feasibility and effectiveness of the algorithm in autonomous landing of small celestial bodies have been demonstrated.

This study investigates dust eruption dynamics in the near-nucleus region of icy small bodies. To resolve the computational limitations of existing models, we extend Fink et al.'s (2021) one-dimensional simplified framework into three dimensions, simultaneously incorporating nucleus rotation effects (centrifugal/Coriolis forces) and eruption scales (global vs. local). Our approach establishes unified 3D dynamical models for both globally distributed dust-gas eruptions and localized eruptions with constrained source areas. Through numerical simulations parameterized with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's physical properties, we quantitatively examine dust particle lifting thresholds, trajectory evolution, and landing distribution patterns. Simulation results reveal that: (1) the critical lifting radius of dust particles decreases with increasing latitude; (2) the particle size profoundly influences their trajectories and ultimate dynamic behavior; (3) due to the nucleus rotation, a notable systematic north-south offset appears in dust landing points during global eruptions, while this offset is weaker in localized eruptions due to the constrained source scale. These results provide a theoretical foundation for predicting dust environment evolution around icy small bodies and assessing impact hazards for deep-space exploration missions.

With the continuous deepening of deep space exploration missions, Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS） cameras have taken on the important task of national space surveillance visual detection with their advantages of light and small size, low power consumption, and high integration. Facing the demand for high-density development, the commercialization and batch production of area CMOS camera has become the main trend in the future. However, the focal plane calibration process of area CMOS camera is complicated, which seriously restricts the development efficiency of the mass-produced area CMOS camera. This paper presents a high-precision calibration test for CMOS area array camera. This method can increase the efficiency of focal plane calibration test by 40%, offering substantial engineering application value.

With the rapid development of space exploration, higher requirements have been put forward for aerospace equipment, functionality and serviceability of aerospace materials turn out to be increasingly significant. Therefore, high-performance fiber materials have been widely applied in the aerospace field due to their superior mechanical properties, lightweight characteristics, and weaveability. In recent years, researchers worldwide have conducted extensive studies on the preparation processes and intrinsic structures of aerospace fiber materials, and have carried out frontier explorations in areas such as mechanical reinforcement, space environment resistance and ultra-high temperature resistance. This paper systematically summarizes the currently widely used prevalent organic and inorganic high-performance fiber materials from the perspectives of structures, performance, and application. It particularly highlights cutting-edge technologies, material characteristics, and preparation methods of advanced textile materials in the aerospace field, as well as their application advantages in various aerospace sectors. Additionally, it outlines future development directions and application prospects of novel fiber materials in space technology, aiming to provide new insights for advancing aerospace fiber material research.

Under extreme service conditions involving long-term high temperatures, thermo-mechanical cycling, and concurrent oxidation/corrosion, the design of aerospace structural alloys is simultaneously constrained by the exponentially expanding compositional space, the scarcity and high cost of high-fidelity property labels, and the limited transferability of strongly coupled multi-scale mechanisms. Along the “composition–process–microstructure–property–service” chain, a materials intelligent design paradigm is constructed with physics-based constraints at its core: multi-modal and multi-fidelity data are standardized, aligned across domains, and stored in a unified database; conservation laws, crystallographic symmetry, and phase-diagram consistency are embedded into classical machine learning models, convolutional neural networks, graph neural networks, and Transformer/pre-trained architectures; microstructural intermediates such as segmented phase maps and size distributions are explicitly introduced to strengthen the mapping among processing, microstructure, and properties; and uncertainty quantification, domain adaptation, and out-of-distribution detection are employed to control the risk associated with model extrapolation. At the decision-making level, generative design and multi-objective Bayesian optimization are incorporated to form a closed-loop “generation–screening–validation–update” workflow. For γ–γ′-strengthened Ni/Co-based superalloys, L1₂-strengthened heat-resistant/high-temperature Al alloys, and multi-principal/high-entropy alloys, multi-objective trade-offs are performed with respect to γ′ volume fraction and solvus temperature versus lattice misfit, precipitation and coarsening kinetics versus the synergy between thermal conductivity and strength, and sublattice occupancy versus long-range order. Overall, this physics-informed intelligent framework enables robust extrapolation that balances performance and confidence under small-sample, cross-domain, and multi-modal data conditions, and provides a unified feature space and evaluation criterion for the continuous iteration of long-life high-temperature alloys.

Zirconia (ZrO₂) ceramic fibers have been widely used in various fields due to their advantages of high-temperature resistance, low thermal conductivity, and good chemical stability. This paper reviews the research progress of ZrO₂ fibers in recent years, including stabilization strategies, preparation methods, and applications. First, the stabilizers and stabilization mechanism of ZrO₂ fibers are introduced briefly. Then, various preparation methods for ZrO₂ fibers are discussed, including electrospinning, solution blow spinning, centrifugal spinning, template method, and dry spinning. After that, the applications of ZrO₂ fibers in thermal insulation, air filtration, and water treatment are introduced in detail. Finally, the preparation and application prospects of ZrO₂ fibers are prospected.

As a high-performance thermosetting resin, cyanate ester resin demonstrates significant application potential in the fields such as aerospace, electronic packaging, and radar communications, owing to its unique chemical structure and excellent comprehensive properties. In recent years, modification of cyanate ester resin to further enhance its thermal stability, mechanical properties, and processability while reducing costs has become a research hotspot in the field of polymer and composite materials. This paper aims to review the latest research progress on modification methods for cyanate ester resins. By exploring the effects of various modification methods on the properties of cyanate ester resins and their respective advantages and disadvantages, it seeks to provide methodological references for developing cyanate ester resins suitable for space environmental applications and to support the broadening of their applications.